Eligibility & Requirement

Eligibility

Students interested in participating in the SFS program must satisfy all of the following requirements:

• A US citizen or permanent resident.

• While receiving the SFS scholarship, a student must attend a residential  (non-online) program in the University Park (UP) on a full-time basis. As SFS students have to take residential classes at UP, closely mentored by the SFS faculty, currently, only full-time resident students at UP are eligible for this scholarship program. Students from other campuses may apply, but they must relocate to UP at the start of the scholarship.

• While receiving the SFS scholarship, a student must be either: (1) a junior or senior-level undergraduate student (within two years of graduation), (2) an M.S. student (within two years of graduation), or (3) a Ph.D. student (within four years of graduation). In general, 

  • Undergraduate students apply in the spring semester of their sophomore year, and if awarded, their studies during the junior and senior years are supported by SFS.

  • MS students apply to the SFS program and to their corresponding MS admission independently, and if awarded, their two years of MS study are supported by SFS.

  • PhD students' application is invitation-only and should contact the SFS faculty first.

• A student is able to meet selection criteria for federal, state, or local government employment. As final job placement is likely to require a security clearance,  each scholarship recipient may be required to undergo the background investigation required to obtain such a clearance.

• A student should have a strong GPA for their major (approximately 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale).

Requirement for AI-Cybersecurity

New SFS cohort in this pilot program will be either Cybersecurity major students with AI or Data Science focus, or AI or Data Science major students with Cybersecurity focus. Below are three possible examples:

Example Student 1: Cyber student with A-I course content:

1. A-I 100 (GS) Artificial Intelligence: Automated Thinking to Augment Human Intellect

2. A-I 285 Experiential Learning Skills Lab

3. A-I 370 Problem Formulation and Automation

4. A-I 450 AI for Cybersecurity

Example Student 2: Cyber student with DS course content:

1. DS 200 (GQ) Introduction to Data Sciences

2. DS 220 Data Management for Data Sciences

3. DS 305 Algorithmic Methods and Tools

4. DS 402 Emerging Trends in the Data Sciences

Example Student 3: A-I or DS student with Cyber content:

1. CYBER 100 Computer Systems Literacy

2. IST 220 Networking and Telecommunications

3. CYBER 221 Overview of Information Security

4. CYBER 456  Security Management

Applicants interested in joining our SFS program must present concrete plans for fulfilling the new AI requirement of at least four AI/DS courses.