NSF Bridge2Cyber (B2C)

The Bridge 2 Cyber Program at Oakland University (“B2C@OU”) will engage students in learning programming, networking, and systems administration specifically designed for cybersecurity. The program would allow students to learn the requisite knowledge at their own pace, online or in-person, with a personal support, and with an affordable investment. We will accomplish this by creating three non-credit courses, where students can enroll inexpensively, gain pre-requisite knowledge and skills efficiently, and earn digital badges on their transcripts.

B2C@OU is designed for students who are completing, or have completed, an undergraduate degree in a non-computing discipline and interested in learning more about cybersecurity to enhance their current area of study/work or as a career move. While students could come from any undergraduate discipline, we anticipate B2C@OU being particularly attractive to those who have studied political science, economics, education, business, criminal justice, or mathematics. Prospective students could be working full-time or part-time in non-computing sectors, or they could be upcoming/recent graduates who majored in a different discipline and now desire to combine that knowledge with cybersecurity skills. We will pay special attention to seeking out individuals from populations historically underrepresented in cybersecurity.