U.S. Naval Community College and WGU Partner for Competency-Based Education Cybersecurity Program
President of the U.S. Naval Community College, Dr. Randi Cosentino, and WGU’s Vice President of Partnerships, Dr. Spencer Stewart, recently signed a consortium agreement signifying a partnership between the two institutions to increase educational opportunities for the nation’s enlisted Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Naval Community College selected WGU as one of its Pilot II cybersecurity associate degree programs. This new opportunity provides active duty enlisted sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen the ability to earn cybersecurity certificates or associate degrees that will directly contribute to the naval services and set them on a path of lifelong learning.
“This is the first opportunity we have of providing a self-paced, competency-based education program,” said Dr. Cosentino. “For this program, we selected an institution that has developed the gold standard of competency-based education.”
WGU’s competency-based education provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate mastery of a subject based on the measure of skills and learning and allows enlisted naval service members to pursue their education in a way that best fits their operational environment.
“We are delighted to partner with the U.S. Naval Community College to serve our military personnel and enable the warfighting capabilities of our nation,” said WGU President Scott Pulsipher. “With our student centeredness and competency-based education model, we will demonstrate our unwavering commitment to maritime student access and success.”
Naval professionals who pursue the Associate of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance degree through the U.S. Naval Community College will have an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of cybersecurity policy, software assurance, programming including scripting, and network defense as well as receive six Computing Technology Industry Association certifications as part of the curriculum. The degree will also have an established transfer path to four-year degree programs in cybersecurity and information assurance.
Active duty enlisted sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen can fill out an application on the USNCC website. The first courses will start in the fall of 2022.
