The New Jersey City University (NJCU) Department of Professional Security Studies has announced major new industry collaborations with Somerset-based SHI International Corp. and Cisco Systems. These partnerships are designed to significantly strengthen the University’s Center for Cybersecurity, providing students with enhanced access to cutting-edge technologies and competitive, hands-on learning opportunities.
Through its formal partnership with Cisco, the Department of Professional Security Studies has secured access to the Splunk Technology platform, along with advanced AI and cloud-based training tools. These resources will enable students to gain practical, hands-on experience using the same enterprise systems and technologies currently deployed in professional cybersecurity environments.
Additionally, SHI International Corp. is partnering with the department to sponsor a series of applied cybersecurity competitions during the Fall and Spring semesters. These high-stakes events—including hackathons and Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges—will be hosted in NJCU’s Center for Cybersecurity.
The competitions are designed to bring together students from NJCU, Hudson County Community College, Bergen Community College, and various state partners, promoting collaboration, problem-solving, and competition in real-world cybersecurity scenarios.
“These initiatives play a critical role in strengthening our students’ technical skills and industry readiness, while also supporting our mission of advancing academic excellence in cyber defense as part of our designation by the National Security Agency,” said Michael Krantz, Ph.D., CPP, Professor of National and Civil Security and Co-Chair of the Department of Professional Security Studies.
NJCU’s Department of Professional Security Studies is nationally recognized for its excellence:
- It holds the prestigious designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence by the National Security Agency (NSA) in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.
- The program is one of the few nationally designated as both an Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and a Cyber Defense National Center of Academic Excellence by the NSA.
- The department houses the Dr. Dorothy E. Denning Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.
Furthermore, the department offers the first Doctorate of Science in Civil Security Leadership, Management and Policy in the United States and is the only institution of higher education in New Jersey offering a bachelor’s degree in National Security.
