Graduate Certificate – Information Security

The Graduate Certificate – Information Security at Athabasca University is a 12-credit online credential built from four courses, delivered as paced study with defined start and end dates, with a minimum of six credits required through Athabasca University. The program admits three times a year and can be completed in as little as 1.5 years, up to a maximum of two years. Coursework covers enterprise network design, ethical decision-making in IT, and the development of secure information systems. Students take these courses alongside Master of Science – Computing and Information Systems students, and credits may be applied toward that MSc CIS degree if the graduate is admitted within seven years. Admission requires a baccalaureate degree in a related area or equivalent education and experience. The certificate is aimed at people already working in information technology who want to move specifically into information security roles, offering a focused route to security-specific knowledge without the length of a full master's program, while still preserving the option to continue into graduate study later.