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Harvard University · on edX

Computer Science for Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

Beginner 150 hours English Professional CertificateFREE
SkillsComputer scienceCybersecurityProgrammingSecurity awarenessCS50Problem solving

Is this course right for you?

Our take
A HarvardX professional certificate on edX that blends two of Harvard's most popular courses: CS50's Introduction to Computer Science and CS50's Introduction to Cybersecurity.

Good for: A rigorous computing + cybersecurity foundation from Harvard.

Skip if: You want advanced or purely technical security work.

Together they give you a genuine computing foundation alongside real security awareness, taught with the rigour CS50 is known for — which is the appeal and the warning in one. It's excellent if you want a proper grounding, and the wrong pick if you're after advanced or purely technical security work. It's also, despite being free, seriously time-consuming: CS50 is demanding.

The cost story is unusually good here. In the CS50 tradition, both underlying courses can be taken free and offer free Harvard certificates on completion; the edX verified professional-certificate track is a separate paid option. Either way you end up with a well-regarded Harvard course credential — not an academic degree, but a strong signal of the work you've done (as of 2026).

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About this course

Computer Science for Cybersecurity blends two of Harvard's most popular CS50 courses — its Introduction to Computer Science and its Introduction to Cybersecurity — into a single professional certificate. You complete any two courses from the series, getting both general computer-science fundamentals and a specific cybersecurity lens on them.

Browse all Cybersecurity courses Browse all edX courses

Instructor

DJ
David J. Malan
edX instructor

David J. Malan teaches Harvard's CS50, one of the most-watched introductory computer science courses in the world.

Frequently asked questions

It is a HarvardX offering that brings together computer-science foundations relevant to cybersecurity — drawing on Harvard's CS50-family material — so you build the underlying computing knowledge (how systems, programming, and data work) that serious security study rests on. Rather than jumping straight to security tools, it grounds you in the CS fundamentals that make cybersecurity comprehensible, which is a genuine strength for building real depth.

It is rigorous, in the Harvard/CS50 tradition — genuinely challenging and demanding real effort, since it teaches computer-science fundamentals rather than surface-level security tips. Motivated learners cope well, but it is not a light overview. Expect to work through programming and systems concepts seriously; that difficulty is exactly what gives it value as a foundation, versus quicker but shallower security introductions.

Not necessarily prior security experience, but this is demanding computer-science material, so some comfort with computing and a willingness to tackle programming genuinely helps. Complete beginners can attempt it given determination, in the way CS50 welcomes newcomers, but be ready for a steep, rewarding climb. It builds foundations rather than assuming them, though it expects real commitment to get through.

Yes — HarvardX material on edX can typically be audited free to access the lectures and much of the content, with a verified certificate available for a fee. Since the value is genuinely learning the computer-science foundations, auditing gives you the substance if you want the knowledge rather than the credential.

It is substantial — given its rigour and computer-science depth, expect a serious commitment of weeks to months depending on your background and pace. It is hands-on with real programming and problem-solving, so the time goes into genuinely working through the material, not passively watching. Treat it as a foundational investment rather than a quick course.
Free
to audit
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