USD receives designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The University of San Diego is proud to announce a new designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.
Colleges and universities that receive this designation have met rigorous requirements and are formally recognized as a Center of Excellence (CAE) by the federal government for a robust curriculum that is aligned with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Each CAE-designated program equips students with the necessary skills, knowledge and tools to succeed in cybersecurity.
With this recent honor accorded to the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering degree program (offered on campus or 100% online), the University of San Diego joins more than 300 higher education institutions across the United States with CAE designations.
“This is the culmination of a three-year Cybersecurity Engineering curriculum update,” said Academic Director Chuck Bane. “We have worked very hard to ensure that our curriculum fulfills the NSA, DHS and NICE Knowledge Units and gives our students hands-on opportunities to learn not just the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ of cybersecurity.”
In addition to important, in-demand cybersecurity skills, students are taught how to turn theory into practice. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering program emphasizes immersive experiences, providing students with the real-world exposure needed to combat the global epidemic of cybercrime affecting businesses and organizations of all industries.
As a designated CAE institution, USD will have the ability to provide insight into cyber-related programs at federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Students at USD will have access to federal scholarships and grants and participate in a growing network of cybersecurity professionals and educators.
NSA created the Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education program in 1999, later expanding it to include cybersecurity. DHS became a co-sponsor in 2004, and three different CAE-C designations are now available: cyber defense, cyber research and cyber operations.
“The Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation indicates that your institution is helping to 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,” according to CAE.
If you are interested in learning more about one of USD’s advanced degree programs in cybersecurity, please fill out this form and an Enrollment Advisor will be in contact soon.
