2024 Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference

Internships are an essential component of a student’s college education and allow students to obtain work experience, gain knowledge of business functions, explore a chosen career path, improve teamwork and communications skills, and increase marketability and value to employers. This presentation provides an overview of the Field Study internship and accompanying course that students in Virginia Tech’s Cybersecurity Management and Analytics program must complete as part of their bachelor’s degree. (The internship must include work-related tasks that allow students to align and improve upon at least five cybersecurity competencies from the NICE Framework of Competencies and the course is three credits.) The overview will cover eligibility, the application and review process, course content and structure, and employer relations. The presentation will also cover tips and advice for developing an internship course and helping students locate an internship, in addition to having a panel of 2-3 students/alumni speak about their internship and course experience including benefits and lessons learned.