The George Washington University (GW) is designated a federal Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education - Research. This enables GW to provide government-funded full scholarships for fulltime study for upper level undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students. Scholarship recipients receive a traditional education in their chosen major enhanced by detailed knowledge in computer security and information assurance provided by additional courses that address emerging technical and government policy-related issues, often using guest lectures by government and outside experts. They also receive hands-on experience in a laboratory that demonstrates traditional and emerging attacks and defenses.
In 2009-10, we expect 12 students to pursue their bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees with federal funding from the National Science Foundation, the Defense Department, and the Department of Homeland Security. These grants are part of GW's Partnership in Securing Cyberspace through Education and Service (PISCES) program. Federal funding provides two-year full scholarships (tuition, books, stipend, and in most cases room and board) for students to study computer security and information assurance at GW or a partner university. After completing their coursework, students will help protect the nation's information infrastructure by working as security experts in a government agency for two years. Since 2002, 43 students have graduated with help from this program, earning degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, engineering management, forensic sciences, business administration, and public policy. They have gone on to work at the organizations shown on this web page.
