Accelerated Cybersecurity Degrees Using Competency-Based Education
Military IT and cybersecurity professionals can get closer to earning degrees in record time by applying to schools that assess military experience and education using a competency-based education (CBE) model. While not offered by all schools, CBE allows students to bypass traditional graduation timelines by testing out of subjects they already know through military service and professional certifications.
This approach is ideal for service members because it measures learning rather than time spent in a seat. If you have spent years securing military networks, you may already possess the knowledge required for many core IT courses.
Accelerated Cybersecurity Degrees Using CBE Models
How does CBE work? According to the U.S. Department of Education, competency-based education “is an innovative approach in higher education that organizes academic content according to competencies” with two types of CBE programs.
One measures progress using clock hours or credit hours; another option measures progress “by directly assessing whether a student can demonstrate that he or she has command of a specific subject, content area, or skill, or can demonstrate a specific quality of the program.”
Prior Learning Assessments (PLA)
A frequently underutilized tool for intelligence professionals is the Prior Learning Assessment. If a service member has conducted high-level intelligence analysis that isn’t fully reflected on their JST, they can submit a portfolio to a university that may consider such experience.
This portfolio can earn them credits for upper-level courses, bypassing the need for traditional instruction in subjects they have mastered in the field.
As mentioned above, not all schools offer these options, so it pays to research potential CBE at each institution you’re considering. Who offers CBE for military members interested in cybersecurity careers? They include, but are not limited to, those below.
Western Governors University (WGU) offers an online B.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance that is essentially a list of competencies. Once you prove you know the material, you pass the class, as this statement from the official site indicates:
“Students who have experience in cybersecurity, transfer credits, and time to dedicate to their schooling may be able to finish their bachelor’s degree faster than a traditional bachelor’s degree...”
A student with a Security+ certification can immediately complete several courses. Because WGU charges a flat rate per six-month term, a motivated student can complete as much coursework as possible during that window, often finishing a bachelor’s degree in less than two years.
Purdue Global ExcelTrack: Designed for those with extensive prior experience. It breaks courses into smaller modules, allowing students to review what they know and focus on new material.
University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC): UMGC is a leader in transfer credits, often accepting up to 90 credits toward a 120-credit degree. For cybersecurity majors, this includes credit for advanced military technical training.
DoD Cyber Scholarship Program
A lesser-known federal program that accelerates degree completion and career placement is the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP).
This program provides full tuition, a stipend, and a guaranteed job in exchange for a service commitment. For those already in the military, it can be a way to earn an advanced degree while on active duty or transitioning. This program is available at National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Intelligence Training as Academic Currency
The most important information for intelligence professionals is that their military schooling is worth college credit. The American Council on Education (ACE) evaluates courses taken at schools such as Fort Huachuca and Goodfellow Air Force Base. Many online universities will accept these as core requirements for an Intelligence Studies or Strategic Studies degree.
Norwich University offers a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis specifically for those in the intelligence and special operations communities. This program is designed for degree completion, meaning it expects you to bring a significant amount of transfer credit with you.
The Security Clearance Fast-Track
A Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance is more than a job requirement; it is proof of training and experience. Some colleges may offer credit for the background investigations and specialized training modules required for these clearances.
American Military University (AMU) is often cited as one of the fastest options, due to its monthly start dates and eight-week course formats. For those in intel, the ability to take classes year-round without breaks is an important factor.
About the author
Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
