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. NSA’s CAE in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) program supports the President’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE): Building a Digital Nation, and furthers the goal to broaden the pool of skilled workers capable of supporting a cyber-secure nation.
See the NICE One-Pager to learn more about the NSA/DHS CAE designations
Texas A&M University currently holds the following CAE designations:
- CAE in CD Education (CAE CDE)
- CAE in CD Research (CAE-R)
- CAE in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO)
Texas A&M CAE Programs of Study
Institutions that receive a CAE-C designation have met the rigorous requirements set forth by the sponsor of the program, the National Security Agency (NSA). The NSA awards CAE-C designations to institutions that have committed to producing cybersecurity professionals that will reduce vulnerabilities in our national infrastructure. Upon graduation students who successfully complete all requirements for the NSA validated Cyber Defense (CD) and Cyber Operations (CO) Programs of Study can request a certificate of completion for their records.
The Program of Study (POS) supporting Texas A&M’s CAE Cyber Defense designation:
Students will have completed all requirements for and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Minor in Cybersecurity (Engineering Track). The student’s transcript will denote both the Computer Science major and Cybersecurity minor.
- Bachelor of Science Computer Science
- Cybersecurity Minor
- Completed these classes with a grade of “C” or higher: CSCE 121, 221, 222, 312, 313, 315, 410, and 465 (Engineering Track)
- All requirements must be denoted on student’s transcript
- Student must submit an application to cybersecurity@tamu.edu, with “CAE Cyber Defense Certificate” in the subject line
The Program of Study (POS) supporting Texas A&M CAE Cyber Operations designation:
Students who have completed all of these requirements can receive the Texas A&M CAE Cyber Operations Certificate of Completion:
- Bachelor of Science Computer Science
- Cybersecurity Minor
- Completed these classes with a grade of “C” or higher: POLS 206, CSCE 222, 312, 313, 451, 464, 465, 481 and 482
- All requirements must be denoted on student’s transcript.
- Student must submit an application to cybersecurity@tamu.edu, with “CAE Cyber Operations Certificate” in the subject line