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Graduate Certificate inCyber Threat Analytics and Prevention

Summary Courses Careers Costs and Aid

Enhance your understanding of cyber threat attacks, laws, analytics, and terrorism, as well as network vulnerabilities, system threats, and surveillance protocols with the courses in this online graduate certificate program.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Apply by April 15 to start May 19

12 Credits$1,027 per credit

Stackable Credentials

This program is embedded within the Master of Science in Information Science.

Gain Cyber Threat Analytics Skills to Protect Data

  • Prevent, respond to, and recover from cyber threats and attacks.

  • Effectively communicate cybersecurity knowledge, including vulnerability, threat intelligence, and evidence and analysis of cyber attacks.

  • Collect and analyze data to uncover, detect, and analyze suspicious activities and cyber attacks.

  • Be prepared to protect local, state, and national interests from cyber threats and cyber terrorism.

The CTAP graduate certificate can prepare you to understand cyber attacks, cyber laws and regulations, cyber terrorism, network vulnerabilities, system threats, and surveillance protocols.

The courses required for this 12-credit certificate can also be applied to the Master of Science in Information Science, if you apply and are accepted into the program. If you have been accepted into this certificate program, you will not be charged an additional fee to apply for the Master of Science in Information Science.

The curriculum focuses on building your knowledge in these key areas:

  • introduction to policies and programs within homeland security administration

  • social and ethical issues relating to homeland security

  • domestic and global views of violence and terrorism

  • data collection and analysis

  • privacy and security in the digital age

Required Courses (6 credits)

  • 3
    credits

    A web-centric look at the latest techniques and practices in computer security as they apply to the internet.

  • 3
    credits

    This course will investigate the evolution of information systems architecture.

Elective Courses (select 6 credits)

Students pursuing this certificate as a stackable credential to progress toward the information science master's degree must select DAAN 545 and DAAN 871 as their 6 elective credits.

  • 3
    credits

    Practical benefits of data mining will be presented; data warehousing, data cubes, and underlying algorithms used by data mining software.

    • Prerequisite

      INSC 521, or approval of instructor or department

  • 3
    credits

    This course provides a foundation in the principles, concepts, techniques, and tools for visualizing large data sets.

  • 3
    credits

    This course will employ several methods and measures from the area of social network analysis to study the interrelatedness of cyber-social and cyber-technical aspects of an organization or the society as a whole to detect and capture the dynamic patterns of group membership and structure. This type of analysis can be useful in uncovering potential threats and attacks and predicting criminal behavior and evolution of criminal networks.

  • 3
    credits

    Fundamental issues and concepts of computer forensics; aspects of computer and cybercrime; methods to uncover, protect, exploit, and document digital evidence; tools, techniques, and procedures to perform computer and cybercrime investigation.

  • 3
    credits

    Essential skills and knowledge for effectively utilizing networks and internet technologies to facilitate, manage, and secure data communications and applications.

  • 3
    credits

    This course provides theoretical and applied foundations of fundamentals of network security, data sources, data collection techniques and tools, cybersecurity analytics infrastructure, machine learning and data mining, network forensics, anomaly and malware detection, security data visualization, and security dashboard design and implementation.

Using Certificate Credits toward a Stackable Credentials Degree Pathway

As part of the stackable pathway, the courses required for this 12-credit certificate can also be applied to a Master of Science in Information Science if you apply and are accepted into the program. If you have been accepted into this certificate program, you will not be charged an additional fee to apply for the Master of Science in Information Science program.

Courses may also apply to other degree programs. Students should contact their adviser to discuss transfer credit policies and application fees and details.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

A homeland security professional working at a computer

The increased availability and affordability of advanced technology has led to growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals to protect local, state, and national interests from cyber threats and cyber terrorism.

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

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From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

  • Opportunities to connect with employers
  • Career counselor/coach support
  • Occupation and salary information
  • Internships
  • Graduate school resources 

Ready to Learn More?

Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.

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Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State graduate certificate?

Apply by April 15 to start May 19. How to Apply 

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Graduate Tuition

Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2024, spring 2025, and summer 2025 semesters.
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?Cost
11 or fewer$1,027 per credit
12 or more$12,325 per semester

2025–26 Academic Year Rates

Tuition rates for the fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 semesters.
How many credits do you plan to take per semester?Cost
11 or fewer$1,037 per credit
12 or more$12,448 per semester

Paying for Your Certificate

Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.

Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.

Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.

Military Benefits

Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.

Additional Cost of Attendance Details

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:

Technical Requirements

Review the technical requirements for this program.

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Earning graduate certificates from Penn State World Campus is a great way to gain new skills while quickly adding valuable credentials to your résumé. This certificate can serve as both a stand-alone credential and a step on your journey toward a master’s degree.

Stackable credentials recognize your newfound skills and knowledge while you work toward your degree — with no additional application fees.

This graduate certificate’s courses satisfy requirements toward the following degree(s):

This online information science master’s degree program can prepare you to face evolving IT challenges, including integration, security, and data analysis. You’ll also explore developing state-of-the-art IT applications and managing IT staff and projects to ensure business continuity.

Learn more

Upon completion of this program, Penn State awards you a graduate certificate and a digital badge from Credly.

Penn State Great Valley Graduate Certificate Credly Badge

Certificate earners are awarded a digital badge for each certificate they complete as part of this stackable credentials group. Badges can be displayed digitally to recognize your accomplishment of attaining a new level of knowledge.

Designed for working professionals with experience as technical and analytical personnel in the cybersecurity field, the CTAP graduate certificate is open to candidates who hold a bachelor's degree.

This program is ideal for professionals who are responsible for technical analysis of and solutions to hacking, espionage, security, and terrorism over networks and the internet.

A figure walking on a path that includes a certificate part of the way through their progress

Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.

Degree Program Related to This Certificate

Some or all credits earned for this certificate can be applied to the following Penn State World Campus degree programs:

This online information science master’s degree program can prepare you to face evolving IT challenges, including integration, security, and data analysis. You’ll also explore developing state-of-the-art IT applications and managing IT staff and projects to ensure business continuity.

Learn more

In this online homeland security (HLS) master’s program, you can acquire a broad base of knowledge relevant to current policies and programs of the homeland security administration, focusing on preventing cyber attacks and understanding cyber laws.

Learn more

Finish Your Certificate in Less Than a Year

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Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

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Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

Information for Military and Veterans

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Are you a member of the military, a veteran, or a military spouse? Please visit our military website for additional information regarding financial aid, transfer credits, and application instructions.

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Apply by April 15 to start May 19

Application Instructions

Deadlines and Important Dates

Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.

  • Summer Deadline

    Apply by April 15 to start May 19

  • Fall Deadline

    Apply by July 15 to start August 25

  • Spring Deadline

    Apply by November 15, 2025, to start January 12, 2026

Steps to Apply

  1. For admission to the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

    The program requires an undergraduate degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, or information science. Students from other undergraduate majors with extensive work experience in the field may be considered. The admissions committee will consider the academic background, as evidenced by the transcript, as part of the overall application.

    GPA – All applicants are expected to have earned a junior/senior grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

  2. You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:

    Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. If you are a Penn State alum, you do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history.

    Test Scores — GRE or GMAT scores are NOT required and will not be accepted.

    English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Fox Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.

  3. To begin the online application, you will need a Penn State account.

    Create a New Penn State Account

    If you have any problems during this process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].

    Please note: Former Penn State students may not need to complete the admissions application or create a new Penn State account. Please visit our Returning Students page for instructions.

  4. Stackable Credentials Application Fee Waiver

    If you have been previously accepted to a program with stackable credentials, you will not be charged an additional application fee for any associated programs.

    Associated programs in the information science stack:

    Certificates

    • Graduate Certificate in Business Process Integration
    • Graduate Certificate in Cyber Threat Analytics and Prevention
    • Graduate Certificate in IT Analytics

    Degree

    • Master of Science in Information Science

    If you begin with a certificate and are interested in pursuing the Master of Science in Information Science, work with your adviser while completing your first certificate to determine which program to apply to next.

    Up to 15 credits earned in any of these certificate programs may be transferred to the master's degree in information science, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit.

  5. You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.

    • Choose Enrollment Type: "Certificate Admission"
    • Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus

    Checking Your Status 
    You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form. 

  6. 6. Complete the application.

    Penn State Fox Graduate School Application

Admissions Help

If you have questions about the admissions process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].

Current Penn State students should contact [email protected] with questions and for assistance.

Customer service representative wearing a headset

Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

To learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Cyber Threat Analytics and Prevention, please contact:

For questions about the program:
Robin G. Qiu, Ph.D.
Professor of Information Science
[email protected]

For general questions about Penn State World Campus:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
[email protected]

The Graduate Certificate in Cyber Threat Analytics and Prevention is offered in partnership with Penn State Great Valley. Our highly relevant, dynamic curriculum is taught by distinguished faculty who have special training and experience teaching in an online environment.

Faculty

  • Youakim Badr

    • H.D.R., University of Lyon
    • Ph.D., Computer Science, National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA-Lyon)
    • M.S., Mathematical Modeling and Scientific Software Engineering, Francophone University Agency
    • M.S., Computer Science, Lebanese University
    • B.S., Computer Science, Lebanese University

    Dr. Youakim Badr, professor of data analytics, teaches courses in analytics programming, analytics systems design, data mining and predictive analytics. His research interests include smart service computing, IoT, information security, big data, machine learning, and built-in analytics. Dr. Badr is a professional member of IEEE, a lifetime member of ACM, and associate member of the ACM special interest group on knowledge discovery and data mining (SIGKDD).

  • Adrian S. Barb

    • Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Missouri
    • MBA, Finance and Management Information Systems, University of Missouri
    • B.S., Industrial Engineering, University of Bucharest

    Dr. Adrian S. Barb, associate professor of information science, teaches databases, data mining, and big data courses. He has worked as a database programmer analyst as well as a web developer at University of Missouri. His research interests include data mining, knowledge discovery in databases, knowledge representation and exchange in content-based retrieval systems, semantic modeling and retrieval, conceptual change, ontology integration, and expert-in-the-loop knowledge generation and exchange.

  • Joanna F. DeFranco

    • Ph.D., Computer and Information Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology
    • M.S., Computer Engineering, Villanova University
    • B.S., Electrical Engineering and Math, Penn State

    Dr. Joanna F. DeFranco is an assistant professor of software engineering. She has worked as an electronics engineer for the Navy and as a software engineer at Motorola. Her research interests include software engineering teams, effective teamwork, Internet of Things, and software-intensive critical systems.

  • Partha Mukherjee

    • Ph.D., Information and Technology, Penn State
    • M.S., Computer Science, University of Tulsa
    • M.Tech., Computer Science, Indian Statistical Institute
    • B.Eng., Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University

    Dr. Partha Mukherjee, assistant professor of data analytics, teaches courses in analytics programming, data mining, predictive analytics, and analytics systems design. He is a member of ACM, ACEEE, AIS, AiR, and ASE, and has published papers in peer-reviewed IEEE, Elsevier, and ACM Journals and conferences. Dr. Mukherjee’s research interests include social computing, web analytics, data mining, e-commerce, and natural language processing with a focus on text simplification.

  • Robin G. Qiu

    • Ph.D., Industrial Engineering, Penn State
    • Ph.D., (Minor), Computer Science, Penn State
    • M.S., Numerical Control, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
    • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, China

    Dr. Robin G. Qiu is a professor of information science at Penn State. He teaches courses on data analytics, information science, software engineering, and cyber security. Dr. Qiu's research includes smart service systems, IoT, big data, data/business analytics, information systems and integration, supply chain and industrial systems, and analytics. He served as the editor-in-chief of INFORMS Service Science. He is an associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics and IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, and has more than 160 publications.

  • Raghvinder S. Sangwan

    • Ph.D., Computer and Information Sciences, Temple University
    • M.S., Computer Science, West Chester University
    • B.S., Genetics and Plant Breeding, Haryana Agricultural University

    Dr. Raghvinder S. Sangwan is a professor of software engineering with expertise in the analysis, design, and development of large-scale, software-intensive systems and the use of AI engineering to design and develop intelligent systems that are safe, secure, and trustworthy. His research focuses on the improvement of these practices, and he has taught related courses to engineers and project managers at many prestigious academic, government, and industry organizations worldwide. Dr. Sangwan actively consults for Siemens Corporate Technology in Princeton, New Jersey, and holds a visiting scientist appointment at the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a distinguished contributor and senior member of IEEE and a senior member of ACM.

  • Satish Srinivasan

    • Ph.D., Information Technology, University of Nebraska at Omaha
    • M.S., Industrial Engineering and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
    • B.S., Information Technology, Bharathidasan University

    Dr. Satish Srinivasan is an associate professor of information science in the engineering division at Penn State Great Valley. He teaches courses related to database design, data mining, data collection and cleaning, design and implementation of predictive analytics system, network and web securities, and business process management. His research interests include social network analysis, data mining, machine learning, big data and predictive analytics, and bioinformatics.

Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State graduate certificate?

Apply by April 15 to start May 19. How to Apply 

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