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Information Assurance centers of excellence

Some 106 U.S. universities have been designated by the federal government's National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance (IA) and/or Research. We sent out questions to all schools noted for their strong IA programs, seeking out details about their specific offerings, their highly coveted government designation and more. From this feedback, we've compiled a listing of just some of the universities that were quick to share additional insight with our readers.


Capitol College

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Three degree bearing programs - Bachelor of Science in Information Assurance, Master of Science in Information Assurance, Doctor of Science in Information Assurance;

Three post-baccalaureate certificates - Network Protection, Security Management, Information Assurance Administration; NOTE - graduates of the M.S. in Information Assurance also receive a certificate indicating the student “has studied and been determined to meet the National Training Standards curriculum requirements as approved by the Committee on National Security Systems.” This certificate lists all six national training standards (4011-4016) and indicates advanced level where appropriate. Capitol College also offers workforce development and training through the CICPC (Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Protection Center) in both specific an functional IA requirements as well as the legal and regulatory requirements such as FISMA, DoD DITSCAP and DIACAP. These programs are beneficial to a wide range of individuals, including non-IA professionals such as human resource officers, administrators and managers where additional understanding of the IA workforce is necessary to effectively perform their duties.

Why is the program necessary?

As the nation focuses on issues of cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection, the need for a better prepared IA (information assurance) workforce is obvious - and top-notch IA education that incorporates leadership training is critical to achieve that goal.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The majority of Capitol College students studying IA are employed by the Department of Defense, or as contractors supporting the DoD. Therefore it is important to Capitol College students that their educational experience in IA is tied not only to industry standards, but also those standards developed within the federal workforce. The NSA certification represents acknowledgement that we have incorporated national training standards into our curriculum. In fact, Capitol College is one of only a select few whose curriculum is mapped to all six standards, and where appropriate, at the advanced level.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Many of our students are already employed in government or industry. They hold titles such as: Computer and Info Systems Manager, Computer Software Engineer, Systems Software Engineer, General and Operations Managers, Computer Software Engineer, Computer Systems Analysts, Medical & Health Services Manager, Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts, Computer Programmers, Network and Computer Systems Administrators. Many others graduate and go on to fill similar positions, start their own consulting companies, or take on leadership roles as CTOs or CEOs.

What do students get out of the program?

Students gain the knowledge and experience to implement and manage risk mitigation practices along with the necessary credentials for advancement within their organization or to qualify for higher positions elsewhere

What sectors are students prepared for?

All of the above -- information assurance affects every business on the planet that maintains databases and information systems that are accessible via the Internet.

How many students graduate each year?

About 130 information assurance graduates each year

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2003

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Two rounds to date


Carnegie Mellon University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Carnegie Mellon offers several master's degrees in the area of Information Assurance (IA), as well as a number of other master's degrees in which IA-related concentrations may be taken, including:

Master of Science in Information Technology-Information Security (MSIT-IS), offered through the Information Networking Institute (INI) of the College of Engineering

Master of Science in Information Security Technology and Management (MSISTM), offered through the Information Networking Institute (INI) of the College of Engineering

Master of Science in Information Security Policy and Management (MSISPM), offered through the Heinz College, School of Information Systems and Management

Students in the MSISTM (including Integrated MSISTM) at the INI, MSIT-IS at the INI, and MSISPM at Heinz College programs are eligible to receive the NSTISSI 4011 Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals Certificate. (CMU Information Assurance courseware has also mapped the CNSSI-4014E - Systems Security Officers (ISSO) certification. However, the 4014E certificate is not currently offered to students.)

Why is the program necessary?

Quoting the NSA website: "[CAE's] criteria are designed to measure and recognize the depth and maturity of Information Assurance (IA) academic programs and to stimulate the development of broad-ranging IA programs to meet the varying needs of the student population, including workforce professionals, as well as the employment needs of government and industry. Institutions successfully meeting the criteria are "designated" as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The criteria are not designed to the discriminating level required of programs offering a specific "accreditation" or "certification." Accreditation and certification establish a minimum set of criteria to assure that a basic level of quality instruction is provided in a field of study. National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education are expected to be national role models."

In addition to the statement above, Carnegie Mellon values the program because it permits an institution to participate in the National Science Foundation's grant proposals for Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS).

The Scholarship Track provides funding to colleges and universities to award scholarships to students in the information assurance and computer security fields. Scholarship recipients shall pursue academic programs in information assurance for two years of master's-level study. Upon graduation, after their two-year scholarships, recipients will be required to work for two years in the Federal Government.

The Capacity Building Track provides funds to colleges and universities to improve the quality and increase the production of information assurance and computer security professionals.

Carnegie Mellon has been able to apply successfully to both tracks:

For the Scholarship Track, Carnegie Mellon has been granted funds three times (2001, 2004 and 2007) and re-submitted in 2010.

For the Capacity Building Track, Carnegie Mellon was able to be a lead institution and offer several Information Assurance Capacity Building Programs (IACBP) to minority-serving institutions (seven editions offered in the past years, and one currently in progress).

Importantly, the SFS program serves to address a critical need within the federal government for qualified professionals in information assurance. A May 2009 article in Government Computer News emphasized this need, stating: “In the information assurance community, SFS is becoming widely recognized as indispensable, especially when government demand for highly skilled information technology security professionals is surging because of Information Systems Management Act requirements, the inexorable growth in security operations centers and an impending wave of retirements. …A glance at the lists of openings for GS-2210 series IT security specialists on the Office of Personnel Management's USAJobs.gov Website underscores how acutely the government needs cybersecurity expertise. The list runs more than a half-dozen pages with many agencies posting dozens of openings at multiple work sites.”

Jared Cohon, President of Carnegie Mellon University, in an interview with Educause, stresses the importance of Carnegie Mellon's commitment and ability to address the nation's need for cybersecurity professionals through a variety of programs, such as the SFS program and the IACBP. “The wide range of cybersecurity educational activities at Carnegie Mellon reflects the complexity of the educational tasks. Colleges and universities are providing a combination of specialized education paths, for those who will focus on security, and broadened computer science, engineering, information systems, and management curricula that include education in many facets of cybersecurity.”

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

There has been a great deal of emphasis in recent years on the importance of information assurance (IA) in higher education. This emphasis is a result of an increased awareness of security issues and vulnerabilities, expanded resources for IA research, an increasing number of highly publicized attacks on vulnerable systems, and an increasing awareness of computer-related privacy issues. As a result of this emphasis, much has been published on how to effectively integrate IA into existing curricula, how to set up new programs and concentrations in IA, and successful classroom and laboratory experiences in teaching specific IA topics.

The National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education Program is jointly sponsored by NSA and the DHS in support of the President's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, February 2003. The designation is open to nationally or regionally-accredited four-year colleges and universities for their graduate and undergraduate programs. The benefits to the college or university include formal recognition from the United States government, associated prestige and publicity opportunities, and eligibility to apply for government Information Assurance Scholarship Programs. Although the designation of CAE does not carry a commitment of funding for IA research from NSA or DHS, it does serve as a measure of institutional credibility when applying for research funding. In addition, the designation serves as an objective third-party measure of the quality of the IA program and activities in place.

Very importantly, this designation and participation in the SFS program is invaluable in our efforts to attract highly qualified U.S. citizens to our program.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Our students have filled a variety of roles since we were first designated as a Center of Excellence. In particular, many of our graduates gravitate towards defense positions (e.g., with CIA, NSA, DHS, Navy SPAWAR, and DOD related positions) and towards Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (e.g., SEI CERT, MITRE, Sandia National Lab, MIT Lincoln Labs, Jet Propulsion Lab, etc).

What do students get out of the program?

The master's programs are ideally suited to students who want to assume leadership positions in the information security arena. The program enhances a technical education with additional courses in management, information security policy, and other topics essential for the effective development and management of secure information systems. Graduates become security experts equipped to manage the growing complexities associated with securing data and networks. Both of these programs have routinely received a 100 percent rate of post graduation employment opportunities upon graduation.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Our students are prepared for all sectors; however, the majority of graduates from our information assurance programs go on to industry in a wide range of information assurance positions including consultants, developers, systems and software architects, and analysts, while our SFS graduates pursue information assurance careers in the government and public sector.

How many students graduate each year?

Approximately 75 students graduate per year in both the MSISPM & MSISTM programs. Ten students in these programs are also part of the SFS program. Since 2001, over 100 students have completed the SFS program at Carnegie Mellon.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

Carnegie Mellon received its first NSA Center of Academic Excellence in IA Education (CAE-IAE) designation in 2001 and has maintained this designation since. This past year in 2009, Carnegie Mellon was re-designated a CAE-IAE and also received its first designation as a Center for Academic Excellence in IA Research (CAE/R) for the academic years 2009-2014.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Carnegie Mellon has been through three rounds of NSA CAE certifications.


Fort Hays State University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Certificate Evidencing Completion of Curriculum Meeting the CNSS 4011 and CNSS 4013 Standards
Bachelor of Science or Arts in Computer Networking and Telecommunications with a Concentration in Information Assurance
Masters of Liberal Studies in Information Assurance (Network Security and Security Management options)
Masters of Business Administration with a Concentration in Information Assurance
All Fort Hays State University Information Assurance options are available on-campus and through distance learning.

Why is the program necessary?

A wide variety of organizations need people with Information Assurance expertise. Businesses of a variety of types, health care organizations, banks and financial institutions, governmental agencies, and even the U.S. Military need to protect networks, servers, and information assets.  

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

NSA certification is beneficial as it is outside certification by a respected and objective third party that curriculum is aligned with recognized standards established jointly by business and government. Designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence is a mark of quality and distinction. It certifies to employers that the program is capable of producing capable and well educated graduates. Center of Academic Excellence designation is an accreditation testifying to the quality of curriculum, faculty, labs, student support, and research.


What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Information Assurance graduates have entered into roles as Network Security Specialists, Network Administrators, Network Analysts, IT and IA consultants, and Network Engineers. MBA graduates in the IA concentration are typically information technology staff with technical skills who are interested in moving into levels of higher responsibility as Chief Information Officers, Chief Information Security Officers. or Directors of Information Security.


What do students get out of the program?

Undergraduate students develop strong analytical, communication, and technical skills. Graduate students who focus on Management of Information Assurance in either the Masters of Liberal Studies of the Masters of Business Administration are presumed to have a technical background and gain managerial, strategic, leadership, and planning expertise.  


What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Graduates are prepared for a variety of business settings: services, telecom, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, retail, and many other areas. Graduates working in business are typically working in corporate headquarters or data center locations. Graduates are working in finance in a variety of settings. Graduates are also working in government ranging from local cities and counties to state and federal agencies. A number of distance learning students are members of the U.S. Miliary. Some of those students will pursue careers in the miliary or intelligence. Others will join the public sector. Health care is a significant employer of graduates.

How many students graduate each year?

The undergraduate program is producing 10-20 graduates a year. The Masters of Liberal Studies in Information Assurance is graduating 5-10 a year. The Masters of Business Administration Concentration is producing between 10-20 graduates a year.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

Fort Hays State University was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance in 2009.

Fort Hays State University received curriculum certification for the CNSS 8011 and 8013 levels in 2008.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Two


Florida State University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

BA and BS in Computer Science

BS in Computational Biology

BA and BS in Computer Criminology

MS and Ph.D. in Computer Science

Why is the program necessary?

To fulfill the needs of industry, government and academia

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It recognizes our courses and helps students get employment

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

In industry: analysts, project managers, system designers

In government: analysts, security officers, system designers

In academia: All areas of computer science

What do students get out of the program?

Learn skills and background for employment

What sectors are students prepared for?

Health care, financial, government.

How many students graduate each year?

84

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2001

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

3 rounds (CAE-IAE), 1st round CAE-R

George Mason University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Ph.D. in IT, CS, and EE with security concentration

MS in Information Security and Assurance

Graduate Certificates in Information System Security and Network Security

BS in IT and CS with security concentration

Why is the program necessary?

This is an important area with shortage of trained professionals.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Faculty members, government employees, industrial employees

What do students get out of the program?

State of the art education appropriate for the degree they are pursuing

What sectors are students prepared for?

All of them. It's their choice what they would like to pursue.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

CAE-IAE in 1999 and CAE-R in 2008; both are valid through 2013

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

CAE-IAE fiur times


The George Washington University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

B. S., B.A., M.S., Ph. D. in computer science, engineering management, electrical and computer engineering, public policy, forensic sciences, business administration

Why is the program necessary?

The program is necessary to supply an appropriately educated workforce to deal with issues related to cybersecurity in government.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

NSA certification makes the university eligible for scholarship grant programs such as the DoD Information Assurance Scholarship Program and the NSF Scholarship for Service Program.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Computer security officer, security certification and accreditation, security testing, cybersecurity management, strategic planning for cybersecurity

What do students get out of the program?

Among other things, students exiting this program are on a fast track for significant assignments in cybersecurity both technical and managerial assignments. They advance more quickly than other recent graduates.

What sectors are students prepared for?

All of the above. Students study requirements, laws, and regulations related to a number of application areas and to government data processing in general. So they are familiar with FISMA, HIPAA, GLB, Sarbanes-Oxley, for example.

How many students graduate each year?

6-9 each year from the DoD and NSF programs combined

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2002

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

2


Georgia Institute of Technology

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

We offer a Master's of Science in Information Security in both on-campus and distance-learning formats, as well as a Ph.D. in Computer Science with an emphasis in Security.

Why is the program necessary?

The program is of critical interest to the United States because it increases awareness of which information security degrees meet the stringent standards set out by the program. This increased awareness results in more students considering and attending these programs, which naturally results in more graduates, which results in a workforce that is more security-conscious, as well as bigger pool of potential applicants for the NSA and DHS.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The NSA CAE program is of tremendous importance to Georgia Tech as a means of distinguishing our program. The visibility and credibility of being evaluated and subsequently certified by the NSA helps us attract top students and stay firmly connected with the challenges faced in the intelligence community.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Our students are highly sought-after and are employed by many information security sectors, including security R&D, software and computer architecture, finance and consulting companies, as well as the NSA and other government agencies. Roles vary from technologists and architects to policy experts.

What do students get out of the program?

Our program is specifically designed so that all students must complete a rigorous technical core before branching out into chosen concentrations.

This depth and breadth ensures that all of our graduates have a deep understanding of security, whether they choose to specialize in policy or technology. Additionally, they're being taught by faculty who are themselves doing top-tier research in security. That gives our students the opportunity to engage in the same level of research and thus to truly define the forefront of security.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Our students find positions in almost all sectors, since security is critical across the entire IT spectrum.

How many students graduate each year?

We graduate between 20 and 30 Master's students and several Ph.D. students per year.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2001

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Three


Idaho State University

Which degrees/certifications are offered

Idaho State University offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees with specializations in Information Assurance. Our CyberCorps/SFS students have been predominantly in the Masters of Business Administration MBA – The program if fully accredited by the AACSB. During the two year program they take all the courses required of the other MBA students. In addition they take an additional 21 credits of courses focused in Information Assurance topics. The Information Assurance courses are organized to support the CNSS standards and are not focused on industrial professional certifications. Because of our curriculum students receive CNSS 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, 4015 certifications. We are one of a small number of CyberCorps/SFS schools that are recognized for all certificates at the advanced level (when available)

Admission to the program occurs after the student has been admitted to a graduate degree program. We accept students with any undergraduate degree.

As an evaluation step, students are required to take industry standardized examinations. During their first semester in the program, students are expected to take and pass the Security + examination. By the end of their first year, before a required internship in a federal agency, the student must take and pass the (ISC)2 SSCP examination. Upon completion of the program, the students are required to take the CISSP examination. Our students have a 100 percent pass rate – first try. None of the courses in our program are focused on preparing students for examinations – They focus on building a professional.

Why is the program necessary?

In the 1990's leaders in the federal information assurance community recognized a shortfall in Information Assurance professionals. Mike Jacobs at NSA and Richard Clarke at NSC were staunch supporters of eliminating the shortfall. They informally asked several groups of academicians to suggest methods of solving the problem. The Colloquium and NIATEC brought together academics who developed a draft ‘plan'. This document recognized that to have Information Assurance professionals the academic programs needed to be expanded and the professorate needed to be strengthened.

The CAE program was essential to establish at least a standardized ‘floor' for academic programs and in other cases it established an aspirational goal. Although there are naysayers, the program has met its basic objectives outlined in the ‘plan' and has established a stronger professorate.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

From the beginning it was recognized that some programs would find the NSA recognition as unnecessary. These schools already had unquestionably strong computer science and engineering programs. However, as noted in Congressional testimony, these programs were not large enough to supply the needs.

The CAE program allowed the federal government to identify additional programs that could help solve the problem. By establishing the CAE standards, the government had some means of objectively identifying programs that were similar.

Although skeptics have called the program a ‘center of adequacy' designation, it has served the purpose of setting a standard. Some would suggest that the standards should be different – perhaps so; however, it has kept lower-quality programs from diluting the quality.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Graduates from the Idaho State University have a strong orientation toward policy and operations. In addition they have technology skills sufficient to enter jobs in forensics and cyber defense.

Recent graduates from our program have taken positions at the U.S. Senate, Health and Human Services, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Cyber Command 24th Air Force, Spawar (Navy),DISA, Treasury, Department of State, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy and Department of Education. They have been hired, with no prior federal service as GS 10 through GS 14.

All of our students have completed their SFS commitment to the government. Upon completion of their obligation, three have chosen to seek Ph.D. degrees. (They are beginning to solve the problem of the professorate).

What do students get out of the program?

Students in our program have a full scholarship and small stipend to get their masters degree. They receive a world-class degree and a strong career preparation.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Students cover a broad spectrum of disciplines. Clearly they have a good set of management, finance, accounting and information skills. Some have chosen to focus on medical informatics topics etc. Almost all go to work for the U.S. government in Washington DC to start their career. In general they are highly qualified to support and lead Certification and Accreditation activities.

How many students graduate each year?

10-12 in CyberCorps program plus an additional eight or so in undergraduate and other graduate programs.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

1999 (we were one of the first seven schools)

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Three


Information Resources Management College

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

The iCollege offers four certificates that are verified by NSA and DHS as compliant with the national security telecommunications and information system security instruction (NSTISSI) training standards. Additionally, we offer a CISO certificate in an eight-course curriculum based on the network security competencies delineated in the FISMA legislation. We also present an Information Operations (IO) concentration program for select students enrolled in the National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University. Lastly, students successfully completing our information assurance program certificates can automatically apply academic credits from these programs to master's and doctorate degrees at one of 40 universities across the country that partner with the iCollege through special memorandums of agreement.

Why is the program necessary?

In a cyber environment of ever increasing threats to computer networks vital to our national security, the central goal of the iCollege information assurance programs is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in IA and producing a growing number of professionals with IA expertise in various technical and managerial cyber disciplines.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program? The NSA certification of the iCollege's information programs is a source of great pride and prestige for the college as it is a formal recognition from the U.S. government on the high quality of the cybersecurity education programs presented at the college and their role in securing our nation's information systems. The recognition by NSA also allows us to be an integral part of the Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program (DoD IASP) and coordinate with multiple civilian universities to educate members of the IT workforce in the latest cybersecurity concepts for the Information Age.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Graduates become agency information assurance managers, chief information officers, chief information security officers, professional cybersecurity experts, and future government and military leaders.

What do students get out of the program?

Students see the iCollege as a "one-stop shop" of courses that cover the multiple aspects and concepts that comprise an effective cybersecurity program for the enterprise.

What sectors are students prepared for? Students represent a multitude of military mission areas and civilian government agencies across the federal government as well as companies in the private sector.

How many students graduate each year?

around 300

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2000.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing? three multi-year renewals of its standing as a National Center of Academic Excellence in IA Education (i.e., 2003-2006, 2006-2009, and 2009-2014).


Jacksonville State University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

BS Computer Science with Information Assurance concentration BS Computer Information Systems with Information Assurance concentration MS Computer Systems and Software Design with Information Assurance concentration

Why is the program necessary?

To meet the local and national needs for personnel trained in information security and assurance.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The certification allows our students and faculty to participate in select federal programs such as the DoD's Information Assurance Scholarship Program and capacity building grants. It also provides an added credibility to our program of studies.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Students enter the workforce in various capacities.

What do students get out of the program?

Students get certificates/credentials in security, research and practical experiences in the field of computer security, and scholarship opportunities.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Students are prepared in various sectors such as health care, industry, government (federal and state), military, financial, and education.

How many students graduate each year?

30

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2009

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

1


James Madison University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

We offer a 100 percent Internet based Information Security Master's degree, a Secure Software Systems Master's degree, an Undergraduate Information Security Concentration, and an MBA/InfoSec degree

Why is the program necessary?

The CAE program created a community of InfoSec experts to discuss curriculum issues, share and exchange rapidly evolving knowledge, and help each other in improving the quality of IA education

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

Since the certifications are approved by DoD, our graduates are distinguished by the certificates they receive. This shows that our students have some training in IA that may not be available at other institutions.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Most of our InfoSec certificate students are hired to work in the security field in Washington D.C. area.

What do students get out of the program?

Our students get some hands on experience in working with security tools. They also get a deeper understanding of security. Our graduate program is one of the most comprehensive IA programs, covering all aspects of security.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Most of our graduates work in industry and government. We have few graduates who work in health care.

How many students graduate each year?

We graduate around 15-18 graduate students a year and around 15 undergraduates with InfoSec certification.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

We are one of the original seven CAEs, it started in 1999.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

We have be recertified two times, so a total of three times


Johns Hopkins

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

We offer a Master of Science in Security Informatics

Why is the program necessary?

The Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute (JHUISI) is the University's focal point for research and education in information security, assurance and privacy. Securing cyberspace and our national information infrastructure is more critical now than ever before, and it can be achieved only when the core technology, legal and policy issues are adequately addressed. JHUISI is committed to a comprehensive approach that includes input from academia, industry and government. The University, through JHUISI's leadership, has thus been designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research and Education by the National Security Agency and leading experts in the field. Through our broad range of educational opportunities including a ground-breaking graduate program and leading edge research in foundational science and applied technologies, JHUISI is having a significant impact in the region and nationwide. Our research in networking, wireless, systems evaluation, medical privacy and electronic voting, among other areas is widely circulated among academics and policy-makers. Moreover, JHUISI is instrumental in homeland security efforts across Hopkins, including emergency health preparedness, bio-terrorism and national defense.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The wide range of CAE programs currently being offered within academia provide a valuable means for making broad comparisons of the educational experiences that are increasingly available to assess information security and assurance technologies together with their relevant applications.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Students who have graduated have taken positions in government, corporations and government contractors. Our graduates hold positions in companies such as Google, SRI, Citrix Systems, Comcast, Ernst and Young, Symantec, Citi Group, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Microsoft MITRE, Northrop Grumman, Blackbird Technologies to name a few. Our graduates also hold positions of responsibility in Information Security in such government agencies as NSA, NIST, DOD, CIA, FBI, NASA, NRA, MIT Lincoln Labs, the IRS and more. Some titles of our students in these representative companies and agencies are IT Security and Privacy Consultant, Director of IT, Information Assurance Engineer, Director, Technology, Manager Network Engineering and Security, Information Security Analyst, Senior Research Analyst, Security Intelligence Engineer etc.

What do students get out of the program?
An excellent education in Information Security, the opportunity to do research with outstanding faculty in the field of information Security, and the opportunity to meet and talk on a personnel level with guest speakers from companies and government agencies looking for future information security professionals.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

We prepare students to work in all of these sectors. We have graduates working in all of these sectors.

How many students graduate each year?

30-40

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2003

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

We have not had a year since 2003 without NSA CAE certification. We have now also received the NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Research and Education (CAERE) which puts us in an elite group of Universities and Colleges.


Mississippi State University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?
We offer BS/MS/Ph.D. in Computer Science; BS in Software Engineering; and we have an Information Certificate Program requiring 15 semester hours of study in IA topics

Why is the program necessary?

To prepare students for careers in IT security, cyber war, digital forensics, and to promote research in this area.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It validates our program as having met a baseline; supports us with scholarship funding; ties us together with federal cyber initiatives, and assists with government participation in our program.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

IT security, Software Engineer, network security, digital forensics, system administrator, programmer, project manager, computer scientist, and other related fields.

What do students get out of the program?

Exposure to current topics in information assurance, hands on experience with tools and techniques, development of cybersecurity skills, research opportunities, job opportunities

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

All these plus industrial applications, law enforcement, and anyone having IT systems.

How many students graduate each year?

Approximately 100/year

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2001 – renewed in 2004 and 2007 for CAE-IAE; 2008 for CAE-Research

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

We are certified to three CNSS standards – 4011, 4014, and 4016. We have been recertified as a CAE-IAE 3 times and a CAE-R in the initial year of eligibility (2008)


Missouri University of Science and Technology (Formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla)

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

CNSS 4011/4014 standards as a Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance & Security Officer Essentials, M.S. in Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Ph.D. in Computer Science.

Why is the program necessary?

Missouri S&T offers a unique contribution to the information assurance field with our focus on ensuring the combined cyber and physical security of the nation's electric power grid, oil, gas and water distribution systems, and transportation systems. 

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The NSA certification represents a standard curriculum that is readily identifiable to students seeking IA as a career choice.  The opportunities for graduate fellowships such as the IASP provide a valuable inducement for students to continue their studies to the advanced level.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Missouri S&T's graduates of the NSA program largely enter government and national laboratory service in the area of securing the nation's infrastructure.

What do students get out of the program?

Students obtain am education and perform research based in the emerging area of combined cyber and physical security.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Primarily government.

How many students graduate each year?

4 students/year among the Graduate Certificate, M.S., and Ph.D. programs.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

CAE- IAE in 2007, CAE-R in 2008

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Missouri S&T was the first Missouri university to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAEIAE) and is the first Missouri university to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research (CAE-R) and is in its first round of both programs.


New Mexico Tech

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D

Certifications: 4011, 4012, 4013E, 4016E

Why is the program necessary?

To support the university vision and cater to local and national needs. New Mexico Tech is well reputed for first responders training and homeland security programs and Information Assurance is an integral part of everything our first line of dense does today.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It allows NMT to differentiate from it's peers and helps support the university's vision to be the best and unique homeland security specialty school with interdisciplinary focus.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Security analysts, Researchers, Academia, and Industry

What do students get out of the program?

Hands on training, solve a security problem, feel for complex problems and active research

What sectors are students prepared for?

All sectors with more emphasis on government

How many students graduate each year?

10 Students

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2001

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

3


Norwich University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

BS and MS in information assurance

Why is the program necessary?

It sets the best schools apart from the rest aiding students in finding the best IA education and employers in finding the best entry-level employees.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It is a filter. Students looking for an IA school use it in their selection process. It also provides a standard by which we can evaluate our own programs.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Just about any type of organization – government, military or industry – that you can imagine and in just about any information security role that you can imagine. Also, many of our grads go into intelligence and, of course, since we are a military school many of our grads are commissioned officers in one of the branches of military service.

What do students get out of the program?

The best education in IA available

What sectors are students prepared for?

All

How many students graduate each year?

between 30 and 50

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2001 – we are one of the oldest.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Two, plus the original. The cycle used to be three years. It now is five years. We are due again in 2012.


Our Lady of the Lake University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Bachelors of Business Administration(BBA) in CISS , Bachelors of Science (BS) in CISS , Bachelors of Applied Studies (BAS) in CISS, Masters of Science (MS) Information Systems and Security

Why is the program necessary?

Information and information systems are critical to national security, businesses, citizens, and customers of our nation's businesses, regardless of where they live or their citizenship. Protecting that information from unauthorized disclosure, ensuring it is accurate and that it is available when needed are the primary objectives of information assurance. Our program provides students with the education needed to meet the growing challenges in protecting our nation's information assets.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

NSA certification demonstrates that our program meets stringent information assurance education standards, and shows Our Lady of the Lake University is an active member of the academic community leading the way to develop not only the future workforce, but also solutions to emerging problems in information assurance. 

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Our Lady of the Lake University's undergraduate students are entering both government and industry, typically in information assurance and computer/network security positions. These positions range from program management to cyber security operations. Our graduate students are often in information technology management or senior technical positions, and are transitioning to information assurance leadership roles. Our Lady of the Lake University alumni are working in a wide variety of leadership positions, to include Security policy/Incident management for the state of Texas, network security testing for Department of Defense, and senior information assurance manager for major U.S. Army installations.

What do students get out of the program?

Students learn how to securely apply information technology to solve business problems. Through our curriculum, we emphasize that information assurance is not implemented only for the purpose of information assurance, but to meet strategic organizational needs. Our students learn how information assurance is used to identify, prioritize and achieve business needs.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Our students are prepared for all sectors, however because of our location in San Antonio, Texas, many of our students focus on careers with the Department of Defense (DoD). San Antonio is a national leader in Cyber Security, with a concentration of DoD and Department of Homeland Security organizations. As a result, many of our students come from the government sector, and many of our graduates work in the government sector.

How many students graduate each year?

Approximately 15 undergraduate and 6 graduate students.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2007

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

We are in our initial certification period.


Pace University, New York

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Five information assurance programs are currently offered.

Why is the program necessary?

The CAE/IAE provides us with a comprehensive framework and criteria necessary to continue developing our IA programs.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The certification allows our students and faculty to participate in programs that are only open to CAE/IAEs, such as federal grant programs like the NSF's Scholarship for Service or the DoD's Information Assurance Scholarship Program, to name a few.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Pace graduates enter in various roles, ranging from software engineers to network administrators to IT auditors to quality assurance analysts, to name a few.

What do students get out of the program?

At the undergraduate level, Pace's IA curriculum allows students to obtain training in both information assurance and a closely related second discipline, such as criminal justice or information assurance auditing. At the graduate level, Pace outlines an up-to-date IA curriculum. Our graduate IA program also features a capstone project where most students work on IA related projects including face and keystroke biometrics, and online privacy, to name a few.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Pace graduates work in the information assurance area for many organizations in the government, financial, and IT industries.

How many students graduate each year?

Approximately 75 undergraduate and graduate students

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2004

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Two


Polytechnic University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

As part of our SFS program, we offer:

An MS in Cybersecurity

BS, MS and PhD in Computer Science with a concentration in Information Assurance (IA), with optional certificates: Cybersecurity and Information Security Professional

BS and MS in Computer Engineering with concentration in IA

BS, MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in IA

We also offer three federal certificates:

NSTISSI-4011 - INFOSEC Professionals, National Training Standard

CNSSI-4013 National Information Assurance Training Standard For System Administrators (SA)

CNSSI 4016 National Information Assurance Training Standard For Risk Analysts We are launching a new SFS program to promote interdisciplinary IA training, ASPIRE, which will enable our students to broaden their education across the NYU family of schools, combining their security studies with applications in business, policy, media and science.

Why is the program necessary?

There is a large and rapidly increasing demand for IA professionals in government and commerce. These security professionals will need rigorous technical training, as well as the expertise to work in very different disciplines and contexts – with an understanding of policies and laws, business models and incentives, and psychologies and cultures of security and privacy in different institutions and nations, an interdisciplinary skill set we encourage through ASPIRE.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The CAE in IA is required for our SFS programs.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Our students take a variety of roles in the field as security professionals, researchers and security managers. We have had over 50 SFS students go on to work in government. We also have graduates in the security products industry, the financial community, defense contractors, telecommunications, academia, pharmaceuticals and small startups.

What do students get out of the program?

They graduate with extensive training in both security technology and, in our ASPIRE program, its cross-disciplinary applications. They also have experience and professional exposure through our internships -- including opportunities within the Federal security system.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

See the previous question for the wide range of areas our students have entered in both the public and private sectors.

How many students graduate each year?

Between five and ten. We have had more than 60 SFS graduates so far.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

We received our CAE in IA in 2002, and our CAE in IA Research in 2008, the first year it was offered.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

We have gone through three rounds of certification.

Southern Methodist University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Bachelor of science in computer engineering

Bachelor of arts with a major in computer science

Bachelor of science with a major in computer science

Master of science in computer engineering

Master of science with a major in computer science

Master of science with a major in security engineering

Master of science with a major in software engineering

Ph.D. in computer science

Ph.D. in computer engineering

D.Eng. in Software engineering

Ceritificate in information assurance

Certificate in software engineering

Why is the program necessary?

Trains work force in needed security area with breadth in computer science and engineering

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

Yes

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Developers, managers, consultant

What do students get out of the program?

Good training and exposure to industry and government problems and personnel

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

All the above

How many students graduate each year?

Approximately, 50 Undergrads, 70 grads

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2004

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

2

University of Illinois at Chicago

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

BS, MS, and PhD

Why is the program necessary?

Computer security is an increasingly important and complex component of building and administering computer-based systems. It permeates all aspect of computing.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It shows that we have achieved a standing and a critical mass to carry on research and education of computer security.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Mostly, our students go to work in development jobs for major corporations. These companies may be high tech, financial, health, or in many other industries.

What do students get out of the program?

A solid background in computer security and very much in demand job skills.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

All of the above.

How many students graduate each year?

20.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2007

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

1


State University of New York, Buffalo

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

MS in Computer Science and Engineering, MS in Management Information Systems, Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance.

Why is the program necessary?

The first two are regular programs. Certificate is necessary for the NSF SFS and DoD IASP scholarship students.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It gives added value to our programs. It certifies additional knowledge for the students who would not get it elsewhere.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Students join federal work force to work on computer security fields.

What do students get out of the program?

Students learn fundamentals of computer security and information assurance, legal and ethical aspects of computing and security.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Government and financial. A little bit of health care.

How many students graduate each year?

In the IA field, perhaps about five to six each year.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2002

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

2 rounds


Stevens Institute of Technology

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Undergraduate Degree Program: B.S. in Cybersecurity

Masters Programs: M.S. in Computer Science with a Concentration in Cybersecurity M.S. in Security and Privacy Interdisciplinary Master of Science in Security Management and Forensics Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering with a Concentration in Information Systems Security Master of Engineering in Networked Information Systems with a Concentration in Secure Network System Design Master of Science in System Engineering Security

Ph.D. Programs: Ph.D. in Computer Science with a Concentration in Security Ph.D. in Computer Engineering with a Concentration in Security

Graduate Certificates: Graduate Certificate Program in Security and Privacy Graduate Certificate Program in Enterprise Security and Information Assurance Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program in Security Management and Forensics Graduate Certificate Program in Secure Network Systems Design Graduate Certificate Program in System Engineering Security

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The NSA designation is beneficial as it provides a degree of "accreditation" for security programs offered.

We are providing our students with a comprehensive education in security. As such, the education enables them to enter any field that requires a security specialist - including academia, industry and government. As for sectors, health care, financial are just two examples. Any industry that requires a security specialist is a potential sector.

How many students graduate each year?

Depends. Estimate is that we have 50+ students/year that graduate with some sort of a specialization in security each year.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2003.


Syracuse University

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

School of Information Studies: MS in Information Management; MS in Telecommunications and Network Management; Certificate of Advanced

Study in Information Security Management, Certificate of Advanced Study in Information Systems and Telecommunications Management, Professional Doctorate in Information Management, Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology.

Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs: Master of Public Administration; MA in International Relations, National Security Management Course, Certificate of Advanced Study in Public Administration, Certificate of Advanced Study in Leadership of International and Non-Government Organizations, Certificate in Security Studies, Certificate in Information Technology and Policy Management.

L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science: MS in Computer Science; MS in Computer Engineering, M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Certificate of Advanced Study in Systems Assurance, Certificate of Advanced Study in Microwave Engineering.

Why is the program necessary?

In many ways, the Internet and our information and computing systems are like the Wild West, with rogue operatives jeopardizing the open and vibrant interactions and secure transfer of information. Our program prepares graduate students to take cybersecurity jobs in the public and private sectors to protect these systems and keep a wide variety of data sources secure.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The strongest students often seek academic programs that are ranked or carry special certifications or designations by a third party. The NSA certification demonstrates excellence in teaching, research, and applied practices, which not only helps to attract the best and brightest students, but also helps the university secure research funding from external sources.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Various entry, mid, and senior level cybersecurity positions, including chief information security officer (CISO).

What do students get out of the program?

Syracuse University's School of Information Studies, the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications collaborate to promote an interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity governance, theory, and current practice. The university's Center for Systems and Information Assurance and Trust (CISAT); the on-campus JPMorgan Chase Technology Center; the IBM Green Computing Center, and the Institute for Counterterrorism and National Security provide unique research and learning opportunities for students studying cybersecurity at Syracuse University. Faculty at SU are encouraged to work across departments and schools in developing and delivering curriculum as well as in conducting leading edge interdisciplinary research. This enables the university to provide students with a comprehensive education that brings together policy, human behavior, technology, communications, and computer systems.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Corporate, government, military, intelligence, NGOs, health care.

How many students graduate each year?

Approximately 50 across the four degree areas.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2001 for CAE-IA Education, and 2008 for CAE - IA Research

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Three for CAE-IAE, one for CAE-IAR


The University of Arizona

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Since pioneering one of the nation's first Management Information Systems (MIS) curriculums in 1974, the MIS Department at The University of Arizona, Eller College of Management has become a leader in IT education and research.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked us a top-5 program for over 20 consecutive years since the inception of the rankings in 1989 - making us one of only three programs nationwide to maintain this status.

With more than $80 million in research grants, state and industry support, our program has initiated and participated in cutting edge research in group systems, artificial intelligence, and data management projects while educating over 3500 undergraduate, 1200 graduate and 150 doctoral students. (www.mis.eller.arizona.edu)

We offer Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral level degrees and a Master's level Enterprise Security Certificate. Within our Graduate program we offer an Area of Emphasis in Information Assurance. The MIS Emphasis in Information Assurance provides students fundamentals in ethics, information security and risk management as it applies to security related issues. Students learn the main points and issues a manager will face with regards to making informed information security decisions.

In addition, we offer a Graduate level Enterprise Security Certificate which is available online. The MISonline Enterprise Security Certificate program addresses the growing demand for professionals seeking information security awareness both within industry and government.

The courses focus on the need to identify, assess and remediate information security risks while increasing the assurance of information, privacy and security overall.

Students can earn the MISonline Enterprise Security Certificate in less than a year—completely online. Each course is ten weeks in length and students will earn CNSS certificates for successful course completions.

Courses within the program are ideal for both technical and non-technical business managers. Individuals with a technical background will broaden and deepen their understanding of information assurance practices, skills, tools and techniques.

Individuals with a managerial perspective will gain a better understanding of the current security landscape, its issues and approaches. Both will learn how to effectively address information security risk in the Enterprise 2.0 environment. (www.misonline.eller.arizona.edu).

Why is the program necessary?

Nearly three-quarters of organizations believe they have adequate policies in place to protect personal information, yet more than half have lost sensitive data within the past two years – and nearly 60 percent of those organizations acknowledge data loss as a recurring problem, according to a global study released by Accenture on April 27, 2010.

There is demand for IT professionals with expertise in information systems security, and in response to that demand, our top-ranked MIS department addresses these concerns by offering several courses and programs on information assurance and security.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

NSA is beneficial to our program because it adds a higher level of creditability to our offerings. In addition we have been approved to be a center of excellence in information security. The Information Assurance and Security Education Center (IASEC) is an interdisciplinary center which fosters curriculum development, research, professional alliances with industry and community, and education outreach as it applies to areas of information security education, training, and awareness (SETA). IASEC's primary mission is to promote information security and information assurance in the form of education, training, awareness and research to address the cyber vulnerabilities of our nation's information infrastructure. (https://iasec.eller.arizona.edu/mission.asp)

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Students are already in - or enter into - a variety of roles and jobs after completing our courses and programs. You can find our MIS students in the defense, banking, finance, government, medical, health, higher education, mining, and self employed sectors.

What do students get out of the program?

Besides a superb education from a top-5 program students can receive the following CNSS certificates:

CNSS 4011 – Information Systems Security Professionals

CNSS 4012 – Senior Systems Managers

CNSS 4016 – Risk Analyst

CNSS 4013 - System Administrators

In addition to the CNSS certificates above, students can earn PDU's (Professional Development Units) for their PMP® (Project Management Professional) designation. Or they can earn educational hours for their CAPM® (Certified Associate in Project Management certificate). Both of these are recognized by PMI ® (Project Management Institute) of which we are a Registered Education Provider.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Our information assurance and enterprise security courses are designed to give students a broad overview of security topics. Therefore the knowledge they gain can translate into any sector.

As quoted from one of our students: “I have never come across such a comprehensive information assurance course. It covers a broad area of information assurance and addresses real working life situations. The lab work, discussions and project work have stimulated my mind and my education as an information security professional. If I want to describe the course in a few words - Excellent and Comprehensive offerings!"

How many students graduate each year?

We graduate over 200 student per year at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral level. In addition, our students have earned over 440 CNSS certificates, to date, for individual courses.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2009

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing? One


University of Detroit, Mercy

Which degrees/certifications are offered? BS-IA, MS-IA - certificate in IA undergrad and grad

Why is the program necessary? only research program in Michigan - two other teaching CAEs

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program? legitimacy of curricular content

What roles/jobs do your students enter? NSA and other agencies plus large corporations

What do students get out of the program? credentials

What sectors are students prepared for? Government

How many students graduate each year? approximately eight

What year did you first receive the NSA designation? 2004

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing? Two


University of Nebraska at Omaha

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

We are currently offering six different degrees and certifications in Information Assurance:

Bachelor of Science in Information Assurance

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with an Information Assurance concentration.

Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems with an Information Assurance concentration.

Master of Science in Computer Science with an Information Assurance concentration.

Master of Science in Management Information Systems with an Information Assurance concentration.

Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance.

Why is the program necessary?

To meet the needs of our community, in both the private sector and public sector.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It provides a measure of confidence in the program's content and relative maturity for students and employers. It permits us to participate in the NFS Scholarship For Service program.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Some of the roles being filled by our students:

Corporate security groups responsible for policies, security awareness training, problem remediation.

Computer Network Defense.

Red Teams.

Security Administrators.

Operating System Designers.

Academia.

What do students get out of the program?

Core principles illustrated with hands-on tradecraft.

Speaking opportunities. Our IA students have given presentations to local IT groups, law enforcement, elected politicians, and security conferences.

Professional links to each other.

Sponsored research, undergraduate and graduate.

The opportunity to help their employers recruit additional UNO IA students to their organizations.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Our graduates are working in health care (e.g., medical centers, insurance, fraud investigators); financial (e.g., online stock brokers, banks); government (e.g., NSA, DoD, STRATCOM, and U.S. Treasury); defense contractors, and transportation.

How many students graduate each year?

About 25, increasing every year. (There are about 80 in the pipeline right now.)

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

We were first certified in 2002.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Three. Currently certified through 2013.


University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

- B.S. Computer Science with ISA concentrations

- M.S. Computer Science with ISA concentrations

and the following undergraduate certificates:

- Certificate in Information Systems Security

- Certificate in Advanced Information Systems Security -

Why is the program necessary?

Because the growing need for more highly qualified information security professional both in industry and government.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

It sets our program apart from many other programs that do not seem to meet the national need. It also gives us a good benchmark standard.

What roles/jobs do your students enter? Security related jobs in industry and government.

What do students get out of the program?

They receive a high caliber of information security education from internationally renown professors that is second to none.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Because of the breadth and depth of our programs, they are prepared for a variety of sectors including financial, health, government and education.

How many students graduate each year?

Currently about 4-5 students on the average.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2007.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certifications have you gone through to retain your current standing?

1.


The University of Texas at Dallas

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

B.S. in Computer Science degree with a Minor in Information Assurance, Undergraduate Certificate in Information Assurance, Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance, and a MS in computer science with a concentration in IA

Why is the program necessary?

UT Dallas Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science is committed to an initiative in Information Assurance (IA). This includes enhanced research in security assurance and intelligent network technology to reduce cyber-threats and safeguard the nation's information assets. In addition, we are providing more students and the community with IA education and training.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

Formal recognition from the U.S. government, along with the associated prestige and opportunities for publicity

  • National recognition as a leader in IA education and research
  • Attracts students who want IA education
  • Attracts business in Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and nationally who want to develop products addressing IA needs
  • Strengthens grant proposals (especially in collaboration with other CAE Centers, industry and Community Colleges)
  • Eligible to apply for scholarship as and grants through both the federal and DoD Information Assurance Scholarship Programs

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

No historical data yet. However, request for internships are increasing from several different industries; military, corporations and non-profits.

What do students get out of the program?

On completion of these programs, students will:

  • receive a certificate or a computer science graduate degree with a specialization in IA
  • have a comprehensive general IA education background;
  • have solid knowledge in fundamental areas of IA in programming; and
  • have the ability to apply their knowledge in IA to the solution of practical and useful problems.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

All of the above.

How many students graduate each year?

B.S. in Computer Science degree with a minor in Information Assurance (IA): 2

Undergraduate Certificate in Information Assurance: 2

Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance: 41

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2004 – National CAE in IA Education and 2008 – National CAE in IA Research

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Two for CAEIAE and one for the CAE-R


University of Tulsa

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

The University of Tulsa offers B.S. degrees in Computer Science and Information Systems Technology, a M.S. degree in Computer Science and a Ph.D. program in Computer Science all with specializations in information assurance and all credentialed through the federal CNSS certifications.

The University of Tulsa's Institute for Information Security (iSec) is currently accredited to offer all six CNSS certificates at the highest levels available:

NSTISSI-4011: National Training Standard for Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals

CNSSI-4012: National Information Assurance Training Standard for Senior Systems Managers

CNSSI-4013a: (Advanced Level) National Information Assurance Training Standard for System Administrators

CNSSI-4014a: (Advanced Level) Information Assurance Training Standard for Information Systems Security Officers

NSTISSI-4015: National Training Standard for Systems Certifiers

CNSSI-4016a: (Advanced Level) National Information Assurance Training Standard for Risk Analysts

Why is the program necessary?

The University of Tulsa's information assurance program addresses strategic needs in workforce development for industry and the government for information assurance. We have special programs and offerings in embedded systems, mobile ad-hoc networks, digital forensics, critical infrastructure protection and security engineering. In addition, students that go through our special programs possess the unique ability of having the knowledge required to bridge the gaps often observed between applied fields and core computer science concepts.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

The certification not only represents a distinction that communicates to prospective students and employers of our graduates the quality of education in information assurance at our institution, it also is a testament to the level of research and energies devoted to outreach and service. Finally, the certification process itself has helped give shape to our program, helping us identify gaps and opportunities for strengthening our offerings.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Our students land in a spectrum of roles and positions. Many work within the federal government as information security professionals, while others enter into the private sector. Our students have started careers as security auditors, software developers, project managers, system analysts and certifiers to name a few.

What do students get out of the program?

First and foremost our students are grounded in the fundamental and enduring principles of information assurance and computer security. They gain hands-on experience with prevailing technologies, while mastering the underlying science and mathematics. They also have the opportunity to perform advanced research on real problems in the public and private sectors. Finally, students learn the art of effective communication and leadership that they will carry with them throughout their career.

What sectors are students prepared for?

If a particular sector has a computer plugged into a network, our students are prepared for it. However, we do offer focused views of security issues in medical informatics, critical infrastructures (oil & gas, electric power), law enforcement, and military environments.

How many students graduate each year?

The University of Tulsa graduates approximately 35 students each year that have earned at least one CNSS certification. However, most of these students are awarded five if not all six of the CNSS certifications and are primarily graduate students.

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

The University of Tulsa first received its National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE) designation in 2000 and received the additional National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research (CAE-R) designation in May 2009.

How many rounds of NSA CAE certification have you gone through to retain your current standing?

The University of Tulsa has been through four rounds of recertification since 2000, the latest in May of 2009 where we recertified as a CAE and was awarded the additional designation as a CAE-R.


Walsh College

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

Master's of Science in Information Assurance; Master's of Science in Information Technology with IA specialization; IT Audit, Governance and Compliance Certificate; Chief Information Security Officer and Management Certificate; Digital Forensics Certificate; Information Assurance Certificate; MBA with IA Specialization; BBA with IA Specialization; BSBIT with IA Specialization

Why is the program necessary?

This program is necessary to train students to participate in information assurance position within the government and private sectors. Our critical infrastructure is mostly privately held and requires employees with information assurance skill sets.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

NSA certification shows the strength of programs. Our program is delivered in an online format, so students from all over the country may participate. Walsh College also participates in the DoD scholarship program and is a partner with the National Defense University.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Our students are security managers. Many of our students find jobs in IT audit, financial, government, manufacturing and health care sectors.

What do students get out of the program?

Our students are prepared to sit for certification exams such as CISSP, CISM, CISA, and CFE. Walsh College IA students must select a specialization in digital forensics, IT audit, compliance and governance, or management. Distance students received hands-on training using our virtual remote information assurance lab. Besides the specialty area, Walsh College students receive a well-rounded IA education including physical security, law and ethics, business continuity planning, and technical security controls.

What sectors are students prepared for?

Our students are prepared to work in government, finance, manufacturing, health care and telecommunications.

How many students graduate each year?

About 50

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2003

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

3 rounds


West Point

Which degrees/certifications are offered?

BS, Computer Science

BS, Electrical Engineering

BS, Computer Engineering

BS, Information Technology

Why is the program necessary?

The CAE program is necessary because computer security experts are in very short supply and are in high demand. The CAE program helps encourage and support academic institutions who educate and train future information security professionals.

Why is NSA certification beneficial to your program?

NSA certification is important because it helps attract high quality applicants to our institution and helps bolster the reputation of our program.

What roles/jobs do your students enter?

Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

What do students get out of the program?

Exposure to the top tier-information security professionals at the National Security Agency, research and collaboration opportunities with CAE partners.

What sectors are students prepared for? Health care? Financial? Government?

Students are prepared to succeed in a broad range of sectors.

How many students graduate each year?

West Point graduates approximately 950 students, per year: 87 minoring in CS, EE, CE, IT and 83 majoring in CS, EE, CE, IT

What year did you first receive the NSA designation?

2002

How many rounds of NSA CAE certs have you gone through to retain your current standing?

Two.

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