Syracuse University to Offer Google’s New Cybersecurity Certificate

Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies today announced it will offer Google’s new Cybersecurity Certificate.

The Google Career Certificates prepare learners for in-demand fields including cybersecurity, data analytics, IT support, project management and UX design—with no experience required. This offering 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,” says 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.

Students who enroll in the Google Career Certificates through Syracuse University will unlock access to Syracuse University services, including personalized student support, career services and one-on-one instructor support. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to directly discuss course content through virtual live sessions that offer moments to engage with classmates and learn from industry experts who help illustrate how concepts are applied in real-life experiences.

When taking a Google Certificate through Syracuse University, students get the full Orange experience. The Google and Syracuse University partnership brings together two industry leaders to create a fully immersive professional development experience.

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 over 150+ practice and graded assessments, quizzes or writing assignments to ensure rigor and mastery. To help prepare learners for jobs, the program provides resources including resume templates, coaching from Career Circle and interview practice with Big Interview. Graduates are also connected with an employer consortium of over 150 companies—including American Express, Colgate, T-Mobile, Walmart and Google—that considers them for relevant roles.

“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,” says Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google. “The data is clear: we must create more pathways for people to enter the cybersecurity field and build a lasting career. Google is combining our industry-leading expertise in cybersecurity with our proven approach to training people for in-demand jobs to help create a solution. The Google Cybersecurity Certificate will help businesses fill cybersecurity roles and enable people to earn an industry-recognized credential that will qualify them for a great job.”

A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) will be available for students who complete the Google Career Certificates through the University. This assessment awards college credits based on prior learning and experiences by identifying direct course overlaps in a specific for-credit program at Syracuse University to which the student is applying. The PLA allows students to personalize their learning pathway into a for-credit degree or certificate program.

Since Google launched the original Grow with Google program in 2018, over 200,000 people have graduated in the U.S. Seventy-five percent of them report a positive career impact—such as a new job, higher pay or a promotion—within six months of completion, and over 50% of graduates identify as Asian, Black or Latino.

To learn more about this program, visit professionalstudies.syracuse.edu/microcredentials/google-certificates/.