Faculty

Bill Steel, Assistant Professor of Information Technology (Program Director)
V.R. Nemani, Associate Professor of Business Administration
Scott E. Battle, Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Victoria Goetz, Assistant Professor of Business Administration [on leave Fall 2002]
Robert Maguire, Assistant Professor of International Affairs

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Description

A graduate certificate in information security is offered by the Program in Information Assurance. The six-course graduate certificate in Information Security is designed to provide students the skills and knowledge required to establish secure computer information systems and networks. Students are provided with in-depth technical knowledge, reinforced through hands-on labs. Students may apply all of the coursework from the certificate program to the M.S. in Information Assurance.

Graduates of the program are visionary, proactive practitioners of information security, with an understanding of the complex concepts of information security and the ability to apply them to practical situations. Students who successfully complete the program will be qualified to work in the challenging and highly rewarding field of information security.

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Program Prerequisites

Students who do not have a Bachelor's degree in information systems or a related field may be required to complete prerequisite undergraduate coursework before full admission is granted. The number of courses is determined by the amount of experience the student has working with computers. Students who have a background in computers and IT may waive the prerequisite coursework at the discretion of the Program Director.

Prerequisite Courses

The following prerequisite courses may be required for those wishing to enter the graduate certificate program in Information Security. Additional prerequisites may be recommended by the Program Director.

IT 223 Theory of Management Information Systems
IT 233 Networks I - Networks & Data Communication

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Certificate Requirements

Students who wish to earn a graduate certificate in information security must complete 18 credits of course work:

Required courses (18 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

ISYS 565 Network Security
ISYS 661 Theory & Practice of Information Assurance
ISYS 663 Systems Intrusion, Detection & Response
ISYS 665 Auditing Information Systems
ISYS 667 Data Protection
ISYS 673 Information Security Strategy and Policy

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Course Descriptions

ISYS 565 Network Security
Provides the essential concepts and methods for network security. Topics covered include physical security technologies / access control, data encryption/decryption, a survey of commercial and free products, security capable browsers, cryptography, certificates and firewalls.
3 credits
Prerequisite: IT 233 or permission

ISYS 661 Theory & Practice of Information Assurance
Provides a systematic and practical approach to understanding IT security and information assurance. Information Assurance explains and defines the theories and processes that will help organizations ensure trust in information systems and their proprietary information. Topics include: defining information security and assurance goals, performing vulnerability and threat analysis, implementing and verifying the effectiveness of threat control measures, conducting accident and incident investigations and organizational policies and strategy.
3 credits
Prerequisite: IT 223 or equivalent

ISYS 663 Systems Intrusion, Detection & Response
Covers network security management systems that gather and analyze information to identify possible security breaches. It includes intrusions (attacks from outside the organization) and misuse (attacks from within the organization). Students learn the use of vulnerability assessment and scanning technologies to determine the security of a network.
3 credits
Prerequisite: IT 233 or ISYS 661 or equivalent

ISYS 665 Auditing Information Systems
Covers the effective assessment of a company's controls in physical and logical security. Topics include: establishing security and accreditation plans and guidelines, establishing responsibilities for controls, classification levels and access, determining points of risk and trust requirements, technological measures and safeguards.
3 credits
Prerequisite: IT 661

ISYS 667 Data Protection
Introduces basic concepts of cryptology, public key cryptography, hardware and software implementations of cryptographies, data integrity and authentication, protocols for secure mail, www and electronic payments, security aspects of mobile communications, identification schemes, Smart cards and PCMCIA cards.
3 credits
Prerequisite: IT 233 or ISYS 661 or equivalent

ISYS 673 Information Security Strategy and Policy
Covers security policies, mandatory and discretionary access control, separation of duties and least privilege, security objectives, architectures, models and mechanisms, privacy policy and technologies, social implications of biometric identification and intellectual property protection in cyberspace.
3 credits
Prerequisite: ISYS 661

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