The dual degree program preps students for in-demand careers serving their communities.
In the fast-paced digital world, cybersecurity and global policy are intersecting more and more each day. To prepare students for real-life careers in this growing field, Indiana University’s interdisciplinary Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program combines the technology of cybersecurity with the study of global policymaking.
Ranked among the country’s top 25 cybersecurity undergraduate programs, the joint degree between the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering and the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies also offers students valuable opportunities to serve and protect their communities while still in school.
Since launching five years ago, the Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program has grown to nearly 300 students and receives upwards of 400 applications each year.
The threat of cyberattacks on both the private and public sectors has created growing demand for graduates who are trained to approach cybersecurity from a variety of disciplines and viewpoints. In fact, the demand for highly skilled cybersecurity professionals is so high, it’s growing faster than the workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s estimated that there are more than 500,000 cybersecurity positions open in the U.S. alone — and an estimated 4 million available worldwide.
To meet the demand, IU is leading efforts to train tomorrow’s cybersecurity experts today.
The Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program is co-led by Isak Nti Asare, assistant dean of undergraduate education and student affairs in the Hamilton Lugar School, and Jean Camp, professor of informatics in the Luddy School. Among their top priorities is ensuring students have a clear pathway to their desired careers.
“We offer customized support for every single one of our students,” said Nti Asare. “We have students who are here saying, ‘I want to work for a particular government agency,’ or they’re trying to work as consultants, or as cyber analysts. From day one, the first meeting I have with students begins with ‘Let’s make a customized four-year plan.’ We want students to be able to start creating very clear pathways. If you have this end goal in mind, let’s build that resume so you’re a prime candidate for that position.”
As the program continues to grow, so do the opportunities offered to students. Their courses address the increasing importance of micro-credentials and professional certifications, such as the global CompTIA Security+ certification. This certification is highly sought-after by organizations hiring entry-level professionals because it validates the baseline skills necessary for performing core security functions and pursuing a cybersecurity career.
Nti Asare said that since students in the program tend to share a desire to serve their nation, public service is built into the curriculum. The IU Cybersecurity Clinic, of which he is the executive director, provides pro bono cybersecurity assistance to critical public infrastructure and community organizations, such as nonprofits, hospitals, local government agencies and small businesses.
“What sets a cybersecurity education at IU apart is our unwavering commitment to preparing students, not just to excel in their careers, but to use those skills to lead and serve,” said Nti Asare. “If you’re looking to develop tech skills and make a meaningful impact, this is the place for you.”
A senior in the program, Joe Scavone is a good example of what’s possible. Scavone first earned a degree in business administration from Ivy Tech Community College, before working as a technician for Comcast, and eventually deciding to purse an undergraduate degree at IU.
“I intimately worked with the telecommunications industry,” Scavone said. “It made me realize that there is a lot of opportunity to give back to the place I’ve called home all these years, especially when it comes to municipal resources, specifically telecommunications, electric and water utilities. Those are the three primary industries that I’m the most concerned with because of the cascading impacts that would result if any of those degraded or completely deteriorated.”
Scavone decided he wanted to specialize in targeting those vulnerabilities at IU. After enrolling in the program, he quickly found opportunities to help others by volunteering for the City of Bloomington through the Cybersecurity Clinic.
An additional opportunity to serve came when Scavone and his fellow students worked with high-level stakeholders in the Department of Defense to solve real-world innovation and research issues through the Hacking 4 Defense program (the program was later renamed Innovation for Impact at IU, since no actual hacking was involved). This National Security Innovation Network program is offered to IU students through a collaboration between the Hamilton Lugar and Luddy schools.
Using his experience in radio frequency propagation, Scavone was tasked with creating a communications device that could fill in the gaps for training facilities on a U.S. Army base overseas. Now, he’s currently working with IU to secure a patent for his device.
As Scavone prepares to graduate in May, he’s grateful for the opportunities IU has given him and he feels ready to embark on his next career path making a difference.
“I needed to go through life and understand what I wanted to give back to the world, and I think IU has really given me the capacity to understand myself better,” Scavone said. “I think that’s the point of going back to school or going to school in general. It’s not only to find new information but also to figure out where we want to go next.”
