Information Assurance & Cybersecurity Certificate

UAH offers new information assurance certificate program

With the demand for IT security professionals at an all-time high, UAH's Economics and Management Information Systems Department has created a graduate-level certificate program in information assurance. The new program is focused on IT professionals and network administrators, the people who implement security at the practical level. IT security is one of the two fastest growing areas in the industry.

UAH recognizes that with the major Army presence, and NASA and all the companies and organizations that do business with them here, UAH is in a town where there is a tremendous demand for skilled professionals in this field. The certificate program includes 17 semester hours of work in six courses, including three created specifically for this program. Coursework covers several topics, including fundamental telecommunication principles, computer forensics, network defense, and security management.

In addition to receiving a graduate certificate from UAH, students will also get training to help them prepare for tests that will qualify them for additional security certifications, such as Security+ and CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional). The Department of Defense now requires its Information Assurance personnel and those of contractors to hold certifications appropriate for the employee's position. Please see Department of Defense Directive 8570.1, Information Assurance Training, Certification, and Workforce Management, August 2004. Because it is a graduate program, credit hours earned in the information assurance program can also be applied toward a master's degree in management information systems.

Offered at night to accommodate working professionals, courses in this program will focus on managerial and practical aspects of IT security. Students will use a wide variety of security software in a secure computer lab designed specifically for the IA program at UAH.

More information about the program is available by contacting Dr. Brent Wren, the business school's director of graduate programs at 824-6681 (Brent.Wren@uah.edu).

Graduate certificate in Information Assurance & Cybersecurity

Course of Study

MIS 501 - Introduction to Information Systems Assurance (2 hours)

This course provides a general overview of the concepts of information security, both from a management and a technology perspective. Students are introduced to the complexity of the security issues facing networked organizations. Practices and standards will be presented to assess and plan for risks and the security needs to minimize the risks, both technically and managerially. The integration of security concerns within organizational planning and implementation processes and practices will be explored.

MIS 560 - Telecommunications and Networking

Overview of geographically distributed computer-communications facilities. Network design, structure and optimization are addressed. Regulated common carriers, data transmission, routine techniques, reliability, protocols, error protection, modems and controllers are included. Prerequisites: MIS 301 or MIS 501.

MIS 660 - Information Security Management

Examines management issues associated with the control and audit of information systems. Specific emphasis is on IT controls and their evaluation, computer-based auditing techniques, encryption, and security policies. Recent developments in IT, such as client-server systems and the Internet, and their impact on auditing, control, and security are also considered.
Prerequisites: MIS 501 or equivalent.

MIS 663 - Computer Forensics

Examines computer forensics and investigations. Coursework looks at problems and concerns related to computer investigations. Traditional investigation methods are blended with classic systems analysis and problem solving techniques, and applied to computing investigations. Common computer forensic tools are implemented in real-life scenarios. Prerequisite: MIS 660.

MIS 670 - Business Contingency Planning

Introduces the theories and concepts of business contingency planning through risk analysis and disaster recovery planning. This course provides a greater understanding of the assessment and management of risk and disaster recovery within an organization. The course emphasizes the nature of risk, risk assessment, risk management and disaster recovery, and how these concepts can be addressed effectively through business contingency planning. Prerequisite: MIS 501.

MIS 677 - Network Defense and Operating Systems

Provides a foundation in network security. The primary emphasis is on intrusion detection. Examines developing a security policy and then implementing that policy. Security issues and practical applications related to network address translation, packet filtering, proxy servers and firewalls, and virtual private networks will be addressed. This course assumes familiarity with the Internet and basic networking concepts, including TCP/IP, gateways, routers and Ethernet. Prerequisite: MIS 660

Apply

To apply to the Information Assurance and Cybersecurity program, please contact:

Dr. Brent Wren
Director of Graduate Programs
College of Business Administration
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL 35899
Phone: 256.824.6159
Fax: 256.824.7572
Email: Brent.Wren@uah.edu

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