Am I ready for Nova Southeastern MSIS?

Hello all, first time posting here but I've been lurking for a few weeks. First off, a little background before i ask my question:

Next semester I will complete my B.S. Information Systems Management with a specialization in Information Security and Compliance Management from Hodges University Spotlight I also currently have an A.S. from the same school in Computer Information Technology. I've been working in IT for 15 or so years, the last 6 in a pure information security related role. I have a current CISSP, CISA, GAWN, GCIA, GPEN, GSEC, VCP, MCP, ITIL-F, A+ and a wide variety of vendor trainings and will also have GWAPT by the time I graduate next semester. I have strong networking, system administration, incident handling, penetration testing, business continuity/DR, systems audit, vulnerability management, log analysis, packet analysis and similar skills but little to no expertise with programming or databases. I'm planning to take Intro and Advanced Java at my community college prior to applying to Nova.

The description at Nova states:


Information Security is designed for students with undergraduate majors in computer science, information systems, information technology, engineering, mathematics, or physics. Applicants must have knowledge of data structures and algorithms, assembly language and computer architecture, structured programming in a modern high-level language, and discrete mathematics.

Unfortunately, I cannot take Assembly or discrete mathematics at the community college since they are not offered. Can anyone who is familiar with the program let me know if my planned Java coursework will be sufficient to get in and be accepted as well as be successful in the program? Obviously nobody knows for sure, I do have a 3.6 GPA currently.

 

Why is Nova Southeastern University? If cost is the factor for you, I would recommend to attend top schools as possible. With your credential, a Master degree doesn't seem to help to stand out. Unless you attend top school...I would recommend Boston University, New York University, or Columbia University. If you're looking minimum cost can be Dakota State University or Columbus State university.

I have not taken any of those courses; but I was able to get my Master of Science in Telecommunications at Southern Methodist University. Currently I am working on my Master of Professional in Technology Management with Information Security at Georgetown University.

 

NSU because I want to get my PhD and the progression from MS to PhD if I do it at NSU allows me to reduce the credit load by 12 credits and I live in FL so the short residency at NSU for PhD is very attractive. Plus I hear very very good things about NSU and the program seems to be closer to what I'm looking for. If I could do a PhD via distance somewhere else from a school that was reputable I might consider it, but no way in heck I go to Capella or another similarly reputed school.

 

Check out the independent study courses under Computer Science here UNI Continuing Education | Guided Independent Study Courses
All 4 could probably cover the requirements. The Computer Organization (Architecture) course includes Assembly Language.

 

There is nothing wrong with attending Nova Southeastern University. You do not need a degree from any over-hyped school with bloated tuition costs to be successful. With your experience, I'm sure you can stand toe to toe with anyone with a degree from those other supposedly "big name and better schools." If something is wrong with a degree from Nova Southeastern, which is a solid B & M school, then Capella University and other internet schools are "trash." However, since Nova Southeastern is a solid school, Capella and its likes are equally good schools for those who attend them.

In terms of taking Java at a community college, I would discourage that because you'd still need to take those foundation courses at Nova, The only way you can waive those are if the foundation/prerequisite courses are taken at the senior level (ie: 3rd or 4th yr in an undergrad program). Again, Nova is a very solid school based on their program offerings. You'd really benefit from not traveling anywhere to attend residencies (which could easily "blow up" your total program cost). If residencies were not a factor, I and many others in this forum would have enrolled years or months ago. In fact, I'm considering relocating to Florida just to attend Nova, eventually. Goodluck with deciding.

 

Thanks for this piece of info. I was unaware of that. I had spoken with a professor at NSU who suggested I take Intro and Advanced Java at a CC and I assumed it was to waive requirements but he may have meant it as a preparatory exercise for the foundation courses at Nova for someone with little programming experience. It's not listed on the course page but after reviewing the catalog I found this:

Applicants who do not have an adequate background may be required to take one or more of the 500-level graduate courses listed below during the first two terms of the student’s program. These are in addition to the required credit hours at the 600 level.

Courses at the 500 level, when required, must be completed prior to taking courses at the 600 level; however some exceptions may be permitted by the program director. MCIS 501 is prerequisite to MCIS 503.

MCIS 500 Assembly Language and Architecture
MCIS 502 Mathematics in Computing
MCIS 501 Java Programming Language
MCIS 503 Data Structures and Algorithms

I just worry that with this being my first real exposure to programming I may not do very well. I did take a C++ course as part of my A.S. a couple years ago but without practical application of the skills I'm afraid I have not retained much. I do have a decent understanding of the stack with regards to buffer overflows from the Smashing the Stack for Fun and Profit paper and the tutorials at http://www.corelan.be:8800/ but honestly a lot of the stuff there is above my head. Ok, most of it is. I do some extremely basic Python stuff with Scapy, bash, Powershell and batch scripting but nothing more complex then you might copy and paste off the internet modifying to suit the immediate need. I have to admit to a certain level of intimidation here.

 

Well, you don't have to criticize Capella likes that. I know that Nova is a solid B&M institution; however, if he is looking for Master as a terminal. Then I recommended top school, if he continues for the Ph.D, Nova is a good program for the bridge. I would go to Nova if they offer Ph.D in Management. I researched carefully on distance learning schools, and I see Capella University is more solid than Northcentral University, University of Phoenix, and TUI University. Sullivan University just launched the Ph.D in Management, but I am not sure with the result. Besides, the tuition is too steep. With the highest tuition in the state of Kentucky; the VA doesn't pay the entire program, which means I have to pay out of my pocket.

Whatever choices make you happy would be great, but I don't criticize anybody's school decision. If I have a choice to attend on campus, I would do that over distance learning.

 

I had a professor at my tech school (National College of Business and Technology where I attended for several semesters before I switched to RA school) who taught M.S. courses for Capella and he was quite possibly the biggest idiot I ever met. I recall him teaching an A+ class and showing the class how to swap a PCI card and he failed to turn off the PC before he inserted the network adapter. Even worse, he seemed puzzled when the pc crashed and would not reboot. Even I in the back of the class could smell the telltale ozone smell. This was a tech school where they are supposed to teach hands on technical skills but this guy obviously had no clue. So maybe his skills lay elsewhere other than hardware you might say. OK, fair enough. He failed Project+ 7 times in a row before he had one of his students surreptitiously take the exam for him along with several other technical exams in exchange for straight A's (The schools testing center camera had a non-functioning DVR). I admit that I judge the school based on my experience with that professor, but if he really is indicative of their quality I'd steer clear.

 

Can you share the research you conducted to come to this conclusion? Is is based on an assumption that everyone that earns a PhD wants a tenure track position? If you looked for the number of Capella graduates teaching vs. other schools graduates teaching have you considered the number of graduates from each school as a factor?

 

So if you had one great teacher you would judge the entire school as wonderful?

 

Not necessarily but it would probably influence my perception. The point is they hired someone who was not at all qualified. That tells me that their screening process is lacking. If it's lacking in one circumstance, it's likely lacking in others. Perception doesn't have to be logical, but I can see the logic in my assumption nonetheless.

 

Dr. Randell,

I looked up the number of Capella's Doctoral holders that have a position at other schools vs the same from other institutions (NCU, Phoenix, Walden, JIU, TUI).

 

Well, you guys refer Capella University is trash; however, did you know that 4 faculty members at Dakota State University's Doctor of Science in Information Systems are Capella University's Ph.D holders?

 

So what does that mean? This would only be valuable if you know how many people from each program wanted to teach. What is the purpose of the degree? You would also have to look at the percentage - not a raw number. You are making assumption on how you measure success and not how the person getting the degree measures it. You are a smart guy, I should not have to spell that out.

I was offered an interview based on my NCU degree and experience for a TT position. The dean cared more about the practical experience then what school the degree was from. Capella, NCU, Walden, TUI all fall into the same bucket (like it or not) and a one week residency from Capella may make you feel better but I am not convinced it will do anything for the acceptance of the degree over NCU, Walden, TUI. I leave UoP out because they just have a horrible reputation because of marketing. A marketing plan that Capella seems to be copying...something to think about.

 

You asserted that if it's not big name schools like Boston, New York, Columbia etc., folks who attend other lower tier schools like Nova can't stand out. If you re-read what I wrote and actually understand it, you'll know that I never said Capella is trash. I was simply making the argument that if Nova Southern University computer/IT program is not good, then schools like Capella including other internet only schools have to be trash, then. I also said since online schools are not trash, however, that means that schools like Nova - a solid B & M school has to be good for the specific needs of the original poster of this thread.

The truth is that online schools cannot under any circumstances be compared to schools with physical campus presence. All online schools that exists today are beneath schools like Nova - a school with physical classrooms, and with full time professors who teach and perform research. Online schools, on the other hand, are good for those who see value in getting them, but not better or the same as B & M schools. Likewise, schools like Nova are good options for those who can't attend those big name schools; the truth is everybody can't attend big name schools anyway.

 

Maybe I am wrong in my understanding of their foundations course requirement. It's probably a good idea to call and ask if lower level programming classes would satisfy the requirement. In regard to being intimidated by the programming class, I feel the same way too. I have to tackle some programming classes also in my soon to start CIS master degree @ Bellevue. I'd rather do it at the graduate level so I can use the class/credits to teach, which is part of my motivation for pursuing a second master degree at a B & M school, to complement my online master's. Anyway, goodluck with whatever you decide.

 

Just for the fun of it I googled faculty northcentral University site:.edu and found a surprisingly high number of NCU degree holders teaching at traditional schools. Maybe NCU is gaining more ground then some think.
Mercer has 2 from NCU - Faculty
Department of Justice | Faculty and Staff
Dr. Tabar-Gaul's detailed resume
Faculty | Ken Blanchard College of Business | Grand Canyon University - 2 here
College of Science and Technology :: Department of Aviation :: Faculty and Staff : University of Central Missouri - 2 here
Campus Staff & Faculty | Chamberlain College of Nursing
Methodist University - The Faculty
Faculty
Faculty and Staff - Fort Hays State University
Jennie C De Gagne

 

This is great news. You, I and a few others know that a degree from NCU is as good as any other.

 

There's a lot of Capella grads out there teaching. My last instructor at Liberty was a Capella grad.

 

I agree, even though New York University has faculty members with Capella University's PhD.