Choosing a pathway to a promising career in cybersecurity.
Dakota State University
DSU CyberSkills2Work (also known as the OSINT Academy) prepares learners to analyze, collect, operate, investigate, protect, and defend information and information systems. Digital security breaches and ransomware attacks have escalated in recent years, and the United States lacks the number of trained analysts and investigators needed to protect our national interests and assets. This program is gearing up for the country’s projected growth of cybersecurity analysts in coming years. It’s arming learners with tactical cyber defense skills and producing individuals qualified to thwart cybercrimes.
The Threat/Warning Analyst (OSINT and Dark Web) Pathway prepares participants for a threat/warning analyst work role. This learner-centric, competency-focused education trains students on evidence identification, acquisition, preservation and investigative processes for traditional hard disk drives, emerging internet of things (loT) devices, cloud accounts, and online communication. Participants learn best practices for open-source intelligence and dark web investigations; evidence identification, acquisition, and preservation; and processes for traditional hard disk drives, IoT devices, cloud-based accounts, and social media platforms. Pathway graduates might also work as a law enforcement/counterintelligence forensics analyst, cyber defense forensics analyst, cyber operator, cybercrime investigator, cyber defense analyst, or cyber incident responder.
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Must be a veteran, transitioning service member, first responder, military spouse, or government personnel.
Must have at least a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. School transcripts of the highest level of education completed are required.
Must have some IT or cybersecurity experience.
High School Diploma
Summer 2026
Start Date: July 6, 2026 • End Date: September 4, 2026
Application deadline: May 1, 2026
Spring 2026
Start Date: March 2, 2026 • End Date: May 1, 2026
Application deadline: January 1, 2026
The National Cybersecurity Workforce Development Program, CyberSkills2Work, is led by the University of West Florida and funded by the DoD CIO Cyber Academic Engagement Office and the NSA National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Program.