Center for Security Studies & Cyber Defense

The Anderson University Center for Security Studies & Cyber Defense (CSSCD) challenges students and staff to use their expertise in ethical and constructive ways while equipping students with the knowledge and skills that can be used to preserve and promote security in every sector of American society. 

The CSSCD was established through a $1 million Lilly Endowment Grant to support both the mission of Anderson University’s security studies program and the surrounding community. Further support for the center’s mission was generously provided by the Avis Foundation in the form of a $250,000 grant.

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Educating the next generation

Majors in Cybersecurity and National Security

The CSSCD supports the mission of Anderson University’s security studies program to develop a pipeline of graduates with excellent technical skills, strong Christian ethics, and a desire to serve on the front lines in defending the nation, our communities, and institutions from threats, foreign and domestic, in both the physical and cyber realms. The program consists of interdisciplinary majors in cybersecurity and national security, designed to help students develop an understanding of security policy (national, homeland, and cyber), technical skills through experiential learning, and a set of professional ethics from a Christian faith perspective.
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Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity program is designed for students who seek to defend against today’s ever-present cyber threats in industry and public service. Courses familiarize students with information assurance, server and network environments, cryptography, cyber-related public policy, and cyberwarfare. Cybersecurity graduates typically pursue careers in industry for a wide variety of companies, in a security operations center, or in local, state, or federal government service.

Students learn in the Situation Room.
National Security

Anderson University’s national security studies program is one of the few interdisciplinary, undergraduate security studies majors in the country. This major is taught by our talented faculty across campus, and uses Christian ethics as a foundation in preparing students for a career in public service.

Students will graduate with the experience and knowledge they need to be prepared for a competitive job market, as AU’s national security studies program offers coursework in history, political science, criminal justice, sociology, social work, computer science, math, Christian ministry, and psychology for a well-rounded, liberal arts education.

Supporting Our community

Applying security skills to benefit others.

The CSSCD supports the surrounding community by providing a number of low-cost security services to local and regional constituents, including:

  • Cybersecurity audits.
  • Exercises for testing organizational security threat responses.
  • Training and certification for the local workforce.
  • Conferences and publications regarding current security threats.

Students work with faculty and CSSCD staff to utilize their critical thinking skills to discover solutions to complex problems through creative and ethical innovation, and apply their technical skills through the various services offered by the center.

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QUESTIONS?

Contact David Dungan, Executive Director, Center for Security Studies and Cyber Defense.