It's not exactly 'spy school' as some headlines are claiming but the University of Cincinnati is being recognized by the National Security Agency.
Four of the school's programs are now designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. UC is one of just 13 schools in the country to receive the designation.
Marketing Coordinator with UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, Art Davies, says students are learning how to prevent cyber attacks, like the one on retail chain Target.
"Every system gets attacked every day," says Davies. "Our task here is to make sure that our students are trained to a level where they can design and build systems that will be resistant to these attacks."
Davies says the application and screening process for the NSA designation took several years.
UC says new opportunities are surfacing thanks to the designation including an expanded partnership with the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The is now eligible for federal cyber security research grants and the NSA says the elite program designation includes internship opportunities at its agency.
