Add as a preferred source on Google


Abilene Christian University and Infosec Institute Partner to Offer Academic Credit for CompTIA Certifications

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 02/07/24

Abilene Christian University (ACU) and Cengage Group's Infosec Institute have teamed up to offer academic credit for Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) cybersecurity certifications. Infotech's cybersecurity students can now receive college credit toward ACU's degree and certificate programs.

According to a release, the partnership provides several advantages:

  • A clear pathway for students to pursue industry certifications and have them recognized as academic programs toward degrees and certificates;
  • Student savings of time and money, as those with existing CompTIA certifications can save on per-course tuition costs by receiving college credit for five waived courses toward a bachelor's degree; and a 25% discount for those pursuing cybersecurity certificate programs;
  • Easy integration of Infosec training into ACU's bachelor's degree program and two cybersecurity certificate programs;
  • Assurance that students with Infosec's technical training will have grounding in academic, theoretical cybersecurity principles, thus providing a well-rounded education.

Programs offered under the partnership include a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity; Cybersecurity 1: Certificate in Fundamental System Security; and Cybersecurity 2: Certificate in Essential System Forensics and Defense.

Calling the partnership a "transformative approach to cybersecurity education," Stephen Johnson, CEO of ACU's Dallas campus, which offers the university's online programs, said, "By recognizing the value of CompTIA certifications for college credit, we are breaking new ground in providing a pathway for learners to bridge the gap between industry expertise and formal academic achievement."

Keaton Evans, Infotech's vice president of portfolio product strategy, agreed it is a game-changer, "offering our learners the recognition they deserve in both the industry and academic realms."

For more information on these joint programs, visit the ACU/Infosec partnership page.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • student reading a book with a brain, a protective hand, a computer monitor showing education icons, gears, and leaves

    4 Steps to Responsible AI Implementation

    Researchers at the University of Kansas Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL) have published a new framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence at all levels of education.

  • three glowing stacks of tech-themed icons

    Research: LLMs Need a Translation Layer to Launch Complex Cyber Attacks

    While large language models have been touted for their potential in cybersecurity, they are still far from executing real-world cyber attacks — unless given help from a new kind of abstraction layer, according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Anthropic.

  • Hand holding a stylus over a tablet with futuristic risk management icons

    Why Universities Are Ransomware's Easy Target: Lessons from the 23% Surge

    Academic environments face heightened risk because their collaboration-driven environments are inherently open, making them more susceptible to attack, while the high-value research data they hold makes them an especially attractive target. The question is not if this data will be targeted, but whether universities can defend it swiftly enough against increasingly AI-powered threats.

  • magnifying glass revealing the letters AI

    New Tool Tracks Unauthorized AI Usage Across Organizations

    DevOps platform provider JFrog is taking aim at a growing challenge for enterprises: users deploying AI tools without IT approval.