NSA and DHS Announce the 2014 National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly announce the first 44 institutions designated as NSA/DHS National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Information Assurance (IA)/Cyber Defense (CD). The new CAE IA/CD designation is based on updated academic criteria for Cybersecurity education and affords each CAE institution the opportunity to distinguish its strengths in specific IA/CD focus areas. The updated criteria benefit not only the institution, but also students, employers and hiring managers throughout the Nation.

The purpose of the National CAE designation program is to promote higher education in IA and CD and prepare a growing number of IA/CD professionals to meet the need to reduce vulnerabilities in the Nation's networks. The initial National CAE in IA Education (CAE/IAE) program was started by NSA in 1998, with DHS joining as a partner in 2004 in response to the President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace. The CAE in IA Research (CAE-R) program was added in 2008 to encourage universities and students to pursue higher-level doctoral research in Cybersecurity. In 2010, the CAE in Two-Year IA Education (CAE2Y) program was established to afford two-year institutions, technical schools, and government training centers that are also teaching IA curricula, the opportunity to receive such designation.

During the transition to the new program requirements, current CAE/IAE designations will remain in effect.

Contacts: For additional information, please contact the National CAE in IA/CD program office via email.

Media representatives interested in additional information regarding the National CAE in IA/CD Programs may contact the NSA Public Affairs Office via email.

Fact Sheet

National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly announce the designation of the following NSA/DHS National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Information Assurance (IA)/Cyber Defense (CD):