This three-day course will equip you with the practical experience required for gathering intelligence from darknet and encrypted online communication platforms, as well as compiling the data and analyzing it in a way which will support your operation.

We regularly offer executive education sessions for law enforcement ranging in length from seminars to multi-day trainings based on our research and emerging trends within the field of cybersecurity.

We have launched a mentorship program which matches undergraduate and graduate students interested in careers in cybersecurity with local professionals and organizations that can provide internships, career guidance and real-world experience in the field of cybersecurity.

The Department of Computer Science is home to INformation Security and Privacy: Interdisciplinary Research and Education (INSPIRE), an interdisciplinary center that brings together individuals and units with an interest in the areas of cybersecurity and privacy. Dr. Daniel Takabi is the director of INSPIRE and Dr. Zhipeng Cai is the associate director. INSPIRE has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R) by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Georgia State University has also been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE); it is the only university in Georgia to have received both designations.

The department offers a Security & Privacy Concentration in the M.S. program and a Certificate in Cybersecurity in the B.S. program.

Along with emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things and cloud computing come cyber threats. There is a growing need for professionals who are skilled at keeping digital information and infrastructure safe. The certificate in cybersecurity is designed to develop expertise in network security, information security, and cyber-crime in order to prevent and respond to large-scale cyber threats and attacks. The certificate allows students to offer tangible proof of their technical and strategic knowledge in cybersecurity.

The certificate in cybersecurity consists of 16 credit hours at the 4000 level from a restricted set of courses listed below, with an earned grade of B or higher in the first attempt at each course. All corresponding prerequisites will need to be met for the certificate courses. Courses retaken using the university’s Repeat-to-Replace policy are not counted as first attempts. Normally, students are declared as computer science majors to meet the requirements of this certificate.

Required courses (4 hours)
CSC 4222 Introduction to Cyber Security

Select 3 of the following courses (12 hours)
CSC 4220 Computer Networks (4)
CSC 4221 Wireless Networks & Mobile Computing (4)
CSC 4224 Ethical Hacking (4)
CSC 4225 Internetwork Programming (4)
CSC 4360 Mobile Application Development (4)
And other courses approved by the Department of Computer Science

Certificate in Data Science

With the proliferation of social networks and mobile computing, along with emerging areas such as the Internet of Things and cyber sensing and networking technologies, generating and collecting data has become ubiquitous. The collection and analysis of such large amounts of data have become increasingly important for today’s global and competitive economy. Businesses and industries are striving to use data analytics, data mining, machine learning, and statistical models to make better data-driven decisions. As a result, a significant growing demand exists for scientists trained in managing large data sets, developing and utilizing computer systems/software to process data, extracting knowledge or insights from data in various forms, and modeling predictive analytics.

The certificate in data science consists of 16 credit hours at the 4000 level from the restricted set of courses listed below with an earned grade of B or higher in the first attempt at each course. All corresponding prerequisites will need to be met for the certificate courses. Courses retaken using the university’s Repeat-to-Replace policy are not counted as first attempts. Normally, students are declared as computer science majors to meet the requirements of this certificate.

Required courses (4 hours)
CSC 4780 Fundamentals of Data Science (4)

Select 3 of the following courses (12 hours)
CSC 4710 Database Systems (4)
CSC 4730 Data Visualization (4)
CSC 4740 Data Mining (4)
CSC 4760 Big Data Programming (4)
CSC 4850 Introduction to Machine Learning (4)
And other courses approved by the Department of Computer Science

How to Apply

Admission Requirements

Students must be enrolled in a computer science degree program at Georgia State University prior to applying to a certificate program.

Application Instructions

1. Complete the application form.
2. Obtain a current PDF academic evaluation from PAWS.
3. Email the application form and academic evaluation to Mr. Jamie Hayes, Undergraduate Academic Coordinator for the Department of Computer Science, at jhayes14@gsu.edu.

NOTE: In order to be awarded a certificate, students must apply to graduate with the certificate, within two semesters of their graduation date, via their PAWS account. There is no application cost for the certificate.