SEMO's cybersecurity program earns designation from NSA, DHS

Southeast Missouri State University’s designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) has been renewed through 2029 by the National Security Agency and the United States Department of Homeland Security.

The NSA’s website says the CAE-CD designation is given to universities that establish standards for cybersecurity curriculum and academic excellence, including competency development among students and faculty, value community outreach and leadership in professional development, integrate cybersecurity practice across academic disciplines and actively engage in solutions to cybersecurity education challenges. SEMO is one of five four-year universities in Missouri to receive the designation.

According to a news release from SEMO, the university’s designation gives students eligibility for scholarships, internships and job opportunities through the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE). It also includes training on up-to-date cybersecurity courses for faculty and opportunities for federal grants to continue to develop SEMO’s cybersecurity program.

“Cybersecurity education is crucial for protecting our information and systems in our increasingly digital world,” SEMO president Carlos Vargas said in a news release. “Our faculty work diligently to maintain the quality of SEMO’s cybersecurity degrees, and we are honored to be recognized for excellence by the NSA and Department of Homeland Security.”

Cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow by 32% from 2022 to 2032, creating a projected 16,800 new jobs annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. SEMO’s news release states that with the CAE-CD designation, the addition of the incoming cyber command center and the Cyber Defense Team’s success in competition it is “one of the premier cybersecurity education schools in the Midwest.”