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NATIONAL CENTERS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN CYBERSECURITY

Orientation to Program of Study Requirements

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  • A Knowledge Area (KA) is a broad topic area that may have multiple KUs developed
  • A Knowledge Unit (KU) is a thematic grouping that encompass multiple related learning outcomes and learning topics.
  • A Knowledge Unit (KU) outcome is a specific assessment of a concept associated with a particular KU.
  • Course outcomes are the expectations that the academic institution is anticipating students will be able to demonstrate when completing a course in the context of the Program of Study (PoS).
  • KU Alignment: the process of documenting how the KUs and KU outcomes are aligned to the relevant courses in the PoS and/or associated work roles.

National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity

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NCAE-C Designation Requirements

NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework & Defense Cyber Workforce Framework

Academic Outcomes ALIGNED to KU Learning Outcomes

Associates

Bachelors

Masters

Doctoral

3 Cybersecurity Foundational KUs

Cybersecurity Foundations, Cybersecurity Principles, and IT Systems Components

5 Technical Core KUs

Basic Scripting and Programming; Basic Networking; Network Defense; Basic Cryptography;

Operating Systems Concepts

3

Optional

KUs

14

Optional KUs

7

Optional KUs +Thesis

3 Optional KUs + Dissertation

Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

Bachelors

Masters

Doctoral

10 Cybersecurity Foundational KUs

Cyber Policy, Law and Ethics; Cyberspace Foundations; Operating Systems; Computer Networks; Systems Programming; Cybersecurity Foundations; Applied Cryptography; Software Security and Analysis; Defensive Cyber Operations; Offensive Cyber Operations

4 Optional KUs

Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations

Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity Work Role Definitions

Designing to what degree?

Academic Core and/or Foundational KUs

Cybersecurity?

Other disciplines?

Mix?

Optional KUs

AI Security

Optional KUs AI for Cybersecurity

ALIGNED to Outcomes

NCAE-C Research designation does not have KU requirements

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NCAE-C Designation Requirements

NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework & Defense Cyber Workforce Framework

Academic Outcomes ALIGNED to KU Learning Outcomes

Cybersecurity Foundational KUs

Core KUs

AI Security

Core KUs

AI for Cybersecurity

Optional KUs for Both

AI Foundational

AI in Cybersecurity Work Roles

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Questions/Discussion

    • Cybersecurity Foundational for AI PoS?
    • Foundational KUs for all AI in Cybersecurity?
    • Core for SecurityAI?
    • Core for AICybersecurity?
    • Optional KUs?
    • Total KUs required for PoS validation?
      • One PoS agnostic to degree?
      • Specific total KUs per degree (like CD?)