Graduate Certificate in Industrial Cybersecurity
The Graduate Certificate in Industrial Cybersecurity at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University prepares students to secure today’s most essential and most targeted environments: industrial and critical-infrastructure systems. This certificate is designed to cultivate a specialized workforce with skills spanning both:
- IT Security (enterprise networks, systems, and cyber defense)
- OT / ICS Security (industrial automation, PLCs, cyber-physical systems, and operational networks)
Employers increasingly seek candidates who can bridge traditional cybersecurity with industrial technologies such as PLC systems, automation, industrial networking, and cyber-physical risk management. Few programs integrate these areas in a single, workforce-aligned certificate (ref: ).
Why Industrial Cybersecurity?
Industrial environments are rapidly becoming connected through automation, remote monitoring, and Industrial IoT—expanding the attack surface for manufacturing, energy, utilities, and transportation systems. OT security differs from IT security: availability, safety, and operational continuity are core constraints, and defenders must understand both the cyber and physical process impacts of incidents.
Career Opportunities & Salary Outlook
This certificate supports career pathways in roles such as:
- Industrial / OT Cybersecurity Analyst
- ICS / SCADA Security Specialist
- Cyber-Physical Systems Security Engineer
- Network Security Engineer (Industrial Environments)
- Critical Infrastructure Risk & Compliance Analyst
Nationally, cybersecurity roles continue to show strong demand and competitive salaries.
Program Objectives
Graduates of this certificate will be able to:
- Explain industrial automation and control-system fundamentals, including PLC-based systems and OT constraints.
- Apply cybersecurity principles to cyber-physical and industrial environments.
- Evaluate and mitigate vulnerabilities across systems, networks, and Industrial IoT deployments.
- Perform security assessment activities such as threat modeling, monitoring, and incident response considerations for OT.
- Integrate IT security practices with OT safety, reliability, and availability requirements.
Certificate Structure and Course Map
Admission Prerequisite
Applicants should hold a B.S. or B.E. in a STEM discipline. Students without prior background in computer science or engineering are encouraged to build foundational knowledge in computing, networking, and programming through free resources such as CS50 (Harvard) and Cisco Networking Academy.
Required Courses
Students complete one course in each of the following areas.
1) Industrial Fundamentals (Choose One)
- – PLC Systems & Programming
- – Instrumentation Systems & Automation
- – Automated System Engineering
2) Network Fundamentals (Choose One)
- – Computer Network Analysis & Design
- – Computing Networks
- – Advanced IoT Networking
3) System Security (Choose One)
- – Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing
- – Cybersecurity: Systems
- – Cyber Crime Analysis
4) Network Security (Choose One)
- – Cyber Physical Systems & Security
- – Cybersecurity: Networks
- – Wireless Sensor Network Security
Recommended Sequence
- Take Industrial Fundamentals before System Security.
- Take Network Fundamentals before Network Security.
For students entering from other STEM (non-CS/non-Engineering) backgrounds, the following courses provide an accessible and workforce-aligned pathway:
- INEN 5396 – Automated System Engineering
- COSC 5328 – Computing Networks
- CPSC 5363 – Cybersecurity: Systems
- COSC 5345 – Cybersecurity: Networks
Knowledge Unit Alignment
The certificate aligns with the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) knowledge areas, including Cybersecurity Foundations, Cybersecurity Principles, IT Systems Components, Basic Scripting and Programming, Basic Networking, Network Defense, Basic Cryptography, and Operating Systems Concepts.
Contact
Dr. Xingya Liu (xliu@lamar.edu)Department of Computer Science
ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University