From Harford Community College:
Harford Community College students Robin Hexter, Quinn Johnston, Emily Leiss, and Samantha Soul were accepted into the National Security Agency (NSA) Cooperative Education Program. Robin is an Information Assurance and Cybersecurity major enrolled in Harford’s new Cyber Defense Certificate Program, which recently received approval from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Quinn, Emily, and Samantha are enrolled in the College’s Information Assurance and Cybersecurity A.A.S. degree program. The four students will begin the NSA Cooperative Education Program in August 2016.
In spring 2016, the program was opened to community college students majoring in computer science, computer or electrical engineering, or cybersecurity who intend to complete a four-year degree. During the co-op, students alternate semesters of full-time work (40 hours per week) with a semester at college from program entry until graduation. Students gain real-world experience, earn a salary, encounter challenges, sharpen skills and career focus, and may qualify for permanent employment with NSA upon graduation.
Christine Brown, Cybersecurity Career Navigator, shared the program announcement with the Cyber Defense students. “When I received the call from the program recruiter informing me that I was accepted, I was ecstatic. The program is the ‘holy grail’ of internships for cybersecurity,” Robin said. “The HCC course work I’ve been taking is essential to my knowledge base in preparing me for the Co-op Program. I love HCC. I am privileged to be in the Cyber Defense Certificate program and the Information Assurance and Cybersecurity associate degree program.”
To be eligible to participate in the NSA Cooperative Education Program, a student must be a U.S. citizen, be eligible for a security clearance, and be a second semester college freshman or sophomore. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher is preferred.
According to the website www.intelligencecareers.gov, cyber professionals in the intelligence community work as part of a team defending against the country’s cyber adversaries. Cyber professionals with technical expertise who desire to remain at the forefront of their field are in great demand by the intelligence community.
For more information about Harford Community College’s Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Program, contact Ralf Fritze, 443-412-2441, RFritze@harford.edu; Madrice Guy, 443-412-2264, MGuy@harford.edu; or Advising, Career and Transfer Services at 443-412-2301. For information on HCC’s Cyber Defense Certificate Program, contact Christine Brown at chbrown@harford.edu or 443-356-0363.
Congrats to these excellent students! Our child is currently enrolled in the Harford tech cybersecurity program, with the target of attending HCC upon high school graduation. Hence, this program is very interesting to us!
If your “goal” is to have your son / daughter attend Harford Community College post high school, perhaps you need to re-evaluate.
Not trying to be rude, but wouldn’t you want your offspring to set the bar a bit higher than a 2-year school, as opposed to opting to shoot for a traditional 4-year college that has more to offer?
Just an opinion, but after graduating several years ago, and seeing the job market now…it’s rough. Any edge you get, take it.
For example, this same program is available at a number of 4-Year Universities, University of Maryland being one of them.
Good Luck.
HCC offers a wonderful education for a reasonable price. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with beginning your education at HCC, and now, with their partnership with Towson University, you can complete your 4-year degree right there on Thomas Run Rd.
Not everyone wants a career that requires a 4-year degree. Not every family can easily afford to send their child or children to a 4-year University. HCC offers an alternative.
Their “goal”, as you put it in your condescending post, is to help their child further his or her education in a field that interests the student. I do not believe it needs re-evaluation at all. If anything, it is your elitist view that needs some review.
Wow. You do realize that many of the courses you can take at HCC are the same as the ones you take during your first two years of a 4-year school? However, they are significantly cheaper. Perhaps, these folks are a little brighter than you?
Just out of curiosity, is it safe to say that you parents paid for your 4 year degree?
Yes. In some instances they are cheaper, others not.
While some may transfer, some may not – forcing a repeat of a class to meet graduation requirements.
Not all classes “in the first two years” are general education. You will need to start your undergraduate classes in your chosen major / minor as well.
Wow!
Did you know that with many major universities you can complete your general education requirements (that’s what you referred to as “the first 2 years”) without ever having to step foot on campus? It’s called “Distance Learning”, and if affordability is a concern…that’s a great way to go.
Wow!
Amusing that you use the term “significantly cheaper”. Were you talking price, or the grade of instruction that you get?
Wow!
To satisfy your curiosity, no. My parents paid $0 for my higher education. It was accomplished through grants, minor scholarships (less than $1,000), work-study programs and paid internships in the summer months, and working hard enough to find a company that would offer me employment upon graduation. That very same company also offered to pay a significant portion of tuition reimbursement towards my college loans. The rest I paid off by earning a salary, by working hard in school. A school that looked out for alumni, and a school that had expansive opportunities and personnel that assisted with finding the above internship…
Now, I get to attend alumni events and share my experiences with today’s youth to get them to follow a similar path. Because you mentioned some folks are a little brighter, I will break it down: HARD WORK PAYS OFF. EDUCATION PAYS OFF. Sorry to say, but this is just a fact of the “real world”, but what college you attended does play a major part in hiring.
Did that offer a sufficient answer to your question?
To answer what may be rumbling through your head:
High School: Gilman
University: University of Maryland, College Park
CyberSecurity Program (i.e. NSA Program)
Football, Student Union
3 Year Intern
Graduated: 2011
Groovy.
You’re amazingly incredible.
Why even go to college?
Correct, when you can work at Looney’s as a bouncer, why even go?
Why even go? Plenty of trades that need people to work.
To get an overpaid government job you can never get fired from. NSA doesn’t work for 15 bucks an hour.
They’re not overpaid and they can get fired.
Yes they are and no they can’t.