Academic Resources for Students
Information on Capstone Course (CS281)
The Capstone course (CS281) is the final course for students seeking an Associate degree in Cybersecurity. Students in this course use the knowledge and skills gained from previous networking and security courses to complete a semester-long project, study and pass CompTIA’s Security+ exam to earn the certificate, or work as an intern in an organization working on security-specific tasks. This option provides students with a solid understanding of what it takes to be a security professional.
MassBay Career Services Support for Internships
Tips for securing an internship:
- Start early, at least the semester before an internship is desired. Many companies start recruiting for summer internships in the fall before.
- Schedule a remote career services appointment with Brenda Egan, the STEM Career Development Counselor (began@massbay.edu) or career services to learn about the internship process, complete a resume and work on LinkedIn and Handshake profiles. We can also assist with connecting you to resources and opportunities to aid in your internship search.
- Visit the Career Services Internship Page https://www.massbay.edu/career/career-internship-services/internships and enroll in internships.
- Keep in touch with Career Services for the duration of your academic internship, especially if there are any concerns or issues arise.
- Let Career Services know about your feedback regarding experiences at internship sites. Please reach out to career services at the conclusion of your internship to provide your impressions.
The Cybersecurity Club
The Cybersecurity Club provides an opportunity for students of all majors who have a vested interest in cybersecurity in all aspects of the field from its history to modern day trends. The club focuses both on educating members concerning different concepts of cybersecurity and its application using hands-on group projects and collegiate cyber competitions. The goal is to create a cybersecurity community where members can practice and learn from each other, gain practical experience, prepare for cybersecurity competition, and present the outcome of these extra-curricular activities.
For several years, club students have participated in cyber competitions. In the past students finished first in the NCL (National Cyber League) competition and in 2023 two teams from MassBay participated in the CyberTrust MA competitions earning the first and third place.
Contact information:
Club Advisor: Professor Shamsi Moussavi, smoussavi@massbay.edu
Cybersecurity Scholarships
Through the generosity of many companies and organizations in Massachusetts, two Cybersecurity-specific scholarships were created for students.
The Cybersecurity Scholarships are funded by the generous sponsors of the Information Security Summit established by Towerwall and MassBay Community College. These scholarships support students enrolled in the Cybersecurity Associate degree or certificate program.
Cybersecurity Scholarships Information
Scholarships are posted on the above-linked website when they are open for application.
Transfer Information
MassBay Cybersecurity graduates have successfully transferred to other Massachusetts 4-year institutions (both public and private) and graduated. The director of the Center for Cybersecurity Education is a member of the MassCyberCenter → working group, which supports the training and education of cybersecurity professionals in the Commonwealth through collaboration and partnerships. One of the core activities of this group is expanding articulation agreements and pathways for students majoring in Cybersecurity. Currently, Cybersecurity faculty at MassBay are in talks with UMass Lowell faculty to create such articulation. In addition to discussing your transfer goals with your professors, a good resource for transfer advice is the MassBay Transfer Advising webpage at https://www.massbay.edu/academics/advising/transfer and make an appointment to discuss your specific goals.
Get in touch with MassBay Transfer Advisor Karen Akukwe: kakukwe@massbay.edu
CyberTrust Massachusetts
![CyberTrust Massachusetts Logo]( "CyberTrust Massachusetts Logo")
CyberTrust Massachusetts: The Massachusetts cyber sector is large and growing but the talent pipeline of skilled, experienced, and diverse candidates can’t keep pace. At the same time, many local governments, non-profits, and small businesses are underresourced against growing cyber threats. CyberTrust Massachusetts addresses these challenges by enabling the regional cyber ecosystem as a trusted partner to industry, academia, and government.
https://www.cybertrustmass.org →
Academic Resources for Educators
The National Cyber League (NCL)
The National Cyber League is the most inclusive, performance-based, learning-centered collegiate Cybersecurity competition, which enables students to prepare and test themselves against practical Cybersecurity challenges that they will likely face in the workforce, such as identifying hackers from forensic data, pentesting and auditing vulnerable websites, recovering from ransomware attacks, and more. Open to U.S. high school and college students, the NCL is a community and virtual training ground that allows students to develop and demonstrate their technical Cybersecurity skills, helping students bridge the gap from curriculum to career.
https://nationalcyberleague.org →
The National Cybersecurity Training & Education (NCyTE) Center
The National Cybersecurity Training & Education (NCyTE) Center advances cybersecurity education in the U.S. by investing in technological innovation, resources, professional development and tools to support faculty, community colleges and the workforce pipeline of tomorrow.
https://www.ncyte.net →
National CyberWatch Center
National CyberWatch Center is a leader in Cybersecurity education and workforce development that advocate for the role of community colleges and universities; builds and promotes Cybersecurity education and workforce development programs; collaborates with and coordinates educational institutions, businesses, government entities, and professional organizations to strengthen Cybersecurity education, workforce development, and research programs.
https://www.nationalcyberwatch.org →