Become a
Digital Defender

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 professional resources throughout your career.

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24 Weeks, part-time

9 hours per week

Student at laptop

The Support You Need to Transform Your Career

Cybersecurity is one of today’s most in-demand fields globally. 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 2020, the average cost to businesses affected by a data breach in the United States was $8.64 million, up 32% from 2015, and 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. Information security is one of the fastest-growing fields,2 and No. 6 on Glassdoor’s Top 50 Jobs in America.3

1Statista.com
2Bureau of Labor Statistics
3Glassdoor

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 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, Northwestern 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, virtual classes and high-quality coursework. All university-approved instructors 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 CronJobs
  • 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

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

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 Certificate of Completion from a top university.

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 classes9 hrs/week
Homework & projects 20+ hrs/week
Class timeThree weekdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Invest in Your Career With the Right Financial Options

Cybersecurity boot camp fee: $12,995

AmeriCorps

Use your AmeriCorps award.

529

College/529 Plan

Use an eligible college prepaid or 529 plan.

Enterprise Partner Funding

Use available educational benefits or tuition sponsorship from your employer.

Interest-Free Payment Plan

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

Alumni Scholarship

Qualified university alumni are eligible for a $500 scholarship.

Pay in Full Discount

Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive $1,000 off your total fee.

Sallie Mae

Offers private student educational loans

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 Former Students

Are Saying

  • “I chose to attend Northwestern’s Cybersecurity Boot Camp because I wanted to change careers. It was not an easy decision to make, nor was it an easy transition from my former profession. That decision turned out to be one of the biggest and BEST decisions I’ve made yet. Just a couple of weeks after graduating, I was able to take my certification test and leave my previous job for a fresh start in my new career! This boot camp can definitely be considered a launching pad.”

    Desiree J.
  • “It has been a great program with friendly faculty. I highly recommend it to all who want to enter the cybersecurity field.”

    Jack T.
  • “The instructor was a seasoned professional and highly dedicated to the course. He showed up to each session well prepared and focused. He challenged us to understand the fundamental architecture of the web and dispelled myths about what it takes to be successful in the field. The TAs were eager to help and always receptive to requests for attention. They were also humble and sometimes participated as students in productive ways. Overall, the course was very well designed and objective. The life impact is pretty significant because I decided to pursue web development as a career.”

    Evan G.

A Powerful Educational Partnership

About Northwestern University School of Professional Studies

The mission of the School of Professional Studies is to provide a superior Northwestern education to outstanding students whose academic pursuits must be balanced with professional or personal commitments. SPS strives to be a national leader in continuing and professional education by providing innovative learning opportunities that serve the lifelong learning needs of its students.

This program is offered through the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies in collaboration 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.

The Next Cybersecurity Boot Camp Starts
December 2, 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.