University of Phoenix and the (ISC)²® Foundation today announced they are offering 10 full-tuition scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in the cybersecurity field. The opportunity for qualified and educated security professionals is expected to be very high, with employment of security analysts projected to grow by 37 percent from 2012 to 2022.1

“Employers are facing unprecedented shortages of qualified cybersecurity professionals who serve as the front line of defense in protecting data assets,” said Dennis Bonilla, executive dean of University of Phoenix College of Information Systems and Technology. “Partnerships with leading industry organizations like (ISC)² help us better align our education so it is relevant and produces qualified cybersecurity professionals.”

The (ISC)² Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust for (ISC)² that aims to empower students, teachers and the general public to secure their online lives with cybersecurity education and awareness programs. The scholarships will provide education opportunities for individuals interested in entering or furthering their information security careers.

(ISC)² and University of Phoenix work with industry leaders to identify and advance the skills of IT and security professionals to help reduce the shortage of qualified people in these fields.

“Cybersecurity attacks are making global headlines every day, and no industry is excluded,” said Julie Peeler, director, (ISC)² Foundation. “It’s a problem that we simply can’t ignore. Much of the solution lies within developing more qualified information security professionals to combat cyber threats. Offering students more opportunities for assistance to get into this field is critical. We are grateful to University of Phoenix for recognizing and supporting this need to help develop the talent necessary to solve this problem.”

Applications for the University of Phoenix/(ISC)² Foundation Cybersecurity Scholarships are currently being accepted. The deadline to apply is June 2, 2015. Each scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to complete an undergraduate or master’s degree program at University of Phoenix and can choose to attend a local University of Phoenix campus or online. (ISC)² will also provide recipients with a voucher to take either the SSCP® or CISSP® certification exam within one year of graduation. The exam voucher will be provided to the awarded recipients upon proof of graduation in an area of study with an emphasis on cybersecurity and/or information assurance. For scholarship terms and conditions or to learn more about the scholarship, visit www.phoenix.edu/isc2scholar.

To learn more about University of Phoenix efforts to better equip the workforce through innovative corporate alliances, learning tools and educational programs, visit phoenix.edu/industry.

About the (ISC)²® Foundation

The (ISC)² Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust that aims to empower students, teachers and the general public to secure their online lives by supporting cybersecurity education and awareness in the community through its programs and the efforts of its members. Through the (ISC)² Foundation, (ISC)²’s global membership of over 100,000 information and software security professionals seek to ensure that children everywhere have a positive, productive and safe experience online, to spur the development of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, and to illuminate major issues facing the industry now and in the future. For more information, please visit www.isc2cares.org.

About (ISC)²®

Formed in 1989, (ISC)² is the largest not-for-profit membership body of certified information and software security professionals worldwide, with over 100,000 members in more than 160 countries. Globally recognized as the Gold Standard, (ISC)² issues the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) and related concentrations, as well as the Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP®), the Certified Cyber Forensics Professional (CCFPSM), Certified Authorization Professional (CAP®), HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPPSM), and Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP®) credentials to qualifying candidates. (ISC)²’s certifications are among the first information technology credentials to meet the stringent requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17024, a global benchmark for assessing and certifying personnel. (ISC)² also offers education programs and services based on its CBK®, a compendium of information and software security topics. More information is available at www.isc2.org.

© 2015, (ISC)² Inc., (ISC)², CISSP, ISSAP, ISSMP, ISSEP, CSSLP, CAP, SSCP and CBK are registered marks, and CCFP and HCISPP are service marks, of (ISC)², Inc.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.

1 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm