CAE designation

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The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have designated Sam Houston State University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) through the academic year 2025 for the B.S. Degree in Computer Science, concentration in Information Assurance (IA).

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program is managed by NSA's National Cryptologic School. Federal partners include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer (DoD-CIO), and U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM).

NCAE-C program aims to create and manage a collaborative cybersecurity educational program with community colleges, colleges, and universities that:

  • Establishes standards for cybersecurity curriculum and academic excellence
  • Includes competency development among students and faculty
  • Values community outreach and leadership in professional development
  • Integrates cybersecurity practice within the institution across academic disciplines
  • Actively engages in solutions to challenges facing cybersecurity education