The University of Maryland has officially launched its third massive open online course (MOOC) on Coursera, Cybersecurity Risk Management Across Critical Systems. The course, developed and taught by the Director of the Center for Governance of Technology and Systems (GoTech), Charles Harry, continues the university’s mission to make high-quality cybersecurity education accessible to a global audience.
Designed for learners of all backgrounds, from seasoned cybersecurity professionals to those with little to no technical experience, the course provides a comprehensive foundation in managing cybersecurity risk across essential systems. Drawing on Harry’s extensive background with the National Security Agency and in advising national and corporate leaders on matters of cybersecurity, the course examines technical fundamentals alongside policy, governance, and real-world resilience strategies.
This new course builds on the success of Harry’s acclaimed Cybersecurity for Everyone course, which is now on track to surpass 500,000 enrollments within the next six weeks. That course was recently recognized by online course watchdog, Class Central, as one of the “9 Best Cybersecurity Courses for 2025,” earning top marks for its accessibility, clarity, and relevance in a fast-changing digital security landscape.
With the addition of Cybersecurity Risk Management Across Critical Systems, all three courses in the series are being bundled into a new Coursera Specialization. This format allows learners to engage with each course individually or complete the full sequence as part of a structured, stackable curriculum. The specialization is designed to offer both flexibility and depth, equipping learners to address cybersecurity challenges across sectors and at scale.
The launch reflects UMD’s leadership in online education and its commitment to building cybersecurity capacity across industries and borders.
