Mount St. Mary's University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA), recognizing the university's commitment to excellence in cybersecurity education and its role in developing the next generation of cyber defenders.
The NSA's CAE program seeks to reduce vulnerabilities in the nation's information infrastructure by promoting high-quality cybersecurity education and strengthening the cybersecurity workforce pipeline. Institutions earning the designation demonstrate excellence in curriculum, faculty expertise, student engagement, continuous improvement, and commitment to the cybersecurity profession.
As a CAE-CD institution, Mount St. Mary's joins a select group of colleges and universities recognized by the NSA for their contributions to cybersecurity education and workforce development. The CAE-CD designation is awarded to colleges and universities that meet rigorous academic and institutional requirements established by the NSA and federal partners. The designation validates that Mount St. Mary's Cybersecurity B.S. curriculum aligns with nationally recognized standards and provides students with the technical knowledge, practical skills, and ethical foundation needed to defend critical systems and infrastructure.
“The Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation recognizes the rigor of our cybersecurity and computational programs and places us among the best in the nation,” said Christine McCauslin, Ph.D., dean of the School of Science, Mathematics & Technology.
“It additionally speaks to our dedicated and talented faculty who are committed to preparing Mount graduates to be workforce ready. We are honored to have earned this award and are proud to be among the leading institutions in cybersecurity training.”
Through the Mount’s Cybersecurity degree program, students gain access to hands-on learning opportunities, cybersecurity competitions, professional networking events, guest speakers, and experiential learning activities that prepare them for careers in both the public and private sectors.
The university's cybersecurity program is guided by an active advisory board composed of leaders from government, industry, and academia. These partnerships help ensure that coursework remains aligned with evolving workforce needs and emerging cybersecurity challenges, including cloud security, artificial intelligence governance, Zero Trust architecture, cyber defense operations, and risk management.
Mount St. Mary's students have also demonstrated exceptional performance in national cybersecurity competitions. During the most recent National Cyber League (NCL) season, Mount teams achieved impressive results among thousands of participants nationwide, showcasing their skills in areas such as digital forensics, network security, cryptography, web application security, open-source intelligence, and vulnerability analysis. The university's top-performing team ranked among the leading teams nationally, reflecting the strength of the program's emphasis on hands-on, real-world cybersecurity skills.
For more information about cybersecurity programs at Mount St. Mary's University and the Mount Cyber Center, visit the university's website and their virtual Mount Cyber Center.