Cybersecurity Certificate Program

Cybersecurity has been recognized as an area of critical importance to national security and economic development. Today, software and hardware security are increasingly important aspects of a computer science or computer engineering profession. The Cybersecurity Certificate will offer current (and incoming) degree-seeking undergraduate students in the College of Engineering a curriculum that prepares them to understand the challenges of cybersecurity, identify potential threats and design effective countermeasures. The certificate is affiliated with BS degrees in Computer Science and in Computer Engineering.

Application and Admission to the Certificate Program

1. Before you apply (prerequisites):

   • Must be enrolled in an undergraduate program in the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky. Non-engineering students will be determined on a case-by-case basis, with a focus on the readiness to take the security courses.
   • Must have completed CS270 (with a grade C or higher), or EE287 (with a grade C or higher), or comparable experience to be assessed by the faculty for the certificate.
   • Note that the required courses taken before you are admitted into the certificate program can still be counted for meeting the certificate requirements.

2. To Apply:

   • Fill out the application form.

3. After you apply:

   • You will be contacted by a faculty member for the certificate to schedule an interview. A decision will be made soon after the interview.
   • Once accepted, the college will be informed and the student record will show that you are enrolled in the certificate program.
   • In the graduation semester, if you meet all certificate requirements, you will be awarded the certificate and a statement that you earned the certificate will be put on your transcript. If you do not meet certificate requirements, the statement that you are enrolled in the certificate program will be removed from the student record and nothing will appear on the transcript.

Requirements - Course Plan

Here is the list of courses required to obtain the certificate.

Students must earn 13-15 credit hours by taking these courses:

1. EE 576 - Cybersecurity
2. Two out of the following three courses:
   • CS 378 - Introduction to Cryptology
   • CS 564 - Computer Security (new course)
   • CS 572 - Network Security (new course)
3. One course from the following list, or a course approved by the certificate director/co-director:
   • CS 371 - Introduction to Computer Networking
   • CS 505 - Intermediate Topics in Database Systems
   • CS 570 - Modern Operating Systems
   • CS 571 - Computer Networks
   • EE 380 - Microcomputer Organization
   • EE 480 - Computer Architecture
   • EE 586 - Communication and Switching Networks
   • ICT351 - Technology Security
   • ICT550 - Security Informatics
   • ICT552 - Cybercrime and Digital Law Enforcement
4. Finally, CS395 or EE395 for 1 to 3 credit hours with the certificate director/co-director or a designated faculty. As part of the course requirements, every student will submit a final report on a selected topic in cybersecurity, to be approved by the certificate director or co-director, and will make an oral presentation (taken as final exam) to a group of members of the faculty of record. The number of credit hours depends on the complexity of the topic and will be determined by the certificate director/co-director.

Schedule of the Courses

This schedule is subject to change.

Contacts

Kenneth Calvert, Professor and Co-Director of the Cybersecurity Certificate Program
Samson Cheung, Blazie Professor and Co-Director of the Cybersecurity Certificate Program