Security Basics mailing list archives
RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance
From: "Nelson, James" <jnelson () ad nmsu edu>
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:30:44 -0600
A degree from a major university with on-campus residency requirements such as Purdue or Iowa State is always going to win out over the "night-school" type degrees. Look for full-time faculty with terminal degrees (Ph.D., J.D., D.Sci.). Schools with part-time, non-terminal degree faculty are seen to be "training" as opposed to "educating". This may be biased and unfair, but it is how the world works. I'm sure many very good people come out of those programs and have successful careers. But, if you want a high-level position, and you want it soon, it helps to have a "name" degree. As a very viable option, consider an good MBA program supplemented by a CISSP, CISA, or SABSA CSA certificate. My research shows that this is the big dollar combo. Keep on learning! Jim James A. Nelson, Ph.D. Chartered Security Architect ________________________________________ From: listbounce () securityfocus com [listbounce () securityfocus com] On Behalf Of Deepak Nuli [dnuli () purdue edu] Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 1:55 PM To: security-basics () securityfocus com Subject: Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance I am currently pursuing my Interdisciplinary Master's in Information Security from Purdue University. It is similar to the MSIA program in ISU. Check out the link for more information: http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/site/education/graduate_program/ . CERIAS, Purdue is considered to be the best research group in the field in US. ( http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2008a/080502SpaffordRanking.html ) . If you have any specific questions regarding the course let me know and I will be glad to answer. Jon Gucinski wrote:
I received my MSIA from Iowa State University in 2005...as a disclaimer, I also did my undergrad there. One of the unique things about their program is their roll-your-own setup. It's an interdisciplinary program, between the business, political science, computer science, computer engineering, and mathematics departments. Since everyone has their own objectives, it allowed students to choose their home department and course of study to best suit them, while still getting a core curriculum of general IA topics. The faculty were mainly excellent. I do know they offer an online certificate (short of a full masters), if travel is an issue. Before staying at ISU for my grad work, I was also accepted to the MSIA program at Northeastern University in Boston. Comparing the two programs (at the time), I felt that ISU's had a more developed program that I'd gain more from. In terms of value...that's going to be largely a personal/subjective decision. For me, I felt that my undergrad work left me poorly prepared for a career in InfoSec. The in-depth work I did going straight through to the MSIA definitely fixed that. However, it did put me in a bit of a quandary...my education significantly outstripped my work experience when looking for a job and I feel that it may have scared away some prospective employers. However, it did intrigue a few as well, and it landed me an excellent job, well in advance of where I thought I'd be at my age. Hope that at least begins to answer your question. If you've got more specific questions, fire away. -Jon
-- Deepak Nuli, Master's Information Security Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) Purdue University 765-496-6767 (off), 765-631-1416 (cell) http://www.linkedin.com/in/deepaknuli
Current thread:
- Masters in Information Security/Assurance Mark Dy-Ragos (May 09)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Chuck Taylor (May 09)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Elizabeth Tolson (May 09)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance infolookup (May 09)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Chad Perrin (May 09)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Krzyston, Randy (May 09)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Brandon Louder (May 09)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Jon Gucinski (May 09)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Deepak Nuli (May 09)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Nelson, James (May 12)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Elizabeth Tolson (May 12)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Brandon Louder (May 12)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Jon Gucinski (May 12)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Josh Brower (May 12)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Jon Gucinski (May 09)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Chuck Taylor (May 12)
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Louis Lerman (May 13)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Deepak J. Mathew (May 19)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance Richard.Patterson (May 20)
- RE: Masters in Information Security/Assurance jmacaranas (May 20)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance carrie . elsesser (May 09)