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Get Matched With Cybersecurity Colleges

The demand for cyber security professionals is strong, and only expected to increase as the nation battles to protect its information infrastructure. The government has a vital need to protect this infrastructure, and this need produced the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). CAE programs are required to meet specific academic and program requirements, improving the depth of cyber operation programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. Because the field is evolving so rapidly, requirements are reviewed each year and strengthened as necessary.

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National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)

The NSA and DHS are joint sponsors of the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program, which promotes higher education in cyber defense, as well as research. The NSA and DHS designed the program to provide cyber defense professionals with the greatest possible expertise when government agencies realized they were falling behind in cyber defense because American universities were not providing high-level programs on the subject. While qualifying institutions receive formal US government recognition, there is no funding for these schools from NSA and DHS, but other funding sources are available.

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Overview of How Programs Get Certified

CAE certification rules are stringent. Applicants are required to meet a particular set of academic requirements, which are subject to annual review and upgraded as the institution’s program matures and technology advances. Such applications must demonstrate how programs meet these requirements and criteria in order for them to receive designation.

Knowledge units (KUs) are “mandatory topics and associated objectives” required for inclusion in the school’s degree or cyber security certificate program. The applicant must provide proof that each topic and KU objective is addressed via a process known as mapping. Although approximately 70 KUs exist, less than 24 are required for four-year institutions, and fewer than 12 are required for community colleges to reach mapping requirements.

KUs fall into three categories:

  • Two-Year Institutions
  • Four-Year Institutions
  • Optional Knowledge Units

At least two faculty members must actively teach cyber security courses. Schools must produce evidence that cyber security courses are currently maintained and offered on a regular basis or at least every 18 months. Cyber operations should be a focus area or specialization for the institution, and the school must provide evidence of cyber-related faculty grants, published papers, and conference presentations. Once the school is accepted for CAE certification, renewals must include at least three faculty members and eight students over the five-year designation time period.

Sample Courses in Approved Cyber Security Programs

  • Applied Cryptography
    Cryptography is the science of data encryption, and applied cryptography focuses on practical methods of securing computer data privacy.
  • Network Security
    This course concentrates on various aspects of maintaining secure networks including detecting intrusions, network auditing, collecting evidence, and developing contingency plans in case of an attack.
  • Application Security
    In this course, students learn about malicious or harmful computer codes, and how to identify such activity and protect a company or organization from attacks.
  • Mobile Security
    In this class, students learn how to protect data on devices ranging from smartphone to tablets.
  • Information, Security and Privacy
    Students in this course are exposed to various methods used to threaten cyber security and privacy including phishing, pharming, ransomware, malware, and social engineering, along with best practices for preventing cyber risks.
  • Vulnerability Analysis and Penetration Testing
    In this course, students learn how to find the vulnerabilities in a system, prioritizing them by critical importance, and then try to hack into the system via penetration testing. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to two different procedures.

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Designation Program Options from the Centers of Academic Excellence

CAE-2Y

Center for Academic Excellence 2Y is a two-year program offered to eligible community colleges. To qualify, such schools must have a strong Information Assurance (IA) program and their security courses must meet two of the Committee on National Security Systems training standards, that of CNSS 4011 and one other.

CAE-CDE

The formal name is NSA/DHS National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. A CAE in CD Education is awarded in associate, bachelor, masters, and doctoral programs. All regionally accredited two-year, four-year, and graduate level institutions in the US may apply for this designation, but the criteria is strict. Such a designation means the institution is “helping reduce threats to our national infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense as well as providing the nation with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals, as per the CAE.”

CAE-R

To receive a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research, institutions must either be a Department of Defense school, a military academy producing PhDs, or a regionally accredited college or university granting PhDs. Such institutions must qualify under the Carnegie Foundation Basic Classification system as either a Doctoral University – Highest Research Activity (R1), Doctoral University – Higher Research Activity (R2), or Doctoral University – Moderate Research Activity (R3).

CAE-CO

This acronym stands for Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. This program is extremely technical as well as inter-disciplinary. It focuses on computer science and computer engineering, along with electrical engineering. It complements the CAE-CD program, emphasizing cyber operation techniques such as collection, exploitation, and response.

How Much of a Priority is CAE Program Approval in Cyber Security?

The CAE designation assures that you are learning what has been deemed the most important, up-to-date information by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). Since these two departments are some of the largest employers of cyber security professionals in the United States, and their need for new employees is increasing all the time, attending a CAE accredited institution is the best way to ensure that you have the best possible job prospects when you graduate.

However, that doesn’t mean that you HAVE to attend a CAE accredited school by any means. Small companies, large companies, and even city governments are in need of cyber security professionals and continue to hire those who have completed cybersecurity degrees at non-CAE universities, or even those who are self-taught in some cases, though self-taught individuals will likely need to obtain certification before they are truly trusted in their profession. Therefore, CAE accreditation is helpful but not necessary to get you into cyber security.

Approved CAE Cyber Defense Colleges

Currently, there are approximately 270 colleges and universities designated as CAEs in cyber defense across the country. To maintain CAE designation, the program or institution must apply for re-evaluation every five years.

These institutions of higher learning include:

  • University of Arizona in Sierra Vista, AZ offers a bachelor of science (BS) in cyber operations.
  • Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, offers a BS degree in Computer Network and System Administration, a minor in cybersecurity and a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
  • New York University Tandon School of Engineering in New York, New York, offers a master’s degree in cybersecurity, along with a cyber security specialization.
  • Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a major technology hub, offers a master of science in information security.
  • Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, offers a BS in computer science or computer engineering, along with a minor in cybersecurity.

Alabama

  • Auburn University
  • Calhoun Community College
  • Jacksonville State University
  • Snead State Community College
  • The University of Alabama in Huntsville
  • Tuskegee University
  • University of South Alabama

Arizona

  • Arizona State University
  • The University of Arizona, Tucson
  • University of Advancing Technology

Arkansas

  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock

California

  • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
  • California State University, Sacramento
  • California State University, San Bernardino
  • Cypress College
  • Long Beach City College
  • National University
  • Naval Postgraduate School
  • University of California, Davis

Colorado

  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Colorado State University – Pueblo
  • Colorado Technical University
  • Pikes Peak Community College
  • Pueblo Community College
  • Red Rocks Community College
  • Regis University
  • United States Air Force Academy
  • University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • University of Denver

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Connecticut

  • University of New Haven

Delaware

  • University of Delaware
  • Wilmington University

D.C.

  • Georgetown University
  • The George Washington University

Florida

  • Daytona State College
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach Campus
  • Florida A&M University
  • Florida International University
  • Florida State College at Jacksonville
  • Florida State University
  • Indian River State College
  • Nova Southeastern University
  • Saint Leo University
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of South Florida
  • University of West Florida
  • Valencia College

Georgia

  • Augusta Technical College
  • Augusta University
  • Columbus State University
  • Georgia Southern University – Armstrong Campus
  • Kennesaw State University
  • Middle Georgia State University
  • University of Georgia
  • University of North Georgia

Hawaii

  • Honolulu Community College
  • Leeward Community College
  • University of Hawaii – West Oahu

Idaho

  • Idaho State University
  • North Idaho College
  • University of Idaho

Illinois

  • College of DuPage
  • DePaul University
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Illinois State University
  • John A Logan College
  • Lewis University
  • Lincoln Land Community College
  • Moraine Valley Community College
  • Roosevelt University
  • University of Illinois at Springfield
  • University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Indiana

  • Indiana University
  • Ivy Tech Community College

Iowa

  • Iowa State University

Kansas

  • Fort Hays State University
  • University of Kansas

Kentucky

  • University of the Cumberlands

Louisiana

  • Bossier Parish Community College
  • Louisiana Tech University

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Maine

Maryland

  • Anne Arundel Community College
  • Bowie State University
  • Capitol Technology University
  • College of Southern Maryland
  • Hagerstown Community College
  • Harford Community College
  • Howard Community College
  • Morgan State University
  • Prince George’s Community College
  • The Community College of Baltimore County
  • The Johns Hopkins University
  • Towson University
  • United States Naval Academy
  • University of Maryland University College
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Massachusetts

  • Boston University
  • Northeastern University
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell

Michigan

  • Davenport University
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • Ferris State University
  • Grand Rapids Community College
  • Henry Ford College
  • Oakland University
  • University of Detroit Mercy
  • Walsh College

Minnesota

  • Capella University
  • Lake Superior College
  • Metropolitan State University
  • St. Cloud State University

Mississippi

  • Mississippi State University

Missouri

  • Metropolitan Community College – Kansas City
  • St. Louis Community College
  • University of Missouri – St. Louis

Montana

  • Missoula College

Nebraska

  • Bellevue University
  • Metropolitan Community College
  • Northeast Community College
  • University of Nebraska, Omaha

Nevada

  • College of Southern Nevada

New Jersey

  • County College of Morris
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University
  • New Jersey City University
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  • Stevens Institute of Technology

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New Mexico

  • Central New Mexico Community College
  • University of New Mexico

New York

  • Fordham University
  • Mercy College
  • Mohawk Valley Community College
  • New York Institute of Technology
  • New York University
  • Pace University
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Rockland Community College
  • Syracuse University
  • University at Albany, the State University of New York
  • University at Buffalo, the State University of New York
  • New York University Tandon School of Engineering

North Carolina

  • East Carolina University
  • Fayetteville Technical Community College
  • Montreat College
  • North Carolina A&T State University
  • University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Ohio

  • Clark State Community College
  • Sinclair Community College
  • Terra State Community College
  • The Ohio State University
  • University of Cincinnati

Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma City Community College
  • Oklahoma State University
  • Rose State College
  • University of Tulsa

Oregon

  • Portland Community College

Pennsylvania

  • Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Drexel University
  • East Stroudsburg University
  • Indiana University of Pennsylvania
  • Lehigh Carbon Community College
  • Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Valley Forge Military College
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

  • Community College of Rhode Island
  • University of Rhode Island

South Carolina

  • Clemson University
  • The Citadel
  • University of South Carolina

South Dakota

  • Dakota State University

Tennessee

  • Fountainhead College of Technology
  • Jackson State Community College
  • Tennessee Tech University
  • The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
  • University of Memphis

Texas

  • El Paso Community College
  • Houston Community College
  • Laredo College
  • Our Lady of the Lake University
  • San Antonio College
  • South Texas College
  • Southern Methodist University
  • St. Phillip’s College
  • Texas A&M University
  • Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
  • Texas A&M University, San Antonio
  • Texas State College in Harlingen
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • University of Dallas
  • University of Houston
  • University of North Texas
  • University of Texas at Dallas
  • University of Texas at El Paso
  • University of Texas at San Antonio

Utah

  • Brigham Young University
  • Southern Utah University

Vermont

  • Champlain College
  • Norwich University

Virginia

  • Danville Community College
  • ECPI University
  • George Mason University
  • Hampton University
  • James Madison University
  • Liberty University
  • Lord Fairfax Community College
  • Marymount University
  • Norfolk State University
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • Radford University
  • Regent University
  • Thomas Nelson Community College
  • Tidewater Community College
  • University of Virginia
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Washington

  • Columbia Basin College
  • Edmonds Community College
  • Green River College
  • Highline College
  • University of Washington
  • Whatcom Community College

West Virginia

  • American Public University System
  • Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
  • West Virginia University

Wisconsin

  • University of Wisconsin – Stout
  • Waukesha County Technical College

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