Master of Arts in Management and Leadership vs MBA vs Masters in Computer Security

Discussion in 'Business and MBA degrees' started by jemde, Jun 20, 2011.

Loading...
  1. jemde

    jemde New Member

    Hey all, I just would like to get others opinions on this. I currently have a BA in Information System Security, and my long term goal is to get into a CIO/IS Manager/IA position. I have working experience in IT and specifically with government agencies as a system and network administrator. From what I have found, knowing the business side of things always helps when you're on the "upper" side of the business, especially being I already have the technical background from working and my BA. I personally think the MA in management and leadership or the MBA will be the best choice, but to which is where I am stuck. Any input or advice will be greatly appreciated!
     
  2. ITJD

    ITJD Active Member

    Opinion: I know CIO that have undergrad degrees in liberal arts with no graduate education to speak of that have worked their way up by moving jobs every two years until they hit the pinnacle.

    What I'd say to you is that your career goals and your educational goals need to be looked at as two different things. Especially true once you have your undergrad.

    Neither choice will matter for your first manager's gig. Probably not your second. When it will matter is when you want to jump from one company class to another. If you want to go from old company to startup, the degree matters some. If you want to go from work to academia it matters a lot more.

    In terms of the MBA vs. the MA in Management, most won't give two looks. The MA in leadership will look better than the MBA to the academic market. The MBA will look more appropriate to the corps. Neither are better than the other and as said previously you may not need them at all if you work your career connections properly.

    In my own case, I made the decision to go MBA thinking it'd be a good stepping stone to a DBA or JD and then promptly screwed up my choice of programs (as my MBA had no thesis requirement). My career goals are academic and consulting based so I need the paper. If I was going to be a CIO, and opted for education I'd immediately sign up for executive ed at HBS and network my butt off instead of doing the degree route OR I'd go to Thunderbird. Networking counts more than paper in that case.

    Offering the personal information to offset the "why is it that people with degrees tell people they don't need them?" questions. It's personal context.

    Best,
    ITJD
     
  3. jemde

    jemde New Member

    ITJD,

    Thanks for the great information. As far as becoming a CIO, I know that would take a lot of time and networking to achieve, and more realistically I see myself getting into a Information Security Manager, or IA manager, with my goals and background. I know there are many successful people out there that have made it to those positions without a graduate degree and sometimes without a bachelors, but I figure if going to grad school will actually help me be more marketable, why not, it’s only money right? Joking aside, I would love to not acquire any more student loan debt, but I would be more than willing, if it would actually help my career (which is my main focus), while learning more is always something I try to do as well.
     
  4. Sauron

    Sauron New Member

    Jemde, I have the same aspirations. In addition to your education, certifications carry a lot of weight and I would encourage you to look into those. My future goals are CISSP and the SANS GSEC. I am working on PMP right now.
     
  5. jemde

    jemde New Member

    Sauron,

    I do agree that certifications hold a lot of weight. At some point, I as well plan on working on a CISSP. However, from what I've seen when one gets into those management types of roles, its better to have the higher education, and business/management knowledge vs. the CISSP which is better for the system or network administrator that is applying the policies, hardening, fixing, etc. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but thats the consensus that I have found when it comes to certifications.
     

Share This Page