Become a
Digital Defender

Washington University Cybersecurity Boot Camp | Learn Cybersecurity in 24 Weeks

  • Global Network: Gain access to a network of 250+ employers looking to hire.
  • CompTIA Partnership: Get a head start on certification test prep.
  • Student Success: Stay on track with personalized academic support.
  • Career Support: Access free professional resources throughout your career.

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Next Start Date:

December 16, 2024

Time to Complete:

24 Weeks, part-time

Live Online Classes:

9 hours per week

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The Support You Need to Transform Your Career

Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand global fields today. We’re committed to equipping you with the fundamental skills you need to make an impact while providing unparalleled support and resources before, during and after your boot camp.

  • Stay on track with a dedicated student success advisor.
  • edX Xpert support available for students 24/7, 365 days a year.
  • Connect with engaged instructors, teaching assistants, and peers for academic support.
  • Additional academic services may be available in select boot camps.

Join the Front Lines
of Digital Defense

The economic impact of cyber crime is growing: In 2024, the average cost to businesses affected by a data breach in the United States was $9.36 million, nearly double the global average.1

You can help protect organizations and populations — and change your entire career trajectory. As the world grows more connected and automated (and therefore, more vulnerable), the demand for cybersecurity specialists is on the rise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics*, cybersecurity jobs are among the fastest-growing careers nationally, with a 33% projected growth rate through 2033, compared to the 4% national average for other occupations.

1Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Student at laptop

Top Employers Hire Our Boot Camp Learners

Our boot camp learners go on to work for some of the world’s top companies, including over 62% of the Fortune 100.

Student at laptop

Further Your Career

Our Career Engagement Network will help you apply the tools and knowledge you have learned to advance your career. We will help you optimize your resume and LinkedIn profile, prepare for interviews and build your portfolio. You’ll also have access to free career resources throughout your professional life.

CompTIA logo

A Proud CompTIA Partner

We know how important certification is for our students; that’s why we chose CompTIA as a partner to provide you with a complimentary CertMaster test prep tool and an exam voucher to take the CompTIA certification exam of your choice: Security+, Network+, Linux+, Server+ or Cloud+.

While the boot camp itself does not provide test preparation, a portion of the final module is dedicated to helping you learn and leverage the CertMaster Test Prep Tool for the Security+ exam to get you started.

Innovative Curriculum. In-Demand Skills.

In 24 weeks, Washington University Cybersecurity Boot Camp will prepare you with the technical skills you need to protect digital environments. Through an immersive hands-on curriculum, you will not only learn fundamental cybersecurity methods, but also put them into action through practical exercises.

The curriculum is delivered through live, online classes and high-quality coursework. Our instructors are fully vetted by the university and offer 1-on-1 virtual guidance to learners throughout the program.

Learn to think like a cybersecurity professional by assessing threats and mitigating risks. Understand the differences between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) concepts, and their importance in cybersecurity.

  • What you will learn:

  • CIA triad
  • Threat detection
  • Mitigating risks
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning

Gain hands-on experience working with the command line and bash commands that are prominent in IT roles. You will configure and audit servers, as well as harden and secure them from malicious attacks.

  • What you will learn:

  • Linux server configuration
  • Windows server configuration
  • Tar, Cron and Cron Jobs
  • Logging
  • Bash scripting and programming
  • Active directory
  • Kerberos

Dive into network configuration, design, protocols and data communication. Study cryptography, network security and web development as it relates to cybersecurity.

  • What you will learn:

  • Network architecture, operations and security
  • Wireshark and traffic analysis
  • Email security
  • Wireless security
  • Cryptography and encryption
  • Port scanning
  • Cloud security and virtualization

Gain a thorough understanding of web applications, databases and the vulnerabilities and hardening associated with them. Dive into penetration testing using tools like Metasploit to attack and compromise networks and servers.

  • What you will learn:

  • Burp Suite
  • Zenmap
  • SQL injection
  • Webshells
  • Pivoting networks
  • Searchsploit and Metasploit
  • Penetration testing execution standard
  • XSS vulnerabilities and payloads
  • File inclusion and command injection vulnerabilities

Dive into SIEMs and network security monitoring, practice the Incident Response framework to respond to different breaches and attacks, and learn digital forensic how to recover deleted data as part of preparing evidence for a legal case.

  • What you will learn:

  • Splunk
  • Monitoring and logging
  • Incident response
  • Forensics
  • Data extraction and recovery

Learn how security controls impact an organization and its employees. Focus on certification prep for the Security+ and conclude the program with a final group project presented in a mock cyber conference event.

  • What you will learn:

  • Governance
  • Business continuity planning
  • Certifications
  • Compliance
  • Disaster recovery
  • CompTIA Security+
  • Research and technical demonstration

Now You’re Ready

By the time you’ve completed the boot camp, you will have mastered in-demand skills, built an impressive portfolio of projects applying your new skills in practical scenarios and earned a valuable non-credit Certificate of Completion from the Technology & Leadership Center at Washington University McKelvey School of Engineering.

Learn on Your Schedule

This is a part-time program designed for working professionals like you who want to learn cybersecurity to advance careers, enhance skills for a current role or change career paths.

Time to complete24 weeks
Live online classes9 hrs/week
Homework & projects 20+ hrs/week
Class time3 weekday classes
(3 hrs/class)

Invest in Your Career.
Explore Financial Options.

Cybersecurity boot camp fee: $13,000

Interest-Free Payment Plan

Pay an initial deposit and split the rest of your tuition into monthly installments with no interest.

24-Month Interest-Free Payment Plan

Once approved, you’ll pay your deposit and split the remaining tuition over 24 monthly installments with zero interest.

Pay in Full Discount

Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive $500 off your total fee.

Alumni Scholarship

Alumni are eligible for a $500 scholarship.

Employer Funding

Use available educational benefits or tuition sponsorship from your employer.

edX Boot Camps does not receive any commissions or payments for referrals or successful loan applications. The lender’s loan approval criteria will apply and you should consider the terms and conditions of any loan carefully. We are not credit advisers. We make no representations about whether you will be given a loan or whether a loan will be suitable for you. We are not responsible for representations made to you by any credit provider.

What Boot Camp Graduates Are Saying

  • “The cybersecurity boot camp allowed me to get all of the training I needed to be employer-competitive, while still balancing work, coursework and family needs. As an older student, I was concerned that my age would make getting a job more difficult, but through the program I was able to find a job prior to graduation!”

    John K.
  • “My experience with Career Services was terrific. They helped me with my Linkedln and resume during my boot camp, which got me a lot of attention. They … gave me information and sound advice about what the interview process will be like and what will be asked. Also, let me know what to ask for. It was my first time doing interviews, and I could not have done it without them.”

    Mawia A.
  • “This program gave me the knowledge and confidence to make a career change. I came out of my undergraduate degree very unsure about finding work, especially with the pandemic in full force. This program gave me the [ability to] buckle down and learn new skills. Looking back on it, it was my best decision of 2020 to enroll.”

    Logan M.

A Powerful Educational Partnership

About the Technology & Leadership Center at Washington University in St. Louis McKelvey School of Engineering

The Technology & Leadership Center is dedicated to providing the training your company needs to meet corporate and individual objectives. We personalize courses for your unique goals, from cybersecurity to leadership development.

The mission of the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis is to promote independent inquiry in engineering research and education with an emphasis on scientific excellence, innovation and collaboration without boundaries.

This program is offered through the Washington University in St. Louis McKelvey School of Engineering in partnership with edX.

About edX

edX, part of 2U Inc., works with respected universities and organizations to deliver innovative, skills-based training to a community of over 45 million learners around the world to support them at every stage of their lives and careers. edX delivers boot camps through an immersive learning experience with expert services and valuable resources. As of 2021, graduates have been hired by 6,700+ companies, including more than 62% of the Fortune 100.

About the Boot Camp

This boot camp, offered in partnership with edX, is made available through a unique consortium delivery model to provide skills-based learning to participants across Missouri and beyond. Participants will be taught by a university-approved instructor, while learning alongside students from other consortium-participating universities and institutions. Upon meeting the completion requirements, participants will be issued a non-credit Certificate of Completion by The Technology & Leadership Center at Washington University McKelvey School of Engineering.

The Next Cybersecurity Boot Camp Starts December 16, 2024. Reserve Your Spot Today!

It only takes a minute to request information and be put in touch with a member of the admissions team who can answer questions and get your application started.