Journal of Information Systems Education (JISE)

Volume 32

Volume 32, Issue 2, Pages 119-133

Spring 2021


A Process-Based Approach to ABET Accreditation: A Case Study of a Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Program


Abdullah M. Almuhaideb
Saqib Saeed
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: ABET accreditation has become a well-known standard for academic programs not only in the U.S. but also across the globe. Instantiating the processes to systematically improve the quality of programs is a daunting task for higher education institutions. In this contribution, we provide a detailed process-based framework that can assist aspiring institutions to embed quality in their processes leading to ABET accreditation. Our contribution is a novel framework for a process-based approach to quality assurance, as most of the published literature is primarily concerned with the experience of ABET accreditation of a solitary program. However, in this paper, we have presented a generic framework that ABET aspiring programs can instantiate in their preparation for ABET accreditation. We have validated these processes in our successful ABET accreditation application of the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics program. Our existing ABET-accredited programs were following old ABET criteria and the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics program must apply based on the new criteria proposed by ABET. Another novelty of our contribution is that it is based on our work for the first application cycle for ABET cybersecurity-related programs, so the findings of our contribution may assist other aspiring cybersecurity related academic programs to well prepare in their ABET accreditation pursuits.

Keywords: ABET, Accreditation, Assurance of learning, Cybersecurity, Security education, Computing education

Download This Article: JISE2021v32n2pp119-133.pdf


Recommended Citation: Almuhaideb, A. M. & Saeed, S. (2021). A Process-Based Approach to ABET Accreditation: A Case Study of a Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Program. Journal of Information Systems Education, 32(2), 119-133.