Pathways in cybersecurity: Translating theory into practice

Abstract

In this paper, we report on a pilot project which was geared to explore the possibility of enabling a pathway in Cybersecurity education between community colleges and four-year institutions where students enter the four-year institution with Junior status after graduating from the community college with a suitable Associate in Science degree. The pilot was carried out in the context of the Cybercorps ®: Scholarship for Service program, also focusing on exploring whether it is possible to support students pursuing such a pathway through the Cybercorps ®: Scholarship for Service program and successfully placing them in the government to complete their internship and post-graduation service requirements. The pilot included two students from a community college pursuing an Associate in Science degree in Computer Science/ Engineering and then transferring to the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree program at a nearby four-year institution. This paper reviews the various components of the pilot project, discusses challenges and opportunities, and provides some suggestions for future directions from the perspective of the four-year institution.