State-by-State Guide to Schools that Hold DHS and NSA CAE-CD Designations

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program as a way to recognize and grant designations to schools that offer rigorous degree programs in information security.

Through this jointly sponsored program, the NSA and DHS work together to promote higher education and research in cyber defense. The NSA and DHS recognize that the ultimate goal of higher education and research in cyber defense is to produce professionals capable of defending against the increasingly complex nature of cybercrime and intrusion in both government and industry.

• Grand Canyon University - B.S. and M.S. in Cyber Security
• SNHU - B.S and M.S. in Cybersecurity
• Purdue Global - Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
• Arizona State University - Online Master of Arts in Global Security

The Centers of Academic Excellence Program Offers Three Distinct Designations

The CAE-CD program includes the following designations, which are granted to community colleges, campus-based and online colleges and universities, and research institutes:

• Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CDE): Granted to universities that offer bachelor’s and graduate degree programs relevant to cyber defense
• Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE-2Y): Granted to community colleges that offer two-year certificate and associate’s degree programs related to cyber defense
• Center of Academic Excellence in Research (CAE-R): Granted to institutions with research programs dedicated to cyber defense

CAE-CD designations are valid for a period of 5 academic years, after which institutions must reapply in order to retain their designation.

Note: The CEA-CD designation program officially replaced the original CEA-IAE (Information Assurance Education) designation in 2014. However, some schools have chosen to retain the original CEA-IAE designation until January 2017, at which time it will officially expire. These schools have the option to reapply for designation under the new CEA-CD program at any time.

Knowledge Units and Focus Areas Required to Earn a CAE-CD Designation

To qualify for one of the CAE designations, institutions must ensure their programs are closely aligned with specific cybersecurity-related knowledge units, validated by experts in the field.

Programs must include core knowledge units (KUs) on specific topics of study. KUs are specific to the three CAE designations:

Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE-2Y) programs:

• Basic Data Analysis
• Basic Scripting or Introductory Programming
• Cyber Defense
• Cyber Threats
• Fundamental Security Design Principles
• IA Fundamentals
• Intro to Cryptography
• IT Systems Components
• Networking Concepts
• Policy, Legal, Ethics, and Compliance
• System Administration

Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CDE) programs:

Includes the KUs of CAE-2Y programs, in addition to the following:

• Databases
• Network Defense
• Networking Technology and Protocols
• Operating Systems Concepts
• Probability and Statistics
• Programming

Center of Academic Excellence in Research (CAE-R) programs:

Must include a core of:

• Principles (e.g., domains, resources, privileges, layering)
• Security Mechanisms/Functionality (e.g., cryptography, virtualization, biometrics)
• Architectures (e.g., network models, critical infrastructure security)
• Assurance (e.g., software, hardware, modeling)
• Operations (e.g., configuration, security automation)
• Analysis (e.g., forensic, data mining, audit)
• Non-technical CD issues (e.g., legal issues, policy issues, privacy)

In addition to one of CAE-CD designations, CAEs have the option of applying for one or more cyber defense focus area designations:

• Cyber Investigations
• Data Management Systems Security
• Data Security Analysis
• Digital Forensics
• Health Care Security
• Industrial Control Systems – SCADA Security
• Network Security Administration
• Network Security Engineering
• Secure Cloud Computing
• Secure Embedded Systems
• Secure Mobile Technology
• Secure Software Development
• Secure Telecommunications
• Security Incident Analysis and Response
• Security Policy Development and Compliance
• Systems Security Administration
• Systems Security Engineering

A State-by-State Guide to DHS and NSA Designated Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

By attending a CAE program, students know they are completing a program that will allow them to make a strong contribution to protecting our nation’s information infrastructure from cyber-attack. Also, during the hiring process employers have more confidence when considering candidates who have graduated from schools with a CAE designation.