CDM-CYBER-DEFENSE-eMAGAZINE-March-2019

“The development of professional skills is core to our cybersecurity program. Our courses not
only introduce current theory and relevant issues, but they also provide opportunities for students
to work on collaborative projects that give them hands-on experience that will be invaluable when
they enter the workforce,” she said.
The ultimate goal of Regent’s cybersecurity program is to graduate well-rounded cybersecurity
professionals who are equally as comfortable on the frontline of defending assets and information
as they are walking into the boardroom to present jargon-free assessments of vulnerabilities and
strategic plans to combat them.
While not required to earn a degree, Regent encourages cybersecurity students to earn
professional certifications, such as the Certified Cyber Practitioner, to get ahead of the game.
Many organizations, especially in the government, require them.
A degree, plus those credentials, make Regent graduates the triple threats of the applicant pool
in that they have mastered theory, applied it with hands-on learning on the live fire range, and
gained practical communication and professional skills.
“Many of our students take advantage of our certification preparation courses to round-out their
competitiveness. Graduating with certifications under their belt is another way to make them stand
out as professionals,” Beauchamp said.
Leveraging Competitions and Access to Experts
Participating in events such as the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition and the
National Cyber League Competition provide Regent’s students with another venue to hone their
professional skills.
“These are tremendous opportunities for the students to work on communication, collaboration
and team-building skills,” Beauchamp said. “It also gives them the opportunity to meet students
at other universities and network with industry professionals who are looking for recruits,” she
said.
Regent University is strategically situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia, part of the East Coast’s
epicenter of military presence and takes advantage of the opportunities afforded by that.
“Given our location, we can draw upon local, private, government and military cybersecurity
experts to interface with our students,” Beauchamp said. “Through our cybersecurity forums and
conferences, we’ve featured some of the country’s leading experts who share their knowledge
and offer insights into what it’s like to work for entities such as the Space and Naval Warfare
Systems Command.”