UMBC on edX, listed as University System of Maryland course USMx+IS4551 and taught by Professor Lei Zhang. The public course page is a six-week beginner STEM introduction to post-quantum cryptography: lectures plus hands-on labs. edX marks it free to audit; the verified certificate is paid. Confirm the current certificate price on edX.
The published outline covers classical and modern encryption, enough quantum computing to see why Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms matter, then NIST-standardised PQC algorithms such as Kyber and Dilithium. It is a cryptography course that takes the quantum threat seriously, not a Qiskit programming course.
This is the missing university PQC MOOC next to Delft’s quantum-safe technical and quantum-safe governance pair. IBM’s own quantum-safe learning course was not live on IBM Quantum Learning when this listing was written.
Who it is for
People in security or software who need NIST PQC vocabulary and the quantum why, without a physics degree. Not a circuit-building course.
Topics covered
Enrol in this course
Introduction to Post-Quantum Cryptography (UMBC) is a paid course on edX, at beginner level, and runs 6 weeks, 7 hours per week. A certificate is included.
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