DoD Cyber Scholarship Program - (DoD-CySP)
Application Deadline: January 15 of every year for the following Fall term
Intro:
The Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP) is authorized by Chapter 112 of title 10, United States Code, Section 2200. The purpose of the program is to support the recruitment of new cyber talent and the retention of current highly skilled professionals within the DoD cyber workforce. https://dodcio.defense.gov/Cyber-Workforce/CySP/Scholarship/
Award Amount:
Undergraduate – full tuition, books, fees, health insurance, $25,000 stipend/yr + more
Graduate – full tuition, books, fees, health insurance, $30,000 stipend/yr + more
Requirements:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a citizen of the United States at the time of application. Note, if family members are not U.S. Citizens, some DoD Agencies may be unable to process the applicant (student) to the security clearance level required. Every effort will be made to assign eligible students at an Agency without such restrictions.
- Be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) in one of the identified NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense colleges. Nova Southeastern University is a recognized CAE since 2005 (https://infosec.nova.edu).
- Have completed (or by August of the coming academic year will have completed) at a minimum the first two years of an undergraduate degree program and be eligible to (a) begin either the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program; (b) begin the first year (or 2nd term) of a Master’s degree program; or (c) admitted/pursue doctoral studies.
- Graduation date is not scheduled before the end of Winter term, the following year.
- Be pursuing a course of study and/or have a declared major in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Management, Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or any other discipline in the NSU’s College of Computing and Engineering (undergraduate, MS or Ph.D. majors – all are verified with DoD as qualified), especially those that are disciplines related to cybersecurity or with a concentration in cybersecurity.
- Ability to obtain a security clearance. Before you may be awarded a scholarship or hired by DoD, you will be required to complete certain forms to initiate the security clearance process. Some of these forms will require that you reveal extensive information about your background. Review and understand the requirements prior to signing up to participate in the DoD CySP: https://www.opm.gov/investigations
- Demonstrate your potential for academic success and fulfillment of degree requirements is substantial. Two recent letters of references are required with the application: (1) a letter of reference from a current faculty member who is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability; (2) an additional letter of reference from either a current or former faculty member, or a current or former supervisor who is fully knowledgeable of your potential for successful learning, your knowledge, and your ability.
- Updated Resume.
- Official (certified) *SEALED* transcripts from all the institutions of higher learning you have attended, including NSU (if you took courses already). Do not send them directly from the insitution to NSU as they will go to Admissions instead of the PI. Ensure to order it to your home address – do NOT open the envelopes. Need to be official and sealed. Then, mail it within another envelop (to avoid issues) to:
Dr. Yair Levy
DeSantis RM-4058
College of Computing and Engineering
3301 College Ave
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314
Once in the program, students agree to:
- Sign a written agreement obligating you to work for the Department of Defense, as a civilian employee for one calendar year for each year of scholarship assistance.
- Serve in internship positions, if timing permits, with DoD organizations during the time you are receiving scholarship support.
- Submit to a security/background investigation (for internships and future DoD employment). Drug tests or other suitability processing will occur as appropriate.
- Maintain good academic standing: 3.2 out of 4.0 GPA (undergraduates); 3.5 out of a 4.0 GPA (graduates).
Upon initial selection and once all prospective applicants have provided the required documentation (including official sealed printed transcripts of all prior academic institutions attended), the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Yair Levy, will conduct an interview and evaluation of each applicant prior to finalizing the application.
Notes:
- This scholarship is awarded annually for the Fall and Winter semesters.
- This scholarship is available to continuing students, but must be applied for annually.
- The number of scholarships awarded annually shall be dependent upon the funds authorized by DoD and the presence of candidates who meet the requirements.
Additional Information:
- Must attend an information session conducted every November of each year. Check https://infosec.nova.edu/news/ and NSU’s HandShake. (https://nova.joinhandshake.com/) during November for specific dates/times
- Must provide sealed transcripts of all prior academic institutions attended.
- Must request and fill the application file – provided yearly during early December by Dr. Yair Levy levyy@nova.edu (every year there is new application file provided by DoD)
- The application packet must be completed in its entirety when application is received.