National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)

Welcome to the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program is managed by the National Cryptologic School at the National Security Agency. Federal Partners include the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The NCAE-C program office collaborates closely with 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 US Cyber Command (CYBERCOM).

NCAE-C Updates

The mission of the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program is 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.

Academic institutions may choose from three designations.

The designation process is a combination of elements related to the institution focused on outputs for determining academic achievement. This combination assures that the institution meets the desired characteristics of a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) institution, and that the academic delivery to students is producing the qualified workforce needed by the nation.

CAE-designated institutions must complete validation of a Program of Study (PoS) which is a series of courses and experiences that a student can reasonably accomplish in the course of attaining a degree or completing a certificate.

The Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) Designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity degrees and/or certificates at the Associates, Bachelors and graduate levels.

The Cyber Research (CAE-R) designation is awarded to DoD schools, PhD producing military academies, or regionally accredited, degree granting four-year institutions rated by the Carnegie Foundation Basic Classification system as either a Doctoral University – Highest Research Activity (R1), Doctoral University – Higher Research Activity (R2), or Doctoral University – Moderate Research Activity (R3).

The Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) program is a deeply technical, inter-disciplinary, higher education program firmly grounded in the computer science, computer engineering, and/or electrical engineering disciplines, with extensive opportunities for hands-on applications via labs and exercises.

List of topics

Cyber Exchange Training

DoD Workforce Innovation Directorate

Public Key Infrastructure/Enabling

List of Cyber Resources

Cyber Exchange Help

Welcome to the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)

NCAE-C Updates

Academic institutions may choose from three designations.

National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)

Welcome to the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)

NCAE-C Updates

Academic institutions may choose from three designations.

U.S. Government Notice and Consent