Graduate Certificate in Information Security
The Graduate Certificate in Information Security will prepare students to address the growing threats arising from cyberattacks and information privacy intrusions. Students learn how to assess risks to the security of proprietary information in an organization and how to articulate the technical, organizational, and human factors associated with these risks. Students will learn how to evaluate information technology tools designed to protect against information security threats and assess the impact of security policies on existing complex systems and organizational objectives.
Graduates are well prepared to oversee the information security life cycle of an organization, including planning, acquisition, development, and evolution of secure infrastructures.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Application
- Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
- All graduate certificate applicants—even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School.
- Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
- Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.
Admission
In addition to the Graduate School application materials, applicants must submit a one to two page reason statement outlining their background and their educational and professional goals.
Credits and Courses
Students in the Information Security certificate program must complete a minimum of 15 graduate credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| INFOST 583G | Survey of Information Security | 3 |
| INFOST 784 | Information Security Management | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following: 1 | 9 | |
| Legal Aspects of Information Products and Services | ||
| Information Policy | ||
| Information Ethics | ||
| Special Topics in Information Science: (with relevant topic) | ||
| Ethical Hacking I | ||
| Ethical Hacking II | ||
| Cisco Routing & Switching I | ||
| Database Managment Systems for Information Professionals | ||
| Information Science and Technology Independent Study | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
- 1
Relevant courses from other units that may be appropriate include: BUS ADM 743 and COMPSCI 469G.
Additional Requirements
Transfer Credit
No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.
Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.
Articulation with Degree Programs
- Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
- Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
- All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
- Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
- Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
- A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
- Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.
Time Limit
Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:
- 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
- 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.