College Education for Cyber Defense Careers
The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program. The goal of the program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise.
The CAE-CD program comprises the following designations: Four-Year Baccalaureate/Graduate Education (CAE-CDE), Two-Year Education (CAE2Y) and Research (CAE-R). All regionally accredited two-year, four-year and graduate level institutions in the United States are eligible to apply. Prospective schools are designated after meeting stringent CAE criteria and mapping curricula to a core set of cyber defense knowledge units. Schools may also elect to map their curricula to specialized Focus Areas. CAE-CD institutions receive formal recognition from the U.S. Government as well as opportunities for prestige and publicity for their role in securing our Nation's information systems. Designation as a Center does not carry a commitment of funding from NSA or DHS. Funding opportunities may become available periodically from other sources such as the National Science Foundation.
The initial National CAE in Information Assurance Education (CAE-IAE) program was started by NSA in 1998, with DHS joining as a partner in 2004. The CAE in IA Research component was added in 2008 to encourage universities and students to pursue higher-level doctoral research in cybersecurity. In 2010, the CAE2Y component was established to afford two-year institutions, technical schools, and government training centers the opportunity to receive such designation.
Complimentary in nature, the CAE-Cyber Operations program focuses on technologies and techniques related to specialized cyber operations (e.g., collection, exploitation, and response) to enhance the national security posture of the Nation.(9)
Cybersecurity professionals report an average salary of $116,000—nearly three times the national average. As the demand for highly trained cybersecurity professionals grows, CAEs will continue to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities needed to protect and defend our nation’s infrastructures.
CAEs are recognized for their close alignment to KUs mapped to cybersecurity skills vital to securing our nation's information systems. By attending a CAE institution, students have the opportunity to learn by doing and to contribute their efforts to the protection of our nation. A degree from a CAE school gives potential employers confidence in hiring a graduate. Students can feel confident that their academic program will prepare them to enter this important and lucrative field.(10)