We would like to highlight the success and vision of our Cyber Program. In May 2018, the University of Arizona (UA) received it's National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) designation. Reverse engineered not only to meet NSA requirements but also for the delivery as a completely online program, the UA’s Cyber Operations program offers a one-of-a-kind Bachelor of Applied Science degree. While maintaining the high standards of NSA designated schools, we shape our cyber warriors during their Junior and Senior years. We have articulated pathways from universities and community colleges to ensure a successful transfer into our program. Additionally, this program provides a breadth of knowledge to all students, ensures students are exposed to all facets of cyber operations, and ultimately equips students to leverage and apply their computer science skills across various industries.
The UA delivers its Cyber Operations program through an engineered Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). This platform consistently delivers course content and a hands-on learning environment for all students globally. Unlike other learning management systems, the VLE is connected to a virtual city, driven by powerful Artificial Intelligence. To create a realistic training environment, the virtual city CyberApolis consists of 15,000 virtual residents enhanced with Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Personal Health Information (PHI), financial data, and a variety of other attributes. These personas have fully developed patterns of life and conduct financial transactions, web browsing, emailing, social media posts, and entity and data relational linkages. Additionally, full web and network infrastructure supports CyberApolis’ infrastructure, utility companies, news agencies, banks, hospitals, and large and small retailers. Furthermore, CyberApolis hosts unique social media platforms that enable students to research, analyze, and complete program learning objectives.
Besides its CAE-CO designation, the University of Arizona Cyber Operations program also is distinguishable due to its varied career tracks which support a diverse population of students. Complementing its Cyber Engineering emphasis, the University of Arizona Cyber Operations program offers a Defense & Forensics career track and a Cyber Law & Policy career track. Both tracks are designed to fill critical roles within the government and industry. Defense & Forensics students are able to specialize within their degree by taking advanced courses in penetration testing, cyber intelligence, forensics, wireless and mobile networking, or coding through python. Law & Policy students have a direct pathway to enter the University of Arizona’s School of Law should they choose.
In addition to the above features, there are many other unique characteristics that contribute to the success of the University of Arizona Cyber Operations program. We are one of only two cyber operations undergraduate operations degree programs in the nation. With the University of Arizona’s designation as an Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence (ICCAE) we bridge our cyber program with our intelligence and information operations program to evolve the skills of our students to better address the changing operational environment. The most impressive characteristic is the program’s explosive growth; doubling our student population ever semester since its inception in 2016.
