MAC Cybersecurity Program Named “Center of Academic Excellence” by NSA

The select designation is awarded to US colleges and universities who meet the NSA and DHS’ rigorous standards for cybersecurity teaching and awareness. It recognizes colleges whose programs fall in line with rigorous expectations for instruction and support.

The Mount is the only 4-year program in Blair/Cambria Counties with this designation.

Only 16 schools in Pennsylvania and just over 350 institutions across the country hold Center of Academic Excellence status.

John McKeegan, President of Mount Aloysius College; Kristi Smith, Information Technology Department Chair; Dr. Christopher Lovett, Academic Dean; and Dr. David Haschak, Vice President for Academic Affairs stand with a “Center of Academic Excellence for Cyber Defense” banner in the Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Research Center on the campus of Mount Aloysius College.
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Degrees type: Associate

Main Campus

Mount Aloysius College provides students a unique hands-on learning cyber experience with real world applications. Our dedicated Cybersecurity lab includes virtual environments that can be used for classes, competitions, demonstrations, testing and research. In addition to the physical lab space, students utilize the Mount Virtual Lab and the Mount Mini Lab, a portable and scalable lab. Students leverage both Windows and Linux environments, vulnerable applications and websites for testing purposes. Our cyber defense team uses these environments to prepare for cyber competitions and challenges. Our program is under the instruction of diverse faculty with years of professional, government and/or military experience. Courses are offered in the classroom as well as in hybrid and fully online formats.

Program Highlights

  • Faculty with government and private sector experience
  • High job placement rates
  • Experience in both cybersecurity and digital forensics
  • Online, hybrid and flexible classes

  • Hands-on curriculum in a dedicated Cybersecurity lab

  • Remote internship opportunities

Mountie Spotlight

Straight from the Classroom to Quantico

When he landed an internship with the FBI, Bryan quickly learned the value of a MAC education.

Mountie Spotlight

Coding Against Crime

Want to learn in a cutting edge cybersecurity lab from faculty that have worked in the field, not just in the classroom?

Mountie Spotlight

Internships That Count

Bryan Buzi impressed a huge IT consulting firm during his Information Technology program internship and landed a full-time career!

Watch a video with alum Jonathan Williams talking about the cybersecurity & digital forensics program.

Watch Jeffrey Sunseri, a professor in the IT department, talking about the cybersecurity & digital forensics program.

Watch a video with alum Bryan Jordan talking about the information technology program.

Watch a video with Justin Williams, an Instructor of Information Technology, demonstrate an example of ethical hacking.

Watch a video about what to expect when visiting Mount Aloysius.

Watch this video featuring aerials views of Mount Aloysius College.

The courses that I’ve taken here in the Digital Forensics program have prepared me 100% for this career, because everything I’ve learned in the classroom I have transferred over and used in my internship and I will be using in my career with the FBI.

Bryan Jordan
Class of 2017, Federal Bureau of Investigation

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