Cyber Ops Certificate
Cyber operations (Cyber Ops) is a specialization of information security that is in high demand within areas of the government and military, including the National Security Agency (NSA).
If you have an interest in working for the NSA, or a similar organization, certification in Cyber Ops may be the right fit for you. To participate, students must be enrolled in the Master of Science in Information Security (MSIS) program.
Cyber Ops Curriculum Meets MSIS Degree Requirements
MSIS students are able to earn Cyber Ops certification without taking additional coursework, however they must fulfill both sets of requirements. All courses used to satisfy the Cyber Ops certificate requirements must be taken for a letter grade. If completed, the Cyber Ops certificate will be issued at graduation.
Note: International students can pursue the Cyber Ops Certificate.
Carnegie Mellon University, through the INI and CyLab, has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO).
LEARN more about CMU's Designations
The Cyber Ops Certificate is available for MSIS students.
Curriculum for Cyber Ops Certificate
The Cyber Ops certificate requirements focus on both mandatory and optional Knowledge Units (KUs) representing important areas of study in the field of cyber operations. Some KUs are covered by multiple courses, and other KUs require multiple courses.
To earn the Cyber Ops certificate, students must successfully complete courses that cover all of the mandatory KUs and at least four (4) of the optional KUs.
| Mandatory KUs (Complete All) | Optional KUs (Complete At Least 4) |
| M.1: Low-Level Programming Languages | O.2: Wireless Security |
| M.2: Software Reverse Engineering | O.4: Cloud Security/Cloud Computing |
| M.3: Operating System Theory | O.5: Risk Mgmt. of Information Systems |
| M.4: Networking | O.8: Software Security Analysis |
| M.5: Cellular and Mobile Technologies | O.9: Secure Software Development |
| M.6: Discrete Math and Algorithms | O.10: Embedded Systems |
| M.7: Overview of Cyber Defense | O.11: Digital Forensics |
| M.8: Security Fundamental Principles | O.12: Systems Programming |
| M.9: Vulnerabilities | O.13: Applied Cryptography |
|
M.10: Legal and Ethics |
O.15: UX/HCI Security |
Based on the INI’s mapping of courses to KUs, students can accomplish the minimum requirements for the certificate by completing the following courses:
|
Course Number / Title |
KUs Covered |
|
14-513: Introduction to Computer Systems |
M.1: Low-Level Programming Languages |
|
14-819: Introduction to Software Reverse-Engineering |
M.2: Software Reverse Engineering |
|
14-642: Introduction to Embedded Systems OR |
M.3: Operating System Theory, O.12: Systems Programming [14-642 also covers O.10: Embedded Systems] |
|
14-740: Fundamentals of Telecommunications Networks OR |
M.4: Networking |
|
14-829: Mobile & IoT Security |
M.5: Cellular and Mobile Technologies, O.2: Wireless Security |
|
15-354: Computational Discrete Math(*) |
M.6: Discrete Math and Algorithms |
|
14-761: Applied Information Assurance |
M.7: Overview of Cyber Defense |
|
14-741: Introduction to Information Security |
M.8: Security Fundamental Principles |
|
14-735: Secure Coding |
M.9: Vulnerabilities, O.9: Secure Software Development |
|
14-684: Cyber Law and Ethics |
M.10: Legal and Ethics |
|
14-782: Information Security Risk Management OR |
O.5: Risk Mgmt. of Information Systems |
Additionally, students can further supplement their Cyber Ops coursework with the following courses that cover additional Optional KUs (possibly in concert with required courses above).
|
Course Number / Title |
KUs Covered |
|
14-848: Cloud Infrastructure: Design, Analysis, and Implementation |
O.4: Cloud Security/Cloud Computing |
|
18-732: Secure Software Systems |
O.8: Software Security Analysis |
|
14-822: Host Based Forensics AND |
O.11: Digital Forensics |
|
18-733: Applied Cryptography |
O.13: Applied Cryptography |
|
19-734: Usable Privacy and Security |
O.15: UX/HCI Security |
The following course schedules are examples of how a student can fulfill their degree requirements and earn the Cyber Ops certificate in three semesters:
Sample Course Sequence: Fall Start
Three semesters, starting in Fall:
|
Semester |
Course |
Coverage |
|
Summer, pre-Year 1 (6/12 units) |
14-513: Introduction to Computing Systems |
M.1, program elective |
|
Fall, Year 1 (45 units)
|
14-740: Fundamentals of Telecommunications Networks |
M.4, Networking core |
|
14-741: Introduction to Information Security |
M.8, Security core |
|
|
14-684: Cyber Law and Ethics |
M.10, program elective |
|
|
14-761: Applied Information Assurance |
M.7, core or elective |
|
|
14-601: APD1 |
|
|
|
Spring, Year 1 (40 units) |
15-605: Operating System Design and Implementation |
M.3, O.12, Systems core or elective |
|
14-819: Introduction to Software Reverse-Engineering |
M.2, core or elective |
|
|
14-817: Cyber Risk Modeling |
O.5, Mgmt core |
|
|
14-602: APD2 |
|
|
|
Summer, Year 1 |
Internship |
|
|
Fall, Year 2 (48 units)
|
14-829: Mobile & IoT Security |
M.5, O.2, core or elective |
|
15-354: Computational Discrete Math |
M.6, program elective |
|
|
18-734: Foundations of Privacy |
Security core |
|
|
14-735: Secure Coding |
M.9, O.9, MSIS core / opt |
Sample Course Sequence: Spring Start
Three semesters, starting in Spring:
|
Semester |
Course |
Coverage |
|
Spring, Year 1 (51 units)
|
14-513: Introduction to Computing Systems |
M.1, program elective |
|
14-741: Introduction to Information Security |
M.8, Security core |
|
|
14-740: Fundamentals of Telecommunications Networks |
M.4, Networking core |
|
|
14-761: Applied Information Assurance |
M.7, core or elective |
|
|
14-601: APD1 |
|
|
|
Summer, Year 1 |
Internship |
|
|
Fall, Year 1 (45 units) |
14-735: Secure Coding |
M.9, O.9, core or elective |
|
14-829: Mobile & IoT Security |
M.5, O.2, core or elective |
|
|
14-684: Cyber Law and Ethics |
M.10, program elective |
|
|
15-354: Computational Discrete Math |
M.6, program elective |
|
|
14-602: APD2 |
|
|
|
Spring, Year 2 (48 units)
|
14-817: Cyber Risk Modeling |
O.5, Mgmt core |
|
14-819: Introduction to Software Reverse-Engineering |
M.2, core or elective |
|
|
18-731: Network Security |
Core or elective |
|
|
14-642: Introduction to Embedded Systems |
M.3, O.10, O.12, core or elective |