Syracuse University to offer Google’s new cybersecurity certificate

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies this week announced it will offer Google’s new cybersecurity certificate.

The Google career certificates prepare students for in-demand fields that include cybersecurity, data analytics, IT (information technology) support, project management and UX design — “with no experience required,” Syracuse said.

The instruction will equip students with job-ready skills as they pursue their degree, while also connecting them to career resources and a network of over 150 companies through the program’s employer consortium.

“The certificate programs from Google are structured to address the skills gap being experienced by a number of employers,” Arthur Thomas, executive director of the Office of Professional Acceleration and Microcredentials in the College of Professional Studies. “What we’ve created is a hybrid learning experience that builds on the excellent foundations established by Google by adding a dimension of live online sessions with instructors, specific readings, additional videos and discussion groups guided by our faculty. This added perspective and interaction will give our students a distinct advantage as they approach the job market.”

The certificate in cybersecurity is the first of six Google career certificates that will be available through Syracuse University, the school said.

Originally designed and taught by Google employees, Syracuse University has added perspectives and information from both faculty and practitioners to “build an even more comprehensive foundation” in these areas. Each certificate program includes more than 150 practice and graded assessments, quizzes, or writing assignments to “ensure rigor and mastery.”

To help prepare students for jobs, the program provides resources including resume templates, coaching from Career Circle, and interview practice with Big Interview, Syracuse University said.

“Global interest in cybersecurity jobs among job seekers has reached an all-time high on Google Search this year, yet businesses continue to report a large cybersecurity skills gap,” Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, said in a Syracuse University news release. “The data is clear: we must create more pathways for people to enter the cybersecurity field and build a lasting career.”