About

• November 1, 2023:  Application start
• March 26, 2024:  Deadline for International applicants
• May 1, 2024:  Deadline for Canadian/Permanent Residents

All aspects of the Canadian way of life and standard of living, as well as our individual security, freedom, and privacy, rely on a well-protected operational network infrastructure, both corporate and national.

There is a growing need for highly-trained Canadian network security professionals with a deep understanding of the threats and solutions to help meet the challenge of providing verifiable security and privacy systems for Canada and the world.          

Our information security graduate certificate programs aim to make you an expert in a timely, targeted way that builds on your experience and expertise.

Cybersecurity threats are a critical issue facing our digital infrastructure. The Graduate Certificate in Network Security will provide you with an opportunity to acquire state-of-the-art expertise in this important, high-demand area.

This program is designed to provide specific, relevant training in creating and maintaining secure computer networks to both professionals looking to upgrade their skills, and to recent graduates of an undergraduate program in computer science who want additional training to progress in their careers. This certificate will also benefit computer science professionals who wish to move into a role more oriented to network security.

By the end of the program, you will:

• Gain foundational knowledge in network security and applied cryptography.
• Build an organization’s network security infrastructure, and conduct penetration testing to identify potential vulnerabilities in an organization’s network infrastructure.
• Recognize the limitations of technical security measures, and strategize and evaluate ways to address gaps, including non-technical solutions such as deployment of policies and programs.
• Communicate system design and security assessment results to a technical audience who may not be security experts.
• Decide on courses of action based on relevant legal and ethical considerations.

The Graduate Certificate in Software Security is designed to provide specific, relevant training in ensuring the security of software systems, applications, mobile devices, and smart devices that are part of the Internet of Things (IoT). This program is for professionals looking to upgrade their skills, or recent graduates of an undergraduate program in computer science or a related field who want additional training to progress in their careers.

By the end of the program, you will:

• Gain foundational knowledge in the principles of secure systems: systems security and software applications security.
• Develop a secure software system or product that will be connected to the internet: anticipate potential threats and design options to secure a product.
• Apply existing tools and practices into the software development process in order to enhance the security of their software.
• Apply threat modeling, security design, and security assessment skills in the process of developing an innovative product such as a mobile application or other smart device.
• Recognize the limitations of technical security measures, and strategize and evaluate ways to address gaps, including non-technical solutions such as deployment of policies and programs.
• Communicate system design and security assessment results to a technical audience who may not be security experts.
• Decide on courses of action based on relevant legal and ethical considerations.

The Data Privacy Certificate is a unique graduate-level programs. The curriculum for these programs was developed by a dedicated team of leading professors and knowledge creators in information security and privacy. As a student, you take full advantage of the expertise from researchers and instructors on the cutting edge of security and privacy solutions. Additional unique features of these programs are the integration of experiential learning, information security management, and technical skills.

Data privacy is an increasingly important topic for the general public, and information security professionals must ensure proper management and protection of data privacy and conformance to legal requirements. This issue is regularly highlighted by mainstream media outlets with the reporting of high profile data breaches. Recent, high-profile data privacy breaches including those that occurred at Cambridge Analytica and Facebook, along with the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, have brought public attention to the ongoing competing interests of personal privacy, data protection, and business practices. Companies and organizations world-wide must ensure the security and privacy of the data they collect, and there is a growing need for highly-trained professionals to work in this area.

By the end of the program you will be able to:

• Identify legal and regulatory requirements and develop policies, standards, and procedures in privacy and security.
• Describe and address privacy issues and evaluate privacy claims.
• Describe and assess privacy threats and possible mitigations.
• Communicate privacy-relevant organizational issues to both specialists and non-specialists.
• Integrate and apply knowledge and skills to solve realistic problems related to data privacy.