Abstract: Purpose: This paper provides a current overview of graduate and undergraduate academic certificates in the U.S. It details information about the current number of certificates, requirements, and courses, both required and elective. Method: The study employed qualitative inquiry methods based primarily on textual analysis and the deployment of codes to assign a summative attribute for course types. Results: The field presently offers 110 certificates, which represents a growth rate of 186% for graduate certificates and a growth rate of 191% for undergraduate certificates. Conclusion: Certificate curricular data show that, unlike other degree programs, there is still no consensus on what a certificate should be and what courses should be required. Questions are offered to help the field start conversations about certificates.

Abstract: The trust and verification schemes among certificate authorities (CAs) are becoming increasingly urgent. According to the compatible application problems of digital certificate in multi-CA environment, an optimized cross-certification model based on certificate trust lists is proposed in this paper, and its system architecture is designed. The analyses show that the aims of simplifying application, managing efficiently and enhancing efficiency can all be achieved through this optimized model.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for one-step signature trust of digitally signed documents comprising determining whether a digital signature is otherwise valid except for a lack of trust in a digital certificate; offering a recipient an option to establish trust in the digital certificate; and adding the digital certificate to a list of the recipient's trusted digital certificates when recipient opts to establish trust.

Abstract: PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) is a system to secure procedures on the Internet with a digital signature using the public key cryptosystem. In this system, a trusted certification authority enables the authentication of communicators and/or signers using digital certificate published from the certificate authority. The digital certificate contains information such as names or addresses, etc., which can be used to identify the individual, although a common opinion is it is a privacy problem to disclose such information. In this paper, therefore, we propose a digital certificate system using the revised sumi-coated signature to solve the privacy as well as the security problems. We also report the evaluated results on the function and the performance using a partially implemented system.

Abstract: Estimates of quantity of the certificates issued during 10 years of existence of the professionals certification program in the area of software engineering implemented by one of the leading professional associations are presented. The estimates have been obtained by way of processing certificate records openly accessible at the certification program Web-site. Comparison of these estimates and the known facts about evolution of the certification program indicates that as of the present day this evolution has not led to a large scale issuance of these certificates. But the same estimates, possibly, indicate that the meaning of these certificates differs from what is usually highlighted, and their real value is much greater. Also these estimates can be viewed, besides all else, as reflecting an outcome of a decade long experimental verification of the known idea about "software engineering as a mature engineering profession," and they possibly show that this idea deserves partial revision.

Abstract: Technologies are presented for providing compound certificates via a certificate intermediary. In some examples, a certificate intermediary may generate a compound certificate that captures the certified behavior of an application and its underlying sub-services without revealing the identities of the sub-services for providing to a customer. The certificate intermediary may receive individual certificates from a certification authority. In other examples, the certification authority may generate the compound certificate, or the certificate intermediary may act as the certification authority for at least a portion of the sub-services.