Minot State MSIS or Capitol College DSc IA

I'd like to get some input / suggestions on what route you think I should take. I recently graduated with an MBA with a concentration in Information Assurance & Security Management and am in the process of determining what academic route to choose next: Minot State's MSIS or Capitol College's DSc IA program.

Here is the reason for narrowing down those two choices:

Capitol College DSc IA:
I'm currently adjuncting, teaching networking and Infosec at CSU San Bernardino in the College of Business and enjoy it immensly. Currently faculty members are starting to retire and they are in the process of recruiting new faculty over the next several years. So the department head of the Decision Information Sciences department (where I adjunct) told me to get a doctorate degree and he will look into hiring me; however, it is not a 100% guaranteed. Because I work full-time, own a condo, and need the income, I can't afford to get up and move and go the traditional AACSB-accredited PhD route. I told him about Capitol College's online program and he supports it even though it is not AACSB-accredited. So, if I get my doctorate at Capitol, there is a very good chance I will get a tenure-track assistant professor position at CSUSB. Moreover, Capitol College's Dean looked over my resume and said I'd have no problem getting into the program once I obtain my CISSP. The downside is spending a couple of month's studying for the CISSP, but my work will pay for the exam.

Minot State's MSIS:
Choosing Capitol College doesn't guarantee me a tenure-track position at CSUSB and requires a ~$40k investment and time studying for the CISSP. On the flipside, I can obtain Minot State's MSIS for approximately ~$7k and forget teaching at a 4-year university for now. With this program, I only have to complete 7 courses (3 waived from my MBA) and can be done in 2 years part-time. With an MBA in IA and a MSIS, I will open doors in my career and potential community college teaching gigs, but no full-time teaching gig at CSUSB.

So my dilemma is that I need to choose one over the other. I'm at the point in my life that my next degree will be the final straw for me. I'm not interested in getting my MSIS and then doctorate later; it's either one or the other. If I decide to get my doctorate at Capitol College, it wil will cost my ~$40k, take 3 years and potentially ensure me a tenure track teaching gig at CSUSB. If I decide to obtain Minot State's MSIS, it will cost me ~$7k, take 2 years part-time, and open up doors in my professional career but only open a few doors academically at online and community college schools most likely as an adjunct.

If you were in my shoes, which route would you choose?

 

Do you meet the experience requirements to take the CISSP?

 

I do and I'll have no problem finding a sponsor to vouch for me.

 

Why would you want to do a second Master? I did my second Master degree at Georgetown University because I did not have to pay out of my pocket, and I got paid to attend local college by the VA. Otherwise, I did not go for it.

I would recommend DSc IA from your consideration.

 

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it.

The reasons for pursuing a second Masters degree is for several reasons. First, since my concentration was in Information Assurance, myMBA program did not provide much insight into general IT management topics. Having a MSIS would provide me more insight into general IT management topics. Secondly, having an IA and IS concentrations would make me more marketable rather than just having one. Thirdly, I only have to complete 7 courses at a cost of roughly $7k. If my employer kicks in tuition reimbursement (up to $4k annually) my cost is null. So I see the second Masters as having a very good ROI.

However, I am strongly leaning towards the DSc at this point.

 

Depends on where you are and where you're going.

I'm probably going to irk those who diss the "check the box" motive, but many folks will need some sort of master's to keep their career moving. Not everyone who goes for a master's can afford the "bestest", "most favorite" school around on the first go. So you grab a degree to fill in the line on the job app; once you've gotten some ROI off it you go get the better one. Or a graduate certificate from a really good school.

Not everyone is going to have the time, money, endurance, stamina or patience for a doctorate right after a master's.

 

I want to believe that majority of what you'll learn in the MSIS program at Minot was learned already in your MBA in IA and Security management, and that is because Minot's program is a management degree aimed at the IT arena and not technical at all. Whatever door Minot's MSIS program can open, your MBA can open it also; your effort will be wasted on getting another lateral degree in a closely-related area (you need to move upward, instead). That said, I would go with Capitol's DSc, as you'll be getting a terminal degree in a nice and in-demand field, and you'll be positioning yourself to becoming a full-time professor at CSU (something you'll be limited with another MS in the same field). Further, contrary to having to study for the CISSP as part of Capitols' admission, I think they allow an entry exam in lieu of that cert; the fact that you are teaching IA related courses is a qualifier; just contact them.

 

If you want to learn Technical, the following certification would give you more valuable than a Master at Minot State.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
Cisco Certified Network Professional - Security (CCNP - Security)

 

Thanks for your input Cyber. There are actually several courses at Minot State that would be completely new to me which were not covered in my MBA program (Virtual Business, E-Business Strategy, IS Consulting, etc) and that look very appealing. Granted I have a broad understanding of business (finance, accounting, management, marketing, global strategy, supply chain management, etc) in addition to IA topics, there are many IT management topics I missed that I am very interested in learning.

But I agree with you, I will most likely push for a terminal degree at Capitol College. I already contacted the university before but they will not waive the cert requirement. I can apply and take a qualifying exam instead, which is a viable option.