Cyber Security Defense Certificate - Curriculum 258 (DL), Curriculum 259 (RES)

Program Manager

Cynthia Irvine, Ph.D.

Code CS/Ic, Glasgow East, Room 211

[phone], DSN 756-2461

[e-mail]

Program Officer

Kehinde Adesanya "Kenny", LCDR, USN

Glasgow Hall East, Room E309

[phone]

[e-mail]

Academic Associate

Duane Davis, Ph.D.

Glasgow Hall, Room 212

[phone], DSN 756-2733

[e-mail]

Brief Overview

Using the foundation established through the Cyber Security Fundamentals certificate, students enrolled in Cyber Security Defense graduate certificate, will obtain a detailed understanding of and ability to function in real operational situations involving cyber security. They will gain the technical depth required to actively prepare for and respond to attacks. Students will learn to analyze network traffic to extract the observable characteristics of networks and network devices, thus providing a basis for defensive strategies. They will learn to build tools and how to configure systems and networks to permit systems to foster resiliency and continuity of operations, perhaps with reduced capacity, through attacks. Students will learn how to construct systems and tools to mitigate the impact of malicious software. Students will learn forensic techniques to retrieve and analyze stored information that may be corrupted or hidden. Considerable programming and hands-on work with systems and networks will be required. Entire courses, or units within them, may be taught at the classified level, thus facilitating classroom discussions on emerging challenges and capabilities.

Students entering this program are expected to have a strong foundation in cyber security and networking. In addition, entering students will be expected to understand and use the languages and techniques of operating system and network component development: the C programming language, assembly, shell scripting, use of linkers, loaders, and debuggers.

The total number of NPS graduate credits obtained for the certificate is 12, where laboratory credits are counted as half. This certificate program can also be applied toward a master's degree program, e.g. Curriculum 368. 

Program Length

Four quarters

Certificate Requirements

Required courses are any three of the following:

Course Number	Title	Credits	Lecture Hours	Lab Hours
CS4558	Network Traffic Analysis		3	2
CS4677	Computer Forensics		3	2
CS4684	Cyber Security Incident Response and Recovery		3	2
CS4600	Secure System Principles		3	2