CAE Designation Descriptions

Academic institutions may choose from three designations. The designation process is a combination of elements related to the institution focused on outputs for determining academic achievement. This combination assures that the institution meets the desired characteristics of a CAE institution, and that the academic delivery to students is producing the qualified workforce needed by the nation.

CAE designated institutions must complete validation of a Program of Study (PoS) which is a series of courses and experiences that a student can reasonably accomplish in the course of attaining a degree or completing a certificate.

The Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity degrees and/or certificates at the Associates, Bachelors and graduate levels.
The Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) program is a deeply technical, inter-disciplinary, higher education program firmly grounded in the computer science, computer engineering, and/or electrical engineering disciplines, with extensive opportunities for hands-on applications via labs and exercises.
The Cyber Research (CAE-R) designation is awarded to DoD schools, PhD producing military academies, or regionally accredited, degree granting four-year institutions rated by the Carnegie Foundation Basic Classification system as either a Doctoral University – Highest Research Activity (R1), Doctoral University – Higher Research Activity (R2), or Doctoral University – Moderate Research Activity (R3).

CAE-CDE Program Eligibility and Summary

The Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity degrees and/or certificates at the Associates, Bachelors and graduate levels.

The CAE-CDE Program is open to current regionally accredited:

Four-year Colleges
Graduate-level Universities
Two-year Community Colleges
Technical Schools
State or Federally Endorsed Cybersecurity Training Centers
U.S. Government Cybersecurity Training Centers

CAE-CO Program Eligibility and Summary

The Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) program is a deeply technical, inter-disciplinary, higher education program firmly grounded in the computer science, computer engineering, and/or electrical engineering disciplines, with extensive opportunities for hands-on applications via labs and exercises.

The CAE-CO Program is open to current regionally accredited:

Four-year Colleges
Graduate-level Universities
Must be based within a Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering Department, or a degree program of equivalent Technical Depth, or a Collaboration between Two or more of these Departments

CAE-R Program Eligibility and Summary

The Cyber Research (CAE-R) designation is awarded to DoD schools, PhD producing military academies, or regionally accredited, degree granting four-year institutions rated by the Carnegie Foundation Basic Classification system as either a Doctoral University – Highest Research Activity (R1), Doctoral University – Higher Research Activity (R2), or Doctoral University – Moderate Research Activity (R3).

The CAE-R Program is open to current:

Department of Defense (DoD) schools
Ph.D. producing military academies
Regionally accredited, degree granting four-year institutions rated by the Carnegie Foundation Basic Classification system as either:

Doctoral University – Highest Research Activity (R1),
Doctoral University – Higher Research Activity (R2), or
Doctoral University – Moderate Research Activity (R3)