Cybersecurity Degree, Internships underscore UW-Stout’s Designation as National Cyber Defense Center 

ABOVE PHOTO: National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense seal and National Security Agency logo 

 With its recently renewed designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, University of Wisconsin-Stout has reached a standard that only about 4% of schools in the United States earn. 

“The CAE-CD designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and students. It highlights our commitment to excellence in cyber defense education and positions UW-Stout as a leader in cybersecurity education. We’re all very proud of this achievement,” said B.S. cybersecurity and B.S. computer networking and information technology Program Director Holly Yuan. 

The designation, through the 2028 academic year, is an extension of the university’s 2017-2022 designation, from the National Security Agency. UW-Stout was the first four-year university in the state to receive it in 2017. 

“The designation broadens opportunities for research, grants and collaboration. It ensures that our education meets the strictest national standards in cybersecurity, and it also qualifies our students for the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship,” Yuan said. 

The CAE-CD designation is significant for UW-Stout’s computer networking and information technology program, the only undergraduate program in Wisconsin to hold a CAE Program of Study designation. 

Since its initial designation in 2017, UW-Stout has added a cybersecurity degree program, with the first cohort of on-campus and online students joining in fall 2022. 

The cybersecurity program offers CYBR prefix courses that distinguish it as a unique discipline, Yuan said. “These courses, such as Cyber Forensics and Investigation; and Practical Application of Generative AI in IT and Cybersecurity, are designed to equip students with cutting-edge skills and knowledge,” she added. 

UW-Stout’s Cybersecurity Research and Outreach Center was established with the 2017 designation. 

Students enrolled in cybersecurity-related programs at UW-Stout are eligible to apply for the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Scholarship. The program promotes the recruitment of students for education in cybersecurity, preparing them for roles in intelligence and national security.  

The scholarship covers full cost of tuition, books and fees, and includes an annual stipend of $29,000, plus a one-time computer allowance of $1,650. Additionally, it offers a paid summer internship with the NSA and DoD, along with guaranteed employment with the DoD and NSA after graduation. Several UW-Stout students have received the scholarship. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OF THE STORY.