In the fall of 2025, University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is launching two new certificate programs to equip students with in-demand skills and career-relevant credentials they can earn quickly: a graduate certificate in Teaching Cybersecurity and an undergraduate certificate in Drones and Autonomous Systems.
Each certificate includes 18 credits of coursework and can be completed in as little as one year—much faster than the time it takes to earn a traditional degree! Best of all, these new certificate programs, like the rest of UMGC’s academic programs, have been built from the ground-up with the needs of working professionals in mind.
Graduate Certificate in Teaching Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a field that will continue to experience change for decades to come. New innovations such as AI, for example, will have a profound effect on the market. One study estimates that the AI market in cybersecurity is expected to hit $133.8 billion by 2030.1 These new technologies and innovations will fundamentally alter the field moving forward. As a result, the market is already seeing an increased demand not only for skilled cybersecurity professionals, but also for high school educators who can impart essential cybersecurity knowledge to students, preparing them for future careers in a critical field. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, global cybersecurity job vacancies grew by 350 percent from 2013 to 2021. These vacancies also include opportunities for high school educators who wish to teach cybersecurity. One study, conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, revealed that only 45 percent of current high school teachers say that their students are learning about this important subject. 2
That’s where we come in.
UMGC’s graduate certificate in Teaching Cybersecurity will provide pre-service and current high school teachers with foundational knowledge in cybersecurity and effective pedagogical strategies for teaching cyber courses. This certificate program is aligned with the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy (NCTA) coalition, which provides a standardized and rigorous program for cybersecurity education and ensures that educators are prepared to effectively teach cybersecurity concepts to high school students.
“UMGC’s new Teaching Cybersecurity certificate will give you an opportunity to learn industry-relevant skills and competencies demanded by employers and educational institutions to impart to K-12 students,” says Dr. Patrick Appiah-Kubi, Portfolio Director for Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity Technology & Information Assurance.
Students will learn how to apply cyber methodologies to cyber architectures, services, protocols, algorithms, and software components. They will also take a deep dive into the latest pedagogical teaching techniques and ideas in the field of cybersecurity. This curriculum has been designed and updated with feedback from both leading employers and industry experts, ensuring that students will be well-prepared for whatever challenges they might face in such a changing industry.
Even though the field of cybersecurity is changing, the fundamentals remain strong. In fact, there are currently about 3.61 million jobs in the field; that number is expected to increase 12.7% from 2023 to 2033.3 In addition to education jobs, those with cybersecurity credentials can also expect to qualify for jobs such as Information Security Analyst, Computer and Information Systems Manager, Computer Systems Analyst, and Computer Network Architect. 3
“This is an opportunity to contribute to solving the cybersecurity skills gap as an educator,” says Appiah-Kubi.
Those who wish to continue their cybersecurity education will be able to transfer their credits toward a master’s in cybersecurity technology at UMGC. By completing a master’s in cybersecurity technology, students will be adequately prepared to take several key industry certification exams, including Computer Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
Undergraduate Certificate in Drones and Autonomous Systems
As technology continues to evolve and improve in the 21st century, entirely new fields of study will emerge. Responsible universities must therefore anticipate these trends and offer learning opportunities to students interested in the fields of the future.
So that’s exactly what we did.
An online undergraduate certificate in Drones and Autonomous Systems will provide students with key industry knowledge of the drones and autonomous systems sector and focus on its conception, practical applications, and future trends. This program also aims to teach foundational elements and applications of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) drone systems along with relevant Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and international airspace regulations.
“In the national security, homeland security, emergency management, public safety, and criminal justice sectors, the emerging roles of drones and autonomous systems have been transformational,” says Brian Powers, associate professor and the portfolio director for Homeland, Intelligence, and Emergency Management.
He continued: “This new program will provide UMGC students with a foundational knowledge of the drones and autonomous systems sector with a focus on its conception, practical applications, and future trends.”
This certificate program is taught by experienced instructors with extensive knowledge of drone technology applications in military and civilian operations, systems, design, and management expertise. Enrollees will acquire robust knowledge of the policies, laws, capabilities, and applications of this exciting new technology. In fact, because this program is an undergraduate certificate embedded within UMGC’s homeland security bachelor’s degree curriculum, earning this certificate provides students with a stackable credential they can earn enroute to their bachelor’s degree—one that has immediate market value with respect to employment and career options.
“Those who pursue drone pilot training will find that their skills apply across industries such as agriculture, construction, energy production, and even search and rescue operations,” says Justin Baumgartner, professor of Public Safety Administration at UMGC.
The skills taught in this program apply across numerous industries and offer the possibility of multiple job roles. This is because the drone technology market is growing in many job sectors across the country. In fact, the FAA notes that there are about one million drones currently registered in the United States, including over 400,000 commercially registered drones. According to data from Indeed, those who study drones and autonomous programs will learn skills that can be applied across many diverse industries. As a result, these students can expect to find work as surveyors, firefighters, lineworkers, or even photographers.
Baumgartner believes that the industry will continue to grow during the next few decades. “As new ways to leverage the power and versatility of autonomous systems are identified, the need for operators, managers, administrators, and support staff to be familiar with operational limitations and opportunities to plan around and optimally utilize these systems to continue to grow as well.”
Why Earn a Certificate at UMGC
As the world evolves and industry needs change, we want you to be ready. At UMGC, we’ve made it our entire mission to educate working adults so that they’re prepared for the jobs not only of the present, but also of the future. We're determined to help our students achieve their next success. As part of this effort, we are constantly striving to make higher education more affordable while also giving you the skills you need to grow in your career. UMGC offers multiple options to make your education more affordable, including scholarship opportunities, variable payment and financing options, and no-cost digital resources that replace textbooks in most courses.
UMGC also believes in meeting our students where they are, which is why we offer lifetime career services at no additional cost. We also believe that learning can happen outside of the classroom, which is why we offer credit for prior learning as well as credit for existing industry certifications and professional experience.
Ready to study an exciting new field as you earn a certificate that can help you stand out in the market? Apply to UMGC today!
1 Source: Acumen Research and Consulting. “Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity Market Analysis - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends and Forecast 2022 – 2030"
2 Source: EdWeek Research Center. “The State of Cybersecurity Education in K-12 Schools”
3 Source: Lightcast™. “Program Overview: Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance.” March 2025.
Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.
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