Thread: MS "Cybersecurity" Programs?

Originally Posted by Love2Learn

Hi all I am in the last stages of my Bachelors of Arts in Management INformation Systems and I am doing an unpaid internship with a local I.T. Contractor. He is really nice and he told me I should take 2 more cours in networking and security because it will benefit me. I let him know that I wanted to pursue my Masters in Cybersecurity. He told me he wouldn't recommend it because security is always changing...Is this true? Will a Masters in Cybersecurity not be beneficial? He told me networking and security are "hot' as of now.

Love2Learn, first, let me say that security (both physical and electronic) "ain't going anywhere;" there will always be need for "stuff" to be secured. That said, I have a strong feeling that your boss is suggesting a path that will benefit him or his company immediately (two classes versus one or two years of graduate work). From the perspective of seeking graduate education , you can't be wrong by pursuing something higher than your BS degree; the question really should be in what variant of security.

First, what you should know is that there is no information systems security program (my use of information security systems here include programs such as cybersecurity, information security , information assurance , computer security, security engineering , electronic security, security management and homeland security with specialisms in information assurance /security etc.) that is complete without atleast one networking class. Second, you need to decide what part of information security you want to specialize in; were you intend to work might help you decide (for example, the federal government values information assurance specialisms more than others although other highly technical areas like cryptography and computer/software engineering security might get you in also).

If I were in your shoes, I probably will take those two classes that your boss have suggested if you can afford it as part of your BS program, or make sure that the MS degree that you get into include those classes as required courses; the best programs are those certified and termed "Centers of Academic Excellence" by the National Security Agency and the Central Security Service of the United States. Also, since I pay more attention to course content than the program name, I would make sure that the program I ultimately get into is technical in nature not management-inclined. That means course such as cryptography, software application security, telecommunication network security and/or wireless network security must be part of it, in addition to a complete coverage of all 10 ISC2 CBK domains (namely: Access Control, Application Development Security, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Cryptography, Information Security Governance and Risk Management , Legal-Regulations -Investigations and Compliance , Operations Security, Physical (Environmental) Security, Security Architecture and Design , and Telecommunications and Network Security).

I say that because most of the security programs that are not part of a computer science program do not cover all the technical areas, which are very important if you want to remain on the technical side rather than the management side. On more thing: IT contractors, such as your employer, do alot of penetration testing work (also referred to as ethical hacking). That may be the skill set that your boss is angling for your to acquire; I would get a good a ethical hacking book to brush up on the basics or make sure it is part of your present or future program (again, not many programs include it; EC Council offers a certificate worth looking into, if that is an area of interest). Before I talk too much, continue on with your master's degree, in addition to what ever else your present boss tells you. Goodluck with deciding...

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Thank you for your in depth post! I greatly appreciate it. I am very confused about going forth with my Masters degree in Cybersecurity because of his comment. I do plan on working for the public sector in the future, so I believe that Cybersecurity would be beneficial to me. I get a little deterred when people make comments like,"What if all computer jobs get outsourced?" or "What if there is another dot com bust or something similar to where computer people are no longer needed?" When people discourage me with these questions I start contemplating on not pursuing the I.T field further. I pursued the I.T. field because I love working with computers but I especially enjoy Network Security.. .. does anyone think that I should be worried about the future. I am 29 right now.??

Originally Posted by Love2Learn

Thank you for your in depth post! I greatly appreciate it. I am very confused about going forth with my Masters degree in Cybersecurity because of his comment. I do plan on working for the public sector in the future, so I believe that Cybersecurity would be beneficial to me. I get a little deterred when people make comments like,"What if all computer jobs get outsourced?" or "What if there is another dot com bust or something similar to where computer people are no longer needed?" When people discourage me with these questions I start contemplating on not pursuing the I.T field further. I pursued the I.T. field because I love working with computers but I especially enjoy Network Security.. .. does anyone think that I should be worried about the future. I am 29 right now.??

I would not worry too much. The people to be concerned are the ones in IT that refuse to reinvent themselves with learning new skills. Right now security is the hot ticket. Imagine if someone got their A+ in 1999 when it covered 3.11, W95 and DOS. Imagine if they did not learn NT, 2000, Active Directory, security, etc. What would happen? Listen, IT is here to stay but you have to be willing to keep up with technology. As long as you are fluid and enjoy change, you will stay at the leading edge and be in higher demand.

Thanks for your response! I will still pursue my Masters in IT or Cybersecurity. I am confident that technology is here to stay as well. I also read the U.S. Government Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and it said Computer Information Systems will be one of the most indemand jobs of the future with the most openings.

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has anyone heard anything about APU/AMU(American Public/Military University's) Bachelor of Science in Information System Security? Here is a link to their courses for it:
APU Degree Program: Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Security

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I am impressed by the quality of information on this thread. There are a lot of good resources here. I am sure I will visit this place again soon.

A Navy buddy of mine is taking up Cybersecurity at UMUC. He's originally from Oklahoma and I told him about a grad certificate Oklahoma State offers online. He's a Sooner fan to the core and hates Okstate.

Originally Posted by Randell1234

I would not worry too much. The people to be concerned are the ones in IT that refuse to reinvent themselves with learning new skills. Right now security is the hot ticket. Imagine if someone got their A+ in 1999 when it covered 3.11, W95 and DOS. Imagine if they did not learn NT, 2000, Active Directory, security, etc. What would happen? Listen, IT is here to stay but you have to be willing to keep up with technology. As long as you are fluid and enjoy change, you will stay at the leading edge and be in higher demand.

Well what I'd also add is this.

The poster needs to decide if he wants to do what he loves, or what will make him money consistently. I will absolutely guarantee two things.

1. That as you've already said, technology will constantly change and you need to change with it. Those with perpetual degree-seeking disorder will love IT and be alright in it if they feel similarly about IT.

2. That if a person is like many who got into IT back in the 90s because they could make good money without a solid education underneath them, they're better off going into health care with a cert program and preparing themselves to follow the career trends as they present themselves, IT, Health Care, whatever is next.

To be fair, I started out as the guy in option two after leaving some rough gigs. Over time I decided to become the guy in option one.

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I'm not sure how actual this is, but I've observed certifications in details confidence are usually regarded value more if the location they're provided is outlined as a Middle for Instructional Quality in Information Assurance by the Nationwide Protection Organization.

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I am also curious about this program.

Originally Posted by IT2011

Has anyone heard anything about Utica College MS Cybersecurity program. I know that its fairly new. I can't seem to find any detailed information about their program.

Bellevue University MS in Cybersecurity attains CNSS accreditation (pdf).

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