Connect with us
Cybersecurity programs at Western Michigan University are spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Haworth College of Business, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the industry and academic coursework.
The Cybersecurity Studies Center expands on that cross-disciplinary relationship through education, outreach, training and research. Students are an integral part of the center’s efforts in these areas.
The first step in partnering with us is to contact the directors, Dr. Alan Rea and Jason Johnson, to discuss your needs.
Advancing cybersecurity studies
Education
Cybersecurity impacts all industries. The center collaborates with faculty experts in multiple areas to address vast needs. For example, cybersecurity and supply chain management faculty may create a course on cyber-physical system security and the impact on supply chains. Or, criminal justice faculty could collaborate with cybersecurity faculty to bring new courses in digital forensics to students.
Research
The center provides a central location for interdisciplinary research and grant endeavors in many areas. The center promotes research and grant activities; professional speaker series, meetings and conferences; and faculty brown bag lunches designed to promote cybersecurity collaborations among faculty and students across campus.
Training
As a CompTIA and EC-Council academic partner, Western’s Cybersecurity Studies Center offers grant-funded training opportunities for K-12 students through summer camps tailored to grade levels, educator workshops designed to help K-12 educators implement cybersecurity courses and more. Coursework is also available for your employees and can be customized to your organization’s needs.
We offer local and online programs, workshops and certifications using official materials from recognized professional certification organizations.
Outreach
Strengthening partnerships between the University and industry gives WMU students experience, which gives them the skills for internships and professional roles. The center actively pursues a reputation as a source for top talent and thought leadership throughout southwest Michigan. Students may work to plan and offer WMU’s Cybersecurity Summit and the Midwest Collegiate Computing Conference. Industry partner relationships offer opportunities for student consulting groups to work with area businesses and nonprofit organizations. These Experience-Driven Learning opportunities distinguish WMU students vying for professional positions.