https://engineering.pacific.edu/engineering
Certificates Offered
The School of Engineering and Computer Science offers the following graduate certificates:
Certificate in Cybersecurity Management-Cloud, Mobile and Privacy
Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations
Certificate in Securing Enterprise Systems
General Information
Certificate in Cybersecurity management - Cloud, Mobile and Privacy:
The certificate in "Cybersecurity Management - Cloud, Mobile and Privacy" focuses on how to secure the modern cloud, including basic principles of cybersecurity management and how to build privacy into enterprise systems.
Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations:
The certificate in "Cybersecurity Operations" is a three course, for-credit, certificate that is designed for students interested in learning how to identify, triage and resolve cybersecurity incidents. This certificate includes strong fundamentals in network security, system administration, security operations, security information and event management (SIEM) and Endpoint detection and response (EDR).
Certificate in Securing Enterprise Systems:
The certificate in "Securing Enterprise Systems" is a three course, for-credit, certificate that is designed for students interested in learning how to proactively build secure software systems, identify and manage cybersecurity risks, and manage the vulnerability lifecycle.
Eligibility
Students enrolled in a graduate or blended program in the School of Engineering and Computer Science are eligible for the certificates.
Students not enrolled in a graduate or blended program in the School of Engineering and Computer Science must apply for admission. After admission, these certificates can be earned as standalone options independent from any graduate degree.
Admissions Criteria
Students who are not already enrolled in a graduate or blended program in the School of Engineering and Computer Science must apply for admission in order to earn a standalone certificate. The admission requirements are:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Official university transcript(s) showing a 2.65/4.0 GPA on the last 60 units of undergraduate study
- Educational qualifications and/or industry experience to satisfy knowledge of computer programming and data structures, equivalent to COMP 053.
- Two letters of recommendation
Certificate Requirements
Students must complete their certificate courses with a minimum Pacific cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in order to earn the certificate.
Certificate Stacking
Students who have completed one of the three cybersecurity certificates described above are eligible, upon written request, will be admitted to the MS in Cybersecurity program without the need to reapply. Courses completed as part of these certificates will count towards satisfying the MS in Cybersecurity degree requirements.
This certificate stacking is subject to university policy regarding residence and time limits. Specifically, a Master's degree must be completed within five years subsequent to admission to the program, which in this case is defined as admissions to the certificate. The five-year period begins the first semester students are enrolled and is calculated from the date of degree conferral. Credit that is more than five years old will not be counted toward a Master's degree.
Certificate in Cybersecurity Management - Cloud, Mobile and Privacy
Students are required to complete the following courses for the certificate.
| COMP 285 | Mobile and Cloud Security | 3 |
| COMP 286 | Cybersecurity and Privacy Management | 3 |
| COMP 284 | Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance | 3 |
Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations
Students are required to complete the following courses for the certificate.
| COMP 276 | Security Operations: Incident Response and Digital Forensics | 3 |
| COMP 279 | Cybersecurity Advanced Topics | 3 |
| COMP 275 | Network Security and System Administration Essentials | 3 |
Certificate in Securing Enterprise Systems
Students are required to complete the following courses for the certificate.
| COMP 283 | Vulnerability Management | 3 |
| COMP 270 | Secure Software Systems | 3 |
| COMP 284 | Cybersecurity Governance, Risk and Compliance | 3 |
Student Learning Outcomes
Certificate in Secure Software Systems
Students completing a certificate in Secure Software Systems will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Security Fundamental Principles – Students will possess a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles underlying cybersecurity, how these principles interrelate and are employed to build secure systems.
- Vulnerabilities – Students will possess a thorough understanding of the various types of security vulnerabilities (design and/or implementation weaknesses), their underlying causes, their identifying characteristics, the ways in which they are exploited, and potential mitigation strategies.
- Software Reverse Engineering – Students will be able to deduce the design of a software component, determine how it works, and discover the data and communication protocols it uses, without knowing its design in advance.
Certificate in Cyber Defense and Offense
Students completing a certificate in Cyber Defense and Offense will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Security Fundamental Principles – Students will possess a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles underlying cybersecurity, how these principles interrelate and are employed to build secure systems.
- Cyber Defense – Students will have a sound understanding of the technologies and methods utilized to defend systems and networks. They will be able to describe, evaluate, and operate a defensive network architecture employing multiple layers of protection using technologies appropriate to meet security goals.
- Networking – Students will have a thorough understanding of how networks work at the infrastructure, network and applications layers; how they transfer data; how network protocols work to enable communication; and how the lower-level network layers support the upper ones to enable communications and data transfer.
