Rose State College Awarded For Cyber Security Program Published August 12, 2022

The National Security Agency (NSA) validates Rose State College Cyber Courses 

Rose State College has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, a program jointly sponsored by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security. 

"We are pleased to report the National Security Agency has validated our cyber security courses through 2027," Rose State Dean of Business and Information Technology Dr. Charles DeSassure said, "The Business and Information Technology Division's mission is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to perform and excel in an ever-changing career field. We hold ourselves and our students to a high standard of ethics because we know these students will be the future of safety for our world." 

Cyber security courses at Rose State grant students the opportunity to venture into the world of technology-based protection, gives access to networking and offers experience in how to apply a variety of network technologies in the world today. The courses are continuously being updated to serve the most up-to-date techniques that prepare students for careers that are high in demand. 

Rose State College ensures supporting the demanding cyber security curriculum by keeping up-to-date technology infrastructure in place. "A lot of the training we do is to prepare students to get a job in the real world," says Ken Dewey, director of the cybersecurity program and a professor in the program. "If we're not using the correct tools, they won't have a clue when they get to the real world." The current IT deployment also supports a "cyber lounge" where students can tinker with different hardware components. "That includes the FRED, the Forensics Recovery of Evidence Device. It's a super powerful machine with every connection possible and tons of memory," Dewey says. The current lab has three FREDs, with plans to purchase six more. 

"Being designated a CAE by NSA shows that our passion for this program has paid off," Rose State President Dr. Jeanie Webb said. "We pride ourselves in our cyber security programs, and some of our alumni now work for the United States Department of Defense and other government agencies. Our cyber security faculty care about educating the next generation of professionals and passing their passion onto their students." 

Additionally, Rose State offers more than 60 different degree programs, small class sizes with a 20:1 student-to-faculty ratio, on-campus student housing and is among the lowest cost of tuition costs in the state of Oklahoma.