Assumption University Cybersecurity Program Validated by U.S. National Security Agency

WORCESTER, Massachusetts – Assumption University today announced that its cybersecurity program has achieved a major milestone – recognition by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), which is responsible for evaluating and accrediting schools that provide cybersecurity degrees and curricula.

The “Program of Study” validation, awarded by the National Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program – which is managed by the NSA – means the University’s cybersecurity curricula and its B.S. in Cybersecurity degree meets or exceeds NSA standards in articulating cybersecurity education. As a result, Assumption University is on path to becoming only the third NSA-recognized Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) in Massachusetts.

The recognition indicates an institution is helping to reduce threats to the national infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense as well as providing a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals. Global cybercrime damage in 2021 amounted to $16.4B per day, $684.9M per hour, $11M per minute and $190K per second, according to cyber economy research firm Cybersecurity Ventures.

“With this validation, Assumption students graduating with a B.S. in cybersecurity will receive a certificate that shows they completed the requirements of a validated Center of Academic Excellence Program of Study,” said Raymond Albert, Professor of Practice and Director of the Cybersecurity Program and University’s Center for Cybersecurity. “This credential will further enhance their professional prospects.”

"Our cybersecurity program delivers an optimal blend of technical educational experiences and a well-rounded liberal arts preparation to form graduates known for their intellectual seriousness, thoughtful citizenship, and devotion to the common good,” Professor Albert said. “This validation is a testament to the high-caliber instruction delivered by our faculty and further establishes Assumption University as a first-choice destination and leader in cybersecurity education in New England and beyond."

Sean Lewis II, a second-year student enrolled in Assumption’s B.S. in cybersecurity program, said, “With this recognition, Assumption cybersecurity students, like me, will have a distinct advantage when we start our search for employment in the cybersecurity field.”

Government and industry leaders have raised the urgency of cybersecurity efforts in the wake of staggering costs associated with cyber-attacks that continue to grow in frequency and severity. The demand for knowledgeable and skilled graduates to enter the cybersecurity workforce is reaching a crisis level with the current talent shortfall estimated at over 750,000 workers, according to the recent supply/demand heat map by Cyberseek.org. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides similarly sobering statistics with its estimate for employment of information security analysts set to soar 35% through 2031, much faster than the national average for all occupations.

"Assumption University has put a great deal of effort toward ensuring our cybersecurity major is a world-class offering that will produce graduates to meet ever-growing cybersecurity threats,” said Michelle Graveline, Interim Dean of the D’Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “This validation also reflects well on Assumption’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the region’s businesses and institutions, the cybersecurity workforce, and the greater good.”

For more information about Assumption University’s cybersecurity program, visit https://www.assumption.edu/undergraduate/cybersecurity.