Cybersecurity
Certificate, undergraduate
Lead in cyber defense
In today’s digital landscape, securing systems requires more than just technical know-how — it demands a comprehensive understanding of both technology and human factors. This program equips you to apply best practices across all components of a system, from hardware and software to user interaction and the surrounding environment.
You’ll learn to assess and strengthen systems against potential risks and threats, ensuring operational resilience. Grounded in ethical and legal frameworks, the curriculum also prepares you to navigate complex professional decisions with integrity and informed judgment.
Overview
Related Topics
Stronger systems with smarter security
Degree fit
This program will be a good fit if you:
- Are pursuing a degree in computer science, engineering or a related STEM field and want to specialize in cybersecurity
- Work in IT or tech and want to build formal cybersecurity credentials
- Want to strengthen your resume for roles in network defense, ethical hacking or system security
- Plan to apply for a cybersecurity-focused bachelor’s program or a scholarship program like CyberCorps: SFS
- Are in a non-STEM field (like business, policy or law) and want to add cybersecurity knowledge to support your career
Career outcomes
Current job openings
2,007 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and starting salaries
- Security Management Specialists
$55,170 - Information Technology Project Managers
$61,877 - Clinical Data Managers
$83,644 - Network and Computer Systems Administrators
$64,595 - Information Security Analysts
$72,088
* Career data provided by Lightcast.
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
Financial aid
U of I’s certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships on their own. However, students enrolled in a bachelor's or associate degree program may apply their financial aid and scholarships toward a certificate if they are pursuing both simultaneously.
For more information or to explore funding options, contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6312.
Clubs and involvement opportunities
Hands-on learning
All U of I College of Engineering students, especially undergraduates, participate in hands-on activities through:
- Idaho’s only Grand Challenge Scholars Program — Preparing undergraduates to solve the biggest challenges facing society in the 21st century.
- Nationally-ranked Senior Capstone Design Program — Emphasizing the design process and the creation of a thoughtfully engineered, tested and validated outcome or prototype. Interdisciplinary teams showcase their work at our annual Engineering Design EXPO.
- Polymorphic Games Studio — A multidisciplinary team of programmers, artists, writers, musicians, marketers, and biologists focused on evolutionary video game design.
Clubs and organizations
Our college offers 20+ clubs and organizations tied to international and national engineering organizations, including national competition teams.
Clubs related to your major include:
- Cyber Defense Club
- CyberForce Competition Team
- Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
- Polymorphic Games Studio
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Robotics Club
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- Tau Beta Pi - Engineering Honor Society (TBP)
Application information
Admission criteria for undergraduate certificates are the same as those for U of I undergraduate degree programs. View our admission requirements at admission requirements at our Admissions website to learn more.
Undergraduate certificate application process:
Students interested in adding a certificate to their bachelor’s or associate degree program should speak with their academic advisor.
Students interested in earning an undergraduate certificate as a standalone program should contact the Admissions Office at 208-885-6326 for information on how to apply.