SHU Earns National Cyber Defense Designation

First in the state, this designation denotes quality academic programs that help produce the nation’s cyber workforces

Sacred Heart University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) for their masters in cybersecurity program through the academic year 2027. Administered by the National Security Agency (NSA), the designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity-related degrees.

Sacred Heart is the first university in the state of Connecticut to receive a CAE-CD designation. Through SHU’s academic programs in cybersecurity, the University is committed to help address the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals.

Applicant institutions must demonstrate that they engage in significant community involvement, academic activities and institutional practices in cybersecurity and have one or more programs of study meeting the NSA’s requirements.

The goal of the CAE program is to promote and support quality academic programs of higher learning that help produce the nation’s cyber workforce.

Part of the Welch College of Business & Technology, the School of Computer Science & Engineering offers an M.S in cybersecurity degree. The program is designed for both students from all majors and working professionals and imparts requisite skills to effectively address the constantly changing threat landscape faced by people, companies and governments today. The M.S. in cybersecurity courses are taught using a hands-on learning pedagogy by subject matter experts with extensive experience from academic or corporate world.

The school also features a BS in cybersecurity, an undergraduate minor and a cybersecurity graduate certificate. In addition, students benefit from the Cybersecurity & Privacy Center, which offers an interdisciplinary and intercollegiate hub for education, research, training and community outreach in cybersecurity and privacy.

“Our program focuses on hands-on learning to prepare our students to protect our critical information, systems and infrastructure,” said Sajal Bhatia, assistant professor and director of SHU’s cybersecurity program. “This designation affirms our important work in training the future cybersecurity workforce.”