GRADUATE CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

The graduate certificate is open to matriculated graduate students, as well as non-matriculated post-graduate non-degree students, as long as course prerequisites are completed (or waived) and a pre-application form is received. Note that UMass Amherst cannot issue a graduate certificate to students who do not have an undergraduate degree; however with permission, these courses can be applied to the undergraduate certificate.

All courses are offered by the College of Information and Computer Sciences. The graduate-level certificate program consists of 15 credits across five courses:

The graduate certificate consists of 15 credits across five classes: 

Certificate Core Courses.  Satisfy three courses (nine credits) from the Certificate Core courses list.  

COMPSCI 597N     Introduction to Computer and Network Security (3 credits)
INFOSEC 690L       Internet Law & Policy 3 credits)
COMPSCI 590A      System Defense and Test (3 credits)
COMPSCI 660        Advanced Information Assurance (3 credits)

Certificate Security Elective Courses.  Satisfy two Certificate Security electives courses (six credits). Electives can be from Certificate Core courses list, Certificate Security electives courses list or CS electives courses list.

COMPSCI 590F      Advanced Digital Forensics (3 credits)
COMPSCI 661        Secure Distributed Systems (3 credits)
COMPSCI 590B     Measuring Network Interference (3 credits)

A fourth elective can be from CS electives courses.
COMPSCI 503       Embedded Computing Systems (3 credits)
COMPSCI 590CC  Cloud Computing (3 credits)
COMPSCI 590S     Systems for Data Science (3 credits)
COMPSCI 630       Systems (3 credits)
COMPSCI 631       Programming languages (3 credits)
COMPSCI 535/635 Modern computer architecture** Not both classes (3 credits)
COMPSCI 645       Database Design and Implementation (3 credits)
COMPSCI 655       Performance Evaluation (3 credits)
COMPSCI 677       Distributed and Operating Systems (3 credits) 
COMPSCI 585       Introduction to Natural Language Processing (3 credits)
COMPSCI 589/689Machine Learning** Not both classes (3 credits)

Also, any three-credit courses accepted as a core course offered by College of Information and Computer Sciences that have an appropriate focus may be accepted with approval as an elective.  

Alternatively, one of these Isenberg courses can be accepted as an elective with prior approval:
SCH MGMT 650          Business Data Analysis  (3 credits)
SCH MGMT 602          Business Intelligence & Analytics  (3 credits)
SCH MGMT 632          IT Strategy  (3 credits) 

These courses are also accepted toward the certificate:

INFOSEC 690R       Information Risk Management (3 credits)
INFOSEC 690F       Fraud Detention (3 credits)

A minimum GPA of 3.0 and no grade below C are required for certificate completion.

Graduates of the certificate program can transfer the credits to UMass Amherst (or other institutions) should they enroll in a campus program that accepts the transfer credits. 

Registration is through the College of Continuing and Professional Education (CPE). The cost is $750 USD/credit.  The total approximate cost for the program is $11,250.   In the fall 2019, the cost per credit will increase to $760 and total cost for the program will be $11,400.  Additionally, the courses require purchase of certain textbooks. Students need access to a resourceful computer with a very good Internet connection. CPE charges a small fee per semester. Students that attend classes in person may have parking costs and other expenses.  This program was formerly called the Trust, Assurance, and Cybersecurity Certificate.