SWEEPS Secure Programming Training
Advance Your IT Career with SWEEPS
Strengthen Workforce Education for Excellence in Programming Securely (SWEEPS) is a collaboration between the National Security Agency and a coalition of cybersecurity initiatives, and top-ranked universities and community colleges to teach software developers how to increase code security without sacrificing efficiency.
By enrolling in a SWEEPS Secure Programming Training Program, you will:
- Learn high-demand skills to advance your career in secure software development, secure programming and testing, and cybersecurity
- Learn the latest data security standards and how to reduce security vulnerabilities that leave software, systems and infrastructure open to cyberattacks
- Join dedicated programmers across the country to meet the rapidly growing need for increased software security
Online Flexibility
Workshops, Boot Camps, and Certificates
Training for All Levels, from Career Changers to Experts
Scholarships Available
Program Information
Choose a Program Type That Fits You
Program Type |
Description |
Duration |
Participating Schools |
Workshop |
A virtual workshop for college educators and IT professionals, providing introductory-level training on secure programming. |
One day (8 hours) virtual classroom | WPI, UMBC |
Course: Developing Secure and Robust Code |
A self-paced online course for early career software engineers, IT professionals, graduate students, and college educators. |
45 hours (3 semester credits/ 4.5 quarter credits) | UCD, UMBC |
Summer Camp |
A one-week intensive camp taught online in virtual classrooms for software engineers, graduate students, college educators, and IT and cyber professionals, expecting an in-depth understanding of secure programming. |
5 days (5 hours/day) virtual classroom | UCD, WPI |
Certificate | For mid-senior level software engineers, cyber professionals, IT professionals, and graduate students. This is an intensive four course study that earns an academic certificate. | 1 academic year (Approx. 12 Semester Credits) of online study | UCD, WPI, UMBC |
Clinic |
For college students with beginner-level programming experience. The clinic consists of virtual meetings that you can schedule to review code projects. |
30-minute virtual meetings | UCD, WPI, UMBC |
Get the Most Out of SWEEPS: Learn More
Who Would Most Benefit from Completing This Program?
- Junior software engineers interested in transitioning to secure programming roles early in their careers
- Mid- to senior-level cybersecurity professionals interested in advanced training in secure programming
- IT professionals working in government, schools, healthcare and other sectors interested in advancing their expertise in secure programming
- Educators and students enrolled at two-year and four-year colleges and universities who are looking to increase their knowledge and training in data security standards and secure programming.
What You’ll Learn
- Concepts, principles, and examples of secure programming.
- Common misconceptions and practices for improving security.
- Compliance and legal requirements related to secure programming.
- Intensive tutorials on advanced topics, including in-depth walkthroughs and analysis of vulnerabilities, exploits, and defense mechanisms beyond the basics.
What You’ll Get
- Advance Your Career: Learn in-demand and highly transferable technical skills that expand your career options and increase your income
- Academic Credibility and Practical Application: The SWEEPS Secure Programming Training programs have been developed by leading universities and informed by industry best practices, giving you a unique blend of research, theory and on-the-job application
- Comprehensive Offerings: From career-transitioning beginner to senior programmer, we offer training and skill-development for every stage of your career
- Convenience and Flexibility: From 3-hour online classes to in-person bootcamps, the SWEEPS Secure Programming Training programs provide you the flexibility to grow your skills in a format that matches your needs and lifestyle
- Make a Difference: Help protect our country and its citizens from the cyber criminals and “bad actors” who exploit vulnerabilities in our software, systems and infrastructure
Software Security Training for Every Stage of Your Career
The SWEEPS Secure Programming Training programs offer professional training at every stage of your cybersecurity career, and learners can take SWEEPS programs at
- University of California, Davis (UCD)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
The Agencies and Educators Behind SWEEPS
SWEEPS is driven by an industry-leading coalition of national universities and cybersecurity organizations and is funded by the National Security Agency. Members of the coalition include:
- University of California, Davis
- University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- Cosumnes River College
- DARK Enterprises, Inc. (a non-profit organization that focuses on cybersecurity education)
- StrongAuth, Inc. (dba StrongKey) (a technology firm specializing in cybersecurity)
Dr. Xiaoyan (Sherry) Sun received her Ph.D. degree in Information Sciences and Technology from the Pennsylvania State University in 2016 with emphasis on cybersecurity. Her advisor is Dr. Peng Liu.
Dr. Jun Dai is currently an Associate Professor in Department of Computer Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). His research interests mainly lie in the intersections of network and distributed system, AI, and cybersecurity, with recent focus on intrusion detection, vulnerability analysis, secure programming, and cybersecurity education. Dr. Dai has published papers in prestigious academic venues, such as IEEE TIFS, ACM SIGMOD, and ACM SIGCSE. He is the Workshop Chair of ACM CCS 2023, and has been a reviewer for top journals like TIFS, TDSC, TVT, and TMC.
Let’s Get Started!
Interested in learning more about WPI’s new graduate certificate in Secure Programming Training for Software Developers?
Reach out to Dr. Jun Dai, Associate Professor, Computer Science.