Webinar Series

A Path to Obtaining Cybersecurity Work Experience: 

Internships, Cooperative Education, and Apprenticeships

November 15 , 2017
National	Cybersecurity	Career	Awareness	Week

November	13-18,	2017

The	National	Cybersecurity	Career	Awareness	Week	is	a	

celebration	to	focus	local,	regional,	and	national	interest	to	

inspire,	educate	and	engage	children	through	adults	to	

pursue	careers	in	cybersecurity.	

Learn	More:

nist.gov/nice/nccaw	

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Cyber Co-ops and Internships

A partnership between UC, 

employers, and students

Vicki Baker

Director of Cyber Research Initiatives

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UC Cyber: A Unique MultiDisciplinary Approach

UC Cyber is a collaboration:

Ø College of Education, Criminal Justice & Human Services

o School of Information Technology (SoIT) 

o Dept. of Criminal Justice

Ø College of Engineering and Applied Sciences

o Dept. of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Ø College of Arts and Sciences

o Dept. of Political Science

Ø UCIT (Information Technology)

Ø Army ROTC

Ø Office of Research

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Faculty Expertise Across the 

Cyber Spectrum

UC 

Cyber

Strategic 

& Policy 

Analysis

Info 

Security 

Analytics

Reverse 

Engineering

Malware 

Detection

Algorithm 

Dev/ Data 

Encryption

Secure 

Software & 

Network 

Integration

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Training the Next Cyber Workforce

Two Certificates

Ø Undergraduate Cybersecurity

Ø Graduate Cyber Operations

Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees

Ø Bachelor of Science (BS) in either Information Technology or 

Computer Science, Cyber Track

Ø Bachelor of Science (BS) in Interdisciplinary Studies (Strategic 

Policy), Cyber track [in development]

Ø Master of Science (MS) in either Cyber Operations or Information 

Technology, Cyber track

Ø Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Computer Science & Engineering, 

Cyber Operations track

Ø Research at all educational levels

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Applied Learning Through 

UC Co-ops and Internships

Division of Experience-Based 

Learning & Career Education Ø Currently, 53 faculty & staff 

including specialists in job 

development.

Ø Co-ops are undergrad experiences 

& available year-round.

Ø Academic internships are offered 

to any student not required to 

complete a co-op

o paid or unpaid and may receive 

credit.

Ø UC partners with local, regional, 

national, and international firms 

from 31 countries.

Ø Salaries range from $11-$23 per 

hour.

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Mandated UG Academic Co-ops

Ø UC has been offering co-ops since 1906 and is largest 

program at any public institution in the U.S.

Ø UG students alternate semesters of classroom study with 

semesters of paid, on-site career-related experience.

Ø Beginning during second year, three to five semesters of 

co-op are required in cyber-related fields of computer 

science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and 

information technology as a graduation requirement.

o Students complete 2-3 courses intended to help them focus on 

their academic & professional development.

o Faculty advise & lead reflections after each co-op experience.

o Co-op employers are asked to evaluate student 

development and performance.

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Building Bridges with Industry

Increase in co-op

opportunities for international

students.

All UC International students

seeking a co-op are eligible to

legally work in the U.S. (F1/J1)

Partnering with the UC Co-op 

program is simple.

A business create an ‘PAL’ 

account and post a position. 

When resumes/portfolios from 

interested students have been 

received, the business will be 

notified to review.

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Academic Internships

Ø Prepares students for life after graduation.

Ø Work experiences look like a part-time job of 15 to 20 hours 

per week and is done in tandem with classes.

Ø Typically are one time, summer semester, on-site experiences.

Ø Two courses offered:

Exploring Academic Internships

Designed to prepare students to maximize learning through a career 

related internship and acquaint students with employer performance 

expectations.

Academic Internship Course

Investigates the applicability of students’ studies in relationship to 

the requirements of a corporate employer in the format of 

a part-time domestic or international field experience.

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ROI for Business

• Cream Of The Crop: Upon graduation, approx. 95% of UC 

co-op students have jobs immediately upon graduation.

– 75% receive job offers from their co-op employers

• Find Future Employees: Year round recruiting tool

– ongoing pipeline.

• Better Retention: Co-op/Interns have significantly greater 

retention rates after five years when compared to outside hires.

• Test-Drive: The best way to evaluate a potential employee is 

through an co-op/internship.

• Inspire Your Best Thinkers: Co-op/Interns bring fresh ideas 

and can work with your best employees to explore new 

territory. 

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Recommendations for 

Best Practices

Ø Insure work being completed is meaningful to the business and the 

student.

o Schedule meetings to review work and check-in with faculty 

advisors.

Ø Same hiring standards as Full-Time Employees.

o Increase conversion rate from co-op/intern to employee.

Ø Be aware of academic requirements of students.

o Provide some flexibility for exams and other academic 

requirements.

o Be open to registering co-op/internship with student’s school.

Ø Incorporate students into in the team.

o Increase connections to the company.

o Enriches experience for everyone.

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Resources

ØUC Co-op/Internships: 

https://www.uc.edu/careereducation.html

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Q	&	A	

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Cooperative Education Model

Experiential Learning for Emerging Professionals:

Accelerate the learning process and better prepare students to enter the 

workforce prepared

to be “breach ready.”

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Project Timeline & National Expert Panel

> Research & Action

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Expert Panel Theme

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DEGREE PROGRAM ADVANCED 

CERTIFICATE

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY

WORKPLACE 

EXPERIENCE

Seminar	or	online	community	of	cybersecurity	

professionals	and	emerging	professionals.

Cooperative	learning	or	internship	

placement	in	a	cybersecurity	unit	supervised	

by	a	working	professional.

Enrollment	in	a	formal	undergraduate	or	graduate	

education	program	at	an	accredited	institution.

Ideal:	knowledge	units	mapped	to	the	CAE-CDE	

NSA-approved	curriculum.

Curriculum	designed	with	the	KBP	Model*

and	led	by	cybersecurity	professionals.

Includes	a	Cyber-Lab	for	technical	handson	learning.

Exposure COMPETENCIES Demonstration

LEARNING

Source: *Kuzmina-Bespalko-Popovsky with Mbold, CEM Library

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION MODEL:

DEVELOP STUDENTS AS PROFESSIONALS

Guided Independent

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Corporate Perspective

T-Mobile – The UnCarrier

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T-MOBILE 

WINTER	2016

Students: 

- interview and selected for internships at T-Mobile

- enroll in a non-credit advanced certificate taught by cybersecurity 

practitioners

- attend T-Mobile Professional Development Seminars Student - receive career 

guidance and coaching from UW CIAC

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OUTCOMES Year 1 & Cumulative

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The need for Breach Ready Experts in your state:

Industry calls for greater career readiness by recent graduates, 

as well as increased numbers of emerging cybersecurity professionals. 

3.21-5.90

2.61-3.16

1.69-2.56

1.05-1.64

0.900-0.996 

SUPPLY/

DEMAND RATIO

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> Information Security Risk Management Certificate

– https://www.pce.uw.edu/certificates/information-security-and-risk-management

> Essentials of Cybersecurity

– https://www.edx.org/professional-certificate/uwashingtonx-essentialscybersecurity

> Coop Cybersecurity Education Library

– http://www.uwb.edu/ciac/industry

Resources

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Q	&	A	

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21st	Century	Apprenticeship	

and	Cybersecurity	

Joe	Jenkins	|	Office	of	Apprenticeship

Employment	and	Training	Administration	

Office	of	Apprenticeship 25
Apprenticeship	is	a	

“Win-Win-Win”

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Businesses	and	

Industry

Educational	

Institutions

§ College	Credit	and	

Certifications

§ Acquire	a	skill	that	leads	

to	a	career

§ Create	Highly	Skilled	

Employees

§ Increased	Retention	

§ Recruitment	Tool

§ Attract	women,	minorities	

and	veterans

§ Access	to	Federal	and	

State	Resources

§ Fill	Vacant	Positions

§ Closer	relationships	with	

industry

§ Articulation	between	

apprenticeship	and	college	

programs	ensures	relevance	

and	rigor

§ Increased	enrollment	in	

credit	classes	by	apprentices Apprentices § Earn-As-You-Learn

An	industry	driven	method	proven	to	attract,	

train	and	retain	a	highly	skilled	workforce

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Apprenticeship	Extending	into	New	Sectors

Over	1,200	Apprenticeable	occupations,	

including	new	and	emerging	growth	industries

• Cybersecurity

• Financial	Services

• Health	Care

• Energy

• Advanced	Manufacturing

• Information	Technology

• Hospitality

• Biotechnology

• Aerospace

• Transportation

• Agriculture

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Core	Components	of	Registered	Apprenticeship

Employer	Involvement	Is	Integral

Employer	is	the	foundation	for	the	RA	

program	and	must	be	directly	involved	

and	provider	of		on-the-job		training

Structured	On-the-Job	Training	with		Mentoring Minimum	of	2,000	hours	

Structured	and	Supervised	

Related	Training	and	Instruction	 144	hours	recommended	per	year

Parallel	|	Front-loaded	|	Segmented	Options

National	Occupational	Credential

Rewards	for		Skill	Gains Increases	in	skills	brings	about	

increases	in	earnings

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Numbers	Talk

Extraordinary	Individual	Outcomes

91%	of	Apprentices	are	employed after	their	program.	Average	

starting	wage	is	over	$50,000

Exciting	Business	Outcomes

An	international	study	showed	that	for	every	dollar	spent	on	

apprenticeship	training,	an	employer	receives	a	benefit,	on	average,	of	

$1.47	from	reduced	turnover	to	greater	productivity

Impressive	Public	Benefits

Every	$1	invested	in	Apprenticeship	led	to	$27	in	tax	returns

for	the	Government*

*(Source: An Effectiveness Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Registered 

Apprenticeship in 10 States, Mathematica Policy Research, 2012)

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How	does	Apprenticeship	

Benefit	Employers?

Helps	business	develop	highly	skilled	employees

Increases	retention	rates	and	productivity,	and													

lowers	the	cost	of	recruitment

Direct	Cost	Savings	to	Company	– hire	apprentices									at	

lower	salaries	- as	skills	increase,	wages	increase

Diversify	workforce	– attract	veterans,	women	and	

minorities

Gives	companies	an	edge	over	their	competition

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How	does	Apprenticeship	

Benefit	your	Employees?

Hands-on Career Training Practical	on-the-job	training	in	a	wide	variety	of	

occupations	and	industries

An Education Hands-on	and	technical	training	which	has	the	potential	to	

earn	college	credits	

Long-term Career and 

Greater Earning Potential

Little/No Education Debt

National Credential

Following	apprenticeship	completion

Apprenticeship	=	College	Without	the	Debt	

Upon	graduation,	a	certified	portable	credential	nationally	

recognized	by	industries	and	employers

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How	does	Registered	Apprenticeship

Benefit	Veterans?

https://www.doleta.gov/oa/docs/BenefitsVeteransRegisteredApprenticeship.pdf

Streamlining	GI	Bill	

Benefits	for	Apprentices

Through	a	partnership	between	

the	Departments	of	Veterans	

Affairs	and	Labor,	employers	

now	have	a	fast-track	for	their	

veteran	employees	to	access	

their	GI	Bill	benefits	for	

registered	apprenticeships.

Tax-fee	Stipend

Allows	Veterans	to	learn	a	skill	while	using	their	GI	Bill	

benefits	to	receive	a	tax-free	monthly	stipend	and	is	paid	in	

addition	to	the	wages	earned	as	an	apprentice.	

Books	and	Supplies	Funding

Classroom	training	whereby	apprentices	can	receive	money	

each	month	for	books	and	supplies.

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Meet	national	standards	for	apprenticeship

– Symbol	of	quality	and	excellence

Connect	with	apprenticeship	consultants	

– Technical	assistance,	link	to	partners	and	resources

Access	a	range	of	federal	and	state	benefits

– Preferred	status	for	WIOA	(Workforce	Innovation	and	

Opportunity	Act)

– GI	Bill	benefits	for	qualified	Veterans

– Educational	benefits	(e.g.,	Pell	grants,	others)

– State	Tax	Credits

– Tuition	Assistance

Why register your program with US DOL?

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Office	of	Apprenticeship	– Team	OA	is	On	the	Move

National	Apprenticeship	Week	2017

November	13-19,	2017

1,000	Events

2017	Target

www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/NAW

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DOL.GOV/Apprenticeship	Resources

Quick-Start	Toolkit

5	Step	Format	to	take	you	

from	“exploring”	to	

“launching”	a	Registered	

Apprenticeship	Program.

http://www.doleta.gov/oa/employers/apprenti

ceship_toolkit.pdf

Federal	Resources	

Playbook

Guide	to	resources	from	

various	Federal	Agencies	to	

support	Registered	

Apprenticeship.

http://www.doleta.gov/oa/federalresources/pla

ybook.pdf

DOL	Registration	Site

An	electronic	apprenticeship	standards	builder	that	allows	potential	new	sponsors	to	

build	and	register	their	program	online.

http://www.doleta.gov/oa/registration/

RACC	Site

Find	information	on	becoming	a	RACC	member	and	a	database	of	college	members	

and	sponsors.	

https://www.doleta.gov/oa/racc.cfm 35
ApprenticeshipUSA

Joe Jenkins 

Office of Apprenticeship |	jenkins.joseph@dol.gov

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Q	&	A	

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Thank	You	for	Joining	Us!

Upcoming	Webinar:	Writing	Cybersecurity	Position	

Descriptions	for	the	Greatest	Impact

When:	Wednesday,	January	17,	2018	at	2:00pm	EST

Visit	the	event	website	here for	more	information.	

Register:	https://nist-nice.adobeconnect.com/webinarjan2018/event/registration.html

nist.gov/nice/webinars

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