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CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS)

About SFS@UMassD

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds a Scholarship For Service (SFS) program at UMassD, which focuses on supporting the next generation of information technology professionals, industrial control system security professionals, security managers, and other professions focusing on meeting the needs of the cyber mission. This program awards full scholarships (including tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend) for up to 3 years to undergraduate and graduate students whose studies focus on cybersecurity. In return for their funding, recipients must work for the U.S. Government in a position related to cybersecurity, post-graduation. Their period of required service is equal to the length of the received scholarship.

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Program details

Students funded under the program receive the following benefits (while grant funds are available):

  • Full-tuition scholarship (1-3 years depending on the degree program)
  • Annual stipend (for living expenses): $37,000 for graduate students and $27,000 for undergrad students
  • Additional annual funds to reimburse textbooks and professional development (including laptop, equipment for research/project, certifications/trainings, and professional travel), up to $6,000
  • Participation in a targeted job fair and other professional development events for SFS scholars

Obligations

Students funded under this program incur the following obligations:

  • Complete a degree program through a plan of study with a significant focus on security
  • Search for and complete security-related government internships during the summers while funded under the program
  • Search for and complete employment with the government immediately following graduation -- the period of employment must equal the duration of the scholarship
  • Participate in conferences, job fairs, and meetings related to the SFS program

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration for the SFS scholarship at UMass Dartmouth, the student must meet all of the following:

  • a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
  • a rising full-time senior undergraduate student, or a graduate full-time student, at UMass Dartmouth (prospective students must have applied separately for admission to Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or Data Science)
  • able to show strong evidence of their ability to obtain a Security Clearance
  • pursuing a plan of study with significant security content in their host department (Refer to SFS curriculum in CIS, ECE)

SFS scholars pursuing the MS degree programs in the Computer & Information Science department
will be required to take the following blocks of courses (30 credits):

  1. Fundamentals in Computer Science - 9 credits. A selection from:
    1. CIS 560 Theoretical Computer Science (3 credits)
    2. CIS 570 Advanced Computer Systems (3 credits)
    3. CIS 522 Algorithms and Complexity (3 credits)
    4. CIS 580 Paradigmatic Software Development (3 credits)
  2. Cybersecurity concentration - 12 credits. A selection from:
    1. CIS 542 Digital Forensics (3 credits)
    2. CIS 543 Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
    3. CIS 544 Cyber Defense and Operations (3 credits)
    4. CIS 546 Secure Software Development (3 credits)
    5. CIS 547 Network Security and Data Assurance (3 credits)
    6. ECE 548 Cyber Threats and Security Management (3 credits)
    7. ECE 620 Dependable and Secure Computing (3 credits)
  3. An elective course - 3 credits. A selection from:
    1. CIS 573 Operating System Design (3 credits)
    2. CIS 577 Computer Networks (3 credits)
    3. ECE 549 Network Security (3 credits)
    4. ECE 520 Wireless Networks and Mobile Security (3 credits)
  4. MS Project and MS Thesis (must be supervised by a faculty member specializing in cybersecurity) - 6 credits.

SFS scholars pursuing the MS degree programs in the Electrical and Computer Engineering
department will be required to take the following blocks of courses (30 credits):

  1. Fundamentals in Computer Engineering - 12 credits.
    1. ECE 560 Computer Systems Performance Evaluation (3 credits)
    2. ECE 562 Advanced Computer Architecture (3 credits)
    3. ECE 565 Operating Systems (3 credits)
    4. A graduate math course from the approved list (3 credits)
  2. Cybersecurity concentration - 6 credits.
    1. ECE 548 Cyber Threats and Security Management (3 credits)
    2. ECE 549 Network Security (3 credits)
  3. Cybersecurity elective courses - 6 credits. A selection from:
    1. ECE 520 Wireless Networks and Mobile Security (3 credits)
    2. ECE 620 Dependable and Secure Computing (3 credits)
    3. CIS 542 Digital Forensics (3 credits)
    4. CIS 543 Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
    5. CIS 544 Cyber Defense and Operations (3 credits)
    6. CIS 546 Secure Software Development (3 credits)
    7. CIS 547 Network Security and Data Assurance (3 credits)
  4. Other courses – 6 credits
    • MS Thesis Track:
      • ECE 600 Master’s Thesis (6 credits; must be supervised by a faculty member specializing in cybersecurity)
    • MS Project Track:
      • ECE 501 Master’s Project (3 credits; must be supervised by a faculty member specializing in cybersecurity)
      • One elective course (3 credits)

Evaluation criteria include (but are not limited to) academic qualifications (such as GPA), demonstrated interest in cybersecurity, and eligibility for a U.S. security clearance (required for post-scholarship employment).

How to apply

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

A complete application requires the following:

  • A resume, including work experience, key skills, honors, and awards.
  • Contact information for one reference by a faculty member or individual who can speak to the applicants background and preparation to succeed in the field of cybersecurity
  • A statement (no more than 600 words) describing your experience and interests around cybersecurity, your broader career goals, aspects of government work that do (and do not) interest you, and why you are applying for this scholarship.
  • The following documents must be read, completed, and signed:
    • Code of Conduct Release form
    • Obligation Acknowledgment form
    • SFS Service Agreement (signed upon acceptance)

Instructions for applicants