Further expanding its commitment to providing higher education opportunities for the military, Capitol Technology University has joined the Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Co-operative (AU-ABC), the university announced Thursday (November 8).
The AU-ABC provides pathways to a bachelor’s degree for airmen enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Having earned an associate’s degree through the CCAF, they can then transfer credits to an accredited civilian college or university that offers bachelor’s degree programs online.
Through the AU-ABC, Capitol – a DHS and NSA-recognized Center of Excellence in cybersecurity education -- will be offering the opportunity to earn a bachelor of science in cyber and information security.
“Capitol has a long history of serving the educational needs of our military. We are extremely excited to add to that history with a new partnership with the Community College of the Air Force,” said Dr. Helen G. Barker, the university’s vice president for academic affairs. “Capitol has been accepted as a Category 1 partner for our BS in cyber and information security, offering a pathway to complete their bachelor’s that is asynchronous and provides critical flexibility to fit the needs of AU-ABC students.”
“The partnership with the AU-ABC allows for a more efficient pathway for airmen to earn their bachelor’s degree in cyber and information security at Capitol. This is hopefully the first of many partnership programs with the CCAF, as we will be reaching out to partner in such areas as business and engineering technology,” Barker said.
Supporting the educational and professional aspirations of our country’s active duty and retired military has long been a priority for Capitol, says the university’s president, Dr. Bradford L. Sims.
“We are honored to support our country’s servicemen and women by providing access to degree opportunities in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity,” Sims said. “Capitol has a proud legacy of supporting military education, including through partnerships with the NSA, our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and the tuition discounts we offer to active duty military and their spouses.”
Founded in 1927 by a Navy veteran, Eugene H. Rietzke, Capitol began as a radio engineering institute and later expanded to cover a broad array of engineering, technology, computer science, and business fields. The Laurel, MD-based university currently offers 18 bachelor’s degree programs, in fields that include computer science, construction management and critical infrastructure, cyber analytics, cyber and information security, mechatronics engineering, and unmanned and autonomous systems.
The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is a federally-chartered degree-granting institution that serves the United States Air Force's enlisted total force. It serves approximately 300,000 active, guard, and reserve enlisted personnel, making CCAF the world's largest community college system. The college annually awards over 22,000 associate in applied science degrees from 71 degree programs.
Launched in 2007, the AU-ABC has helped more than 104,000 airmen complete nearly 203,000 courses at civilian institutions, resulting in 4,396 bachelor’s degrees, according to the Air Force News Service.
For more information on opportunities available at Capitol through the AU-ABC, visit our AU-ABC partnership page, contact admissions@captechu.edu, or phone 800-950-1992.