UDM's Cybersecurity & Information Systems program recognized as Center for Excellence by the National Security Agency
The cost of cybercrime is expected to reach epic proportions in 2025 to the tune of $10.5 trillion globally, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, the world’s leading researcher and publisher covering the global cyber economy. This is a significant increase from a decade ago, when that figure was estimated at about $3 trillion.
Skilled information security analysts are in high demand with an expected 3.5 million job openings worldwide this year — University of Detroit Mercy’s undergraduate and graduate Cybersecurity & Information Systems programs answer this call.
To combat increases in cybercrime, the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) developed the National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. NICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) use this framework to bolster U.S. cybersecurity workers by calling on academia to help develop standards and initiatives that will build a world-class cyber workforce.
UDM’s Cybersecurity & Information Systems program has been recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Center for Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) since 2004. This designation is given to select accredited academic institutions that offer both undergraduate and graduate Cybersecurity degrees and demonstrate significant community involvement, academic enterprise and systematic protocols in cybersecurity.
By utilizing the NICE framework, UDM has created a wide range of programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels that align with specific job roles and enable students to graduate with the knowledge and skills employers seek in their cybersecurity professionals.
“The B.S. in Cybersecurity is a technical program focusing on the same technologies and tools used by hackers,” said Anne Kohnke, associate professor of Cybersecurity and director of UDM’s Center for Cybersecurity & Intelligence Studies.
The 120-credit hour Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity prepares students to take on roles in the information security field by using hands-on learning in the classroom and practical lab assignments in UDM’s leading-edge experiential cybersecurity lab.
"We expose students to the vast array of tools, what they’re used for and how to use them so that they will be able to enter the cybersecurity workforce upon graduation," Kohnke explained.
“Students are not required to have a highly technical or mathematical background before they enter the program, a misconception that sometimes deters potential students. This is one of the first things I tell prospective students. Our goal is to produce cybersecurity professionals, not programmers,” added Department Chair Gregory Laidlaw.
Harrison Haviland-Longo, former president and current technician of UDM's Cybersecurity Club, said the learning strategies enlisted by the professors have been invaluable.
“Dr. Laidlaw and Dr. Kohnke work hard to provide exceptional opportunities for students," he said. "They cultivate passionate students to become future leaders in the industry. The curriculum they have developed provides students with practical, hands-on experiences that simulate tasks from the real world.”
As safeguarding America's critical infrastructure becomes a growing national concern, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 33% increase in the demand for information security analysts over the next decade, which translates to an increase of 59,100 jobs in the field. By offering both undergraduate and graduate education in this field, UDM is filling the cybersecurity talent pipeline with talented graduates who are ready to counter cybersecurity threats in all industry sectors.
The M.S. in Cybersecurity Management is distinctly different than other programs because it emphasizes the strategic aspects of governance, risk management, auditing, cyber defense operations and cyber law. This online graduate-level program is comprised of eight core classes and two elective classes that align with the NICE framework. The goal is to develop leaders equipped to address the crucial task of protecting the nation’s information infrastructure.
The Cybersecurity & Information Systems program also offers an M.S. in Information Technology (MSIT) with a curriculum that incorporates extensive professional knowledge and best practices in IT. This program is available in both online and in-person formats and prepares students to advance their careers as leaders in the field.
“We have students from all backgrounds do well in these programs, including career switchers and technical professionals who’ve been in the field for years,” said Kohnke.
A dual-degree option at the graduate level is also available, which allows students to earn a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Information Technology. This program is perfect for those who want to blend their expertise in the business world with the ever-evolving field of information technology.
All of Detroit Mercy’s master’s programs are available to students who have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
UDM also offers an accelerated five-year program that includes a B.S. in Cybersecurity and an M.S. in Information Technology or Intelligence Analysis. Upon completing the undergraduate portion of the program, students will hone their skills in cybersecurity/information assurance or criminal justice.
This program saves students time and money. The first 12 graduate credits, which students will take in their fourth year, are covered by the normal undergraduate tuition rate.
Aldo Tricoli, a senior Cybersecurity honors student in the five-year accelerated program, credits Detroit Mercy’s Cybersecurity program with refining his passion for technology into an avid interest in cyber risk management and cybersecurity research.
"I came to UDM knowing I wanted to work for the U.S. government but was unsure where to begin. Through the classes, hands-on labs and cybersecurity competitions I've participated in with the Cybersecurity Club, I've gained exposure to many different aspects of the field," Tricoli said. “In the process, I learned many technical skills that I have been able to apply in two internships I have had with the Department of Defense (DoD) through the VICEROY program in Rome, New York and San Diego.”
Tricoli says his experience at UDM has helped him “develop the soft skills and writing abilities necessary for presenting internship experiences in various settings.” This included the opportunity to speak with U.S. Senator Gary Peters and former National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr., last winter about his work.
Another important component of Detroit Mercy’s Cybersecurity and Information Systems program is the Cybersecurity Club, where students can study topics outside the classroom setting such as network security, digital forensics or penetration testing, and sharpen their skills for internships and full-time positions.
The club, which is open to students of all majors, regularly participates in cybersecurity competitions with students of other schools, including the ISACA Detroit Chapter Cybersecurity Scholarship Case Competition and the National Cyber League.
"These competitions simulate the practical workplace and provide invaluable opportunities for students to work in teams to tackle technical issues on a network while being hacked for seven hours, and then present their findings and recommendations to a live panel of local, high-ranking cybersecurity professionals," said Kohnke, who is the faculty advisor of the club.
For the past two years, UDM students have placed first in the ISACA Cybersecurity Scholarship competition, with other UDM teams earning second and third place. In both 2023 and 2024, Detroit Mercy students won more than $12,000 in prizes from these competitions each year.
"There is a wealth of opportunity in Detroit for cybersecurity professionals. The industries that have been here for years need talent, and they require all the top-notch students we're churning out at the University," Laidlaw said.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that over the next decade, information security analysts will be a hot commodity, being the tenth fastest-growing occupation and with a mean annual salary of $120,360 in 2023.