Information Security Degree

With the advent of the computer age, governmental and non-governmental organizations store a great deal of confidential information on computers. This high-valued information is often the target of online attacks, also known as cyber attacks by those who want to steal it for their own benefit.

Information security is an information technology field which educates students to prevent such cyber attacks and protect their organization’s computer networks and systems.

What can you do with a degree in information security?

Information security knowledge may be pursued at various academic levels and the degrees are available at associate, bachelor, master and doctoral levels.

Depending upon your academic competence and work experience you can pursue various career paths in the ever-expanding and challenging field of information security.
 

Bachelor’s degree in information security

A bachelor’s degree in information security is a 4-year (full-time), 120 credit hours degree. It is offered all across the United States in various colleges and universities, both traditional and online.

The degree’s objectives are to teach technical and analytical skills necessary to respond to cyber attacks, monitor networks, and install safety software, etc. Students are further taught how to address major issues facing the cyber security of business systems, both in the public and private sectors.

In addition to general requirements, the students will be expected to complete the following courses:
 

• Cyber Security and Information Assurance
• Web Server Design
• Intro to UNIX/LINUX Operating System
• Information Technology Strategy and Management
• Advanced Information Systems Implementation
• Advanced Information Systems Design
• Network and Telecommunication Management
• Database Design and Management
• Object Oriented Analysis and Design
• Computer Platform Technologies

Admission requirements

The admission requirements for the bachelor’s degree in information security are:
 

• Filing of the admission application (mostly online)
• Official high school transcripts
• SAT or ACT scores
• A statement of purpose
• Letters of recommendation
• TOEFL for non-native English-speaking applicants

Career options

You may qualify to apply for a career in information security analysis in a governmental or non-governmental organization. Information security analysts plan and execute security plans to protect their employer’s computer networks and systems. They may work as network or systems administrators. Those with previous related work experience and certifications like the Certified Information Systems Security Professional may have a better chance of employability. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that information security analysts with an undergrad degree and less than 5 years of experience earned a yearly median salary of $86,170 in 2012. Their jobs are expected to grow at the rate of 37% faster than the average for all other occupations from 2012 to 2022.
 

Masters in information security

Information security analysts interested in assuming leadership positions in the information security field may enroll in a master’s degree in information security.

A 2-year degree (some universities may offer it as one and a half year degree), it enhances the previously acquired technical skills of a student. Students are encouraged to take courses in information security policy, privacy and management, so that they could be trained for better development and management of secure information systems.

Core courses are divided into security, networking and systems and management. Some of the core management courses may be titled as:
 

• Information Security Policy and Management
• Information Security Risk Analysis
Security courses may be titled as:


• Applied Cryptography
• Secure Software Systems
• Network Security
• Introduction to Computer Security
Networking and Systems courses may be titled as:


• Operating System Design and Implementation
• Packet Switching and Computer Networks
• Introduction to Telecommunication Networks
• Fundamentals of Telecommunications and Computer Networks
• Computer Networks
Some of the degree objectives are as follows:


• Learn necessary skills to assume leadership position in information security
• Learn the latest challenges to cyber security
• Design and implement distributed, software and network systems
• Gain in-depth knowledge of both theory and practice of information security
• Identify the cyber security risks faced by an organization
• Gain in-depth knowledge of technical, management and business aspects of information security

Admission requirements

The following may serve as general and minimum admission requirements:
 

• Undergraduate degree in computer science, computer or electrical engineering or another related field
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Undergraduate coursework in information security
• GRE General Test
• Proficiency in C or C++
• TOEFL for non-native English-speaking applicants
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all previously attended institutes of higher learning

Career options

You may qualify to apply for the following jobs with titles:
 

• Manager of Global IT Security
• IT Security Compliance Administrator
• IT Security Consultant
• Web Administrator
• Information Systems Manager
• Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst
• Database Administrator
• Network Intrusion Forensic Analyst
• Access Control Manager
• Chief Information Officer

Ph.D. in Information Security

This degree will ideally suit those who are already working in the field of information security. While degree requirements will differ from school to school, it may be completed with the successful completion of 64 credit hours. Some universities may offer the degree in hybrid format wherein students take some classes on campus and others online. This helps them continue with their professional lives. Upon graduation, a student must feel comfortable in:
 

• Identifying, analyzing and synthesizing scholarly literature related to information security
• Communicating ethically and professionally about information security research issues
• Acquiring in-depth knowledge and understanding of the field of information security
Some of the required core courses may be titled as:


• Privacy
• Information Security Management
• Managing Risk in Secure Systems
• Database Systems
To satisfy the electives requirements, students may chose from one of the following:


• Information Policy
• Broadband Networks
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Decision Support Systems
In addition to the coursework, students will be required to undertake dissertation with the approval of their faculty advisor.

Admission requirements

A master’s degree in one of the following fields:
 

• Information Technology
• Computer Science
• Information Science
• Information Systems
In addition, students must fulfill graduate prerequisites or show strong academic and work background in:


• Computer Networks
• Telecommunications
• Systems Analysis and Design
• Database Systems
• Programming Languages
• Information Systems
For further admission requirements contact the university you are interested in.