York University’s School of Continuing Studies will launch Ontario’s first comprehensive, cyber security certificate program aligned to the Certified Information Systems Security Professional Common Body of Knowledge (CISSP CBK) this November.
The program will help provide qualified security professionals in one of the fastest growing tech fields in the world and has been developed in collaboration with the Lassonde School of Engineering. Experts are forecasting the doubling of the cyber security job market in the next five years.
“Given the increasing cyber security challenge Canadian organizations of all types face with skilled and motivated adversaries attacking our collective defenses, I am excited about the depth of expertise that the York University School of Continuing Studies will be imparting to their students with the delivery of the cyber security certificate program,” says John Weigel, National Technology Officer for Microsoft Canada. Weigel is also a member of the advisory council for the cyber security program at York.
The program is aligned to the body of knowledge of the (ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), the leading designation in the field. Offered as two five-month certificates, the Certificate in Cyber Security Fundamentals and the Certificate in Advanced Cyber Security will allow students to demonstrate their expertise to employers quickly. The school’s innovative blended format will allow students to complete each certificate with just three three-day weekends of in-class study per certificate combined with online study. This will help prepare them to successfully write the CISSP exam in just 10 months.
“Employers tell us that there is, and will continue to be, a significant shortage of qualified information security professionals. Our program will quickly produce graduates with comprehensive expertise in the field while minimizing the amount of time working students will need to be out of the office,” says Tracey Taylor-O’Reilly, founding executive director of the School of Continuing Studies.
Graduates of the Certificate in Cyber Security are prepared to lead teams and projects related to information security management. The Certificate in Advanced Cyber Security prepares graduates to take their CISSP designation exam and qualify for various roles, including computer security specialist, information security manager, and senior security manager positions.
The School of Continuing Studies at York University offers professional education certificates, English academic preparation and a degree pathway for mature, working students.