Re: Masters in Information Security/Assurance

[Deepak Nuli <dnuli () purdue edu>]

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