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Cyber Operations Graduate Certificate

College of Sciences / Computer Science and Cybersecurity
Graduate certificate

About The Program

The Graduate Certificate in Cyber Operations at Metro State University is a 17-credit, advanced-level credentialdesigned to equip professionals with targeted expertise in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity strategies. This certificate provides a focused, intensive curriculum that builds practical skills in identifying, analyzing, and mitigating cyber threats, while fostering a strong foundation in ethical and mission-driven cybersecurity practices.

While more compact than the 36-credit Master of Science in Cyber Operations, this graduate certificate offers many of the same core competencies—making it an ideal option for professionals seeking specialized training without the full commitment of a graduate degree. It is especially suited for individuals aiming to upskill, transition into cybersecurity roles, or strengthen their qualifications in high-demand technical environments.

Program highlights

  • Advanced, condensed format
    A focused 17-credit curriculum that delivers critical cyber operations skills in a shorter timeframe than a traditional graduate degree.
  • Flexible, career-friendly format with academic mobility: Courses are offered in hybrid and fully online formats, with weekday evening and weekend morning options to support working professionals. The certificate also serves as a stackable credential, providing a potential pathway into the MS in Cyber Operations program for those pursuing advanced study.
  • NSA-aligned curriculum The certificate aligns with the NSA’s Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) knowledge units, emphasizing competency-based learning and performance-based assessment grounded in national standards.
  • Ethics and professional responsibility
    Strong emphasis on ethical judgment, legal considerations, and responsible cyber conduct in operational contexts.
  • Strategic and forward-looking content Prepares students to address current and emerging cybersecurity challenges across various technical areas—while also exploring the human and societal dimensions of cyber threats such as privacy, behavior, and social engineering.
  • Applied technical focus Builds advanced skills in key cyber operations tactics critical for offensive and defensive readiness.
  • Expert faculty instruction Courses are taught by faculty with deep experience in industry, government, and military cyber operations, offering students both technical expertise and real-world perspective.

Learn more about the BS in Cybersecurity Program.

Learn more about the MS in Cyber Operations program.

Learn more about the accelerated combined (BS + MS) degree in Cybersecurity Operations.

Seals of the DoD Cyber Academic Engagement Office, National Security Agency, National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, and the Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Community, with the CAE-CD and CAE-CO cyber defense and cyber operations submarks

Metro State University is Minnesota’s only institution recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) with dual designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) and Cyber Operations (NCAE-CO).

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree is aligned with the NCAE-CD designation, ensuring the program meets rigorous national standards in technical depth, applied learning, and ethical practice. This recognition provides students with a competitive edge in the workforce and validates their readiness to defend critical systems and data in a rapidly evolving cyber landscape.

The Master of Science in Cyber Operations is aligned with the NCAE-CO designation, awarded by the National Security Agency. This elite recognition underscores the program’s focus on the operational side of cybersecurity—emphasizing advanced technical skills, adversarial thinking, and mission-oriented training beyond traditional cybersecurity practices. The NCAE-CO designation affirms that the program meets the nation’s most rigorous standards for preparing professionals to conduct complex cyber operations in support of national defense, critical infrastructure protection, and intelligence missions.

As an active participant in the national CAE community, Metro State continues to lead in cybersecurity workforce development, education, and public service—equipping graduates to protect the digital assets of government, industry, and society.

Student outcomes

A student graduating with the cybersecurity certificate will be able to:

  1. Analyze and emulate the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of threat actors to identify attack vectors, anticipate threat behavior, and enhance cyber defenses through offensive-informed methodologies.
  2. Evaluate the security of cyber-physical systems and embedded technologies, including ICS/SCADA, IoT, wireless, and cellular networks, by identifying vulnerabilities, attack surfaces, and mitigation strategies within critical infrastructure and operational technology environments.
  3. Design and execute incident response strategies for sophisticated cyber breaches, leveraging effective team dynamics to coordinate technical and organizational efforts that contain threats, mitigate impacts, and restore operations.
  4. Demonstrate ethical and legal responsibility in cyber operations, applying sound professional judgment to navigate dilemmas in areas such as offensive security, data handling, and dual-use technologies, while adhering to accepted norms, laws, and policies.

Program Educational Objectives

Within a few years of completing the Graduate Certificate in Cyber Operations, students are expected to:

  1. Apply advanced cyber operations knowledge to analyze adversarial tactics and strengthen cyber defense strategies in operational environments.
  2. Communicate cybersecurity insights effectively, producing clear, actionable reports and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
  3. Collaborate in high-stakes environments, contributing to multidisciplinary teams and supporting coordinated responses to cybersecurity incidents.
  4. Demonstrate ethical leadership and professional integrity in addressing cybersecurity challenges, adhering to legal standards and industry best practices.

Program oversight

MN Cyber icon. Train, Test, Detect. Protect.

Housed within the College of Sciences, the MN Cyber Institute is a statewide initiative dedicated to positioning Minnesota as a national leader in cybersecurity education and workforce development. The Institute advances this mission through strategic public-private partnerships, interdisciplinary research, and community engagement.

Program oversight is provided by the MN Cyber Advisory Board, a group of cybersecurity leaders from industry, government, and academia. The board ensures the program remains responsive to current and emerging threats, provides strategic guidance, and helps align the curriculum with real-world workforce demands.

Career prospects

The Graduate Certificate in Cyber Operations equips professionals with advanced, targeted skills that are increasingly sought across cybersecurity, defense, and critical infrastructure sectors. Designed for individuals seeking to specialize in cyber operations without committing to a full graduate degree, the certificate offers immediate value in today's threat-driven job market.

Graduates gain practical expertise in analyzing cyber threats, understanding adversarial tactics, and supporting the development of proactive defense strategies—making them ideal candidates for roles that require offensive and defensive cybersecurity capabilities.

This certificate is particularly valuable for professionals already working in IT, cybersecurity, or related fields who want to upskill or transition into operational cybersecurity roles, and it may also serve as a stepping stone toward advanced degrees or certifications.

Potential roles include:

  • Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst
  • Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
  • Vulnerability Analyst
  • Cybersecurity Risk Consultant
  • Malware Analyst (Entry-Level)
  • Technical Cyber Policy Advisor
  • Incident Response Specialist

Graduates are positioned to work in a variety of environments, including government agencies, defense contractors, private-sector enterprises, and critical infrastructure organizations, where knowledge of cyber operations is critical to national and organizational resilience.

How to enroll

Program eligibility requirements

Admission into the Cyber Operations Graduate Certificate Program is determined by evaluating the applicant's academic history, professional experience in computing/cybersecurity, and letters of recommendation. The graduate director is responsible for deciding on admissions to the certificate program and assessing the equivalency of transferred coursework.

The following are the minimum requirements for potential admission into the program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.

  • A bachelor's degree (preferably in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or Computer Forensics) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. GPA exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis for those applicants who demonstrate a potential for academic success in other ways.

Applicants who have a bachelor's degree in a non-technical field may be admitted to the program if they meet the following conditions:

  • Completed undergraduate courses in Discrete Mathematics and Statistics with a minimum grade of B.
  • Successfully finished undergraduate courses in cybersecurity with a minimum grade of B, along with proven proficiency in Python Programming, C Programming, Assembly Language, PowerShell, Basic Data Structures and Algorithms, Systems Administration, Computer Networking, and Linux Fundamentals.
  • You must possess a minimum of one year of verifiable experience in the IT or cybersecurity sector. Depending on the comprehensive quality of the application package, considerations for exceptions may be made.

International Students

This is not a degree-granting program, therefore applications from international students studying on an F-1 student visa cannot be accepted into this program.

International Students

This is not a degree-granting program, therefore applications from international students studying on an F-1 student visa cannot be accepted into this program.

Application instructions

Metro State University is participating in the common application for graduate programs (GradCAS). Applications are only accepted via the CAS website.

CAS steps

  1. Select the term for which you are seeking admission (below), and navigate to the CAS website. Open applications include:
  2. Create or log in to your account and select the Cyber Operations Graduate Certificate program.
  3. Carefully review all instructions and complete all four sections of the application.

Specific application requirements for individual programs can be found on each program page in CAS. Carefully read the instructions that appear throughout the application pages. You can only submit your application once. If you need to update information you have submitted, please notify graduate.studies@metrostate.edu

Application fee

A nonrefundable $38 fee is required for each application.
Applications will not be processed until this fee is received.

Active-duty military, veterans, and Metro State alumni can receive an application fee waiver. Contact graduate.studies@metrostate.edu.

Courses and Requirements

SKIP TO COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students interested in the Cyber Operations Certificate program should work with the graduate director to understand the program details and course sequencing.

Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a grade of B or above in all graduate coursework.

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills

Given the program's technical complexity and accelerated pace, students are expected to possess essential knowledge and skills. Proficiency in Python Programming, C Programming, Assembly Language, PowerShell, basic Data Structures and Algorithms, Systems Administration, Computer Networking, and Linux Fundamentals is crucial. For success in the program, it is strongly advised that students attain these competencies either through undergraduate courses or by taking short courses prior to commencing the graduate degree.

Certificate Requirements (Prerequisites + 17 credits)

Complete the following courses

Vulnerability analysis and its connection to exploit development are core skills for one involved in cyber operations. This course covers vulnerability discovery and exploitation. The focus is to understand the pattern of vulnerabilities and attacks to allow students to experience protection, risk mitigation, and identify vulnerabilities in new contexts. Topics will include buffer overflows, privilege escalation attacks, input validation issues, vulnerability discovery (fuzzing and crash dump analysis), exploit development, and mitigations (e.g., DEP, ASLR, ¿).

Full course description for Vulnerability Discovery and Exploitation

This course covers cryptography from both theoretical and practical perspective. The course provides details about advanced cryptography and its applications in the cybersecurity world. Students will learn various cryptographic algorithms and protocols and their relationships from both attack and defense perspectives. Various cryptographic tools to secure contemporary networks will be discussed as well. Students should be able to use advanced cryptographic algorithms based on elliptic curve cryptography.

Full course description for Applied Cryptography

Cyber operations encompass both offensive and defensive security strategies, requiring a deep understanding of network security, system vulnerabilities, and operational tactics. This course provides a comprehensive foundation in cyber operations, focusing on security principles, network architecture, protocol analysis, and strategic cyber engagements. Students will analyze fundamental cybersecurity principles and evaluate how failures in security design lead to system vulnerabilities that can be exploited in offensive cyber operations. The course covers network traffic analysis, TCP/IP protocols, and cyber operations phases, including planning, execution, authority considerations, and post-operation assessment. Students will design defensive network architectures with multi-layered security controls, ensuring mission security objectives are met. Additionally, the course examines the balance between usability and security, addressing human behavior risks that undermine system security…

Full course description for Cyber Operations Fundamentals

In an era of sophisticated cyber threats, organizations rely on proactive threat intelligence and hunting strategies to defend against advanced network intrusions and data breaches. This course equips students with the knowledge and practical skills to collect, analyze, and apply Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) at tactical, operational, and strategic levels to enhance cyber threat-hunting operations and defensive cybersecurity mechanisms. Students will evaluate cyber threat intelligence frameworks, including MITRE ATT&CK, to identify adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and detect advanced cyber threats. The course covers correlating Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) from multiple intelligence sources, including Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), to strengthen proactive threat detection and response. Emphasis is placed on implementing intelligence-sharing frameworks and protocols to facilitate active cyber defense through threat-hunting and coordinated threat mitigation…

Full course description for Cyber Threat Hunting and Intelligence

Cyber Operations, a more specific area of cybersecurity, is a highly technical field with a hardcore focus on both cyber offense and defense strategies. This course will cover special cyber operations topics that are not covered elsewhere in the MS Cyber Operations program. This course will provide the opportunity to keep the program current by introducing new and in-demand topics in cyber operations including but not limited to SCADA, IoT/IIoT, embedded systems, hardware reverse engineering, secure software development, programmable logic and microcontroller design, RF Analysis, Software defined Networking, etc.

Full course description for Special Topics in Cyber Operations

Any IT development project contains significant risks. However, keeping the status quo is also risky in rapidly changing technological and competitive environments. This course is designed to familiarize the student with risk analysis concepts derived from many sources including financial, actuarial and statistical studies, insurance and risk analysis, software quality assurance methodologies, management and audit trails and many others. Student will learn to assess the risk in an information systems portfolio and develop strategies for managing the many risk types discussed: Prerequisites: MIS 600.

Full course description for Risk Analysis in Information Technology

With Information Technology playing an ever greater role in organizations, and the widespread availability of technology with the ability to collect and create information on everyone, many new ethical issues have been created. This course will frame many current ethic issues in IT and help the student develop methods of analyzing and dealing with these issues in real world situations. Topics may include issues such as privacy, copyright and intellectual property, employee monitoring approaches, multinational information flows, corporate intelligence and others. Hacking, computer security, viruses and other acts of destruction will be reviewed from an ethical perspective.

Full course description for Cyber Ethics