IT Grad Certificates at the KU Edwards Campus Provide Real-World Training, Advance Careers

Joel Kershner is confident in the lifelong value associated with university degree and certificate programs. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in technology management and working in the field, he invested in graduate-level education to continue to grow professionally.

While working full-time as a senior information security analyst at KU, he used his employee tuition benefit to earn a graduate certificate in Applied Cybersecurity, a program supported by the Johnson County Education Research Triangle (JCERT).

Counting the credits from the graduate certificate, “I am now building on the certificate to complete the Master of Science in Information Technology,” Kershner said.

In addition to the cyber certificate, the IT program offers a graduate certificate in Software Engineering and Management, which is also supported by JCERT. Jacob Schleith, a full-time lead integration engineer, is on track to complete a graduate certificate while working on a master’s in Information Technology. The program has already given Schleith new insights into the IT field.

“I've learned a lot about operations, performance and security skills in class that I’m already using on the job,” he said.

The career outlook for information and network security professionals is robust. The number of IT jobs in the U.S. increased by 13.2% between 2021 and 2024, and the median salary is $104,200, according to Lightcast, a research company that tracks national labor market data. Public and private sector employers seek qualified professionals with real-world skills and educational credentials.

The KU graduate certificates in IT ensure students have applicable knowledge and skills to meet area businesses’ growing needs.

“The graduate certificate in cybersecurity is designed to provide students with essential skills needed to succeed in the dynamic frontier of network and computer security,” said Blake Bryant, IT program director. “Students learn and demonstrate proficiency in offensive, defensive and managerial skill sets expected in the cybersecurity field.”

The software engineering and management certificate teaches project management principles, architecture, quality assurance and best practices in software design, among other skills needed to develop large software products.

“Many students pursuing these certificates are working professionals,” Bryant said. “They bring real-world challenges from their day jobs to the classroom, which maximizes networking and collaborative opportunities for them.”

According to Parveen Mozaffar, senior academic advisor for the IT programs, these KU certificates are highly regarded in the workforce and add significant credentials to a resume.

“It’s not uncommon for a student to complete the 12-credit-hour certificate program and then go on to complete the IT master’s degree,” Mozaffar said.

Kershner said businesses have difficulty finding technology talent and specifically quantifying the quality of talent in the hiring process.

“I’ve found technology employers really want candidates to have a depth of knowledge and demonstrate a passion for the profession,” he said. “KU IT certificates and degrees are valuable because they represent both.”

Kershner realized he “could go only so far with a technical understanding of security,” he said. “My employer wanted more of me, like an understanding of continual process improvement and organizational maturation. The KU program really emphasized the importance of this.”

Schleith appreciates the Overland-Park based KU Edwards Campus offering these programs since he lives in Kansas City.

“My primary focus has to be my job, so the flexibility to take courses locally or online in the evenings is essential,” he said.

The IT graduate certificates are offered in a hybrid format at the KU Edwards Campus, allowing full-time professionals to earn credentials to advance in their careers. Faculty with extensive experience in the workforce teach the courses.

More information about these IT programs is available at https://edwardscampus.ku.edu/masters-it.