Graduate
Degree Programs > M.S. in Information Assurance
Northeastern is offering a unique interdisciplinary Master of Science program in Information Assurance (IA). This degree program draws on the expertise from two communities of practice, the College of Computer and Information Science and the College of Criminal Justice, as well as the designation by NSA of the University as a Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education.
This interdisciplinary graduate program is designed to answer a critical shortfall of trained professionals in information assurance in the nation. It aims through scholarship and practice to enable an understanding of the technology and social context of information assurance. The program will address the need for management to possess a common sensitivity, understanding and competence in the foundation, issues as well as technology of information assurance. The disciplines from which students enter include computer science, criminal justice, engineering, mathematics and business administration.
• Description of the Program
• Faculty
• Admissions Criteria
• Degree Requirements
• Specimen Curricula
• Course Descriptions
• Application Process
• Financial Aid Information
• Request More Information
Description of the Program
Information Assurance (IA) concerns the protection of information systems by ensuring data privacy and integrity, user authenticity, availability and legitimate use of system resources. At the same time, an effective IA professional needs to understand the relationship between information technology and people, systems, society, policy and law. The educational objective of the program is to instill in students the ability to use IA-related technology and to realize the inter-relationship between technology and societal issues. Students are provided with the conceptual understanding of the science and the methodology for attaining information assurance.
Graduates of the program are expected to work in federal, state and local government, law enforcement agencies as well as commercial and financial organizations.
The program may be pursued on a part-time or full-time basis. The program requires a mix of core and elective courses, culminating in a capstone project.
Faculty
Kevin Amorin
Kevin received his M.S. degree in Computer Science from CCIS in 2005. He holds the position of Network Security Manager for the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. He is also a Teaching Fellow at the Harvard University Extension School.
Kyle Courtney
Kyle received his M.S. degree in Library and Information Science from Simmons College in 2006. He received his J.D. degree from Suffolk Law in 2002. He is currently employed as a lecturer in Northeastern University’s School of Law. He has also taught at Colombia University School of Law and Emerson College.
Dennis Treece
Dennis currently holds the position of Director of Corporate Security for Massport. He is responsible for all aspects of security for Logan International Airport and has over thirty years experience in the security business. Dennis has worked with intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies at all levels.
Admissions Criteria
Applicants must submit a completed application form, three confidential letters of recommendation, application fee of US$50, official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, and official scores of the GRE General Test. International students must also submit official scores of the TOEFL examination and a Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF) Form (if applicable). In addition, a recent professional resume with a detailed list of position responsibilities, and a written statement of purpose, career orientation and expected outcomes and benefits from the program should accompany the application. Acceptance to the program is granted upon the recommendation of the program's Graduate Committee after a review of the completed application.
Admission to this program requires a bachelor’s degree and knowledge of basic information technology concepts including a degree of mathematical maturity. A combined Graduate Record Examination score of 1100 and a writing score of 5 or a TOEFL score of 550 is recommended.
To ensure that a student has an adequate background in mathematical methods and computer technology, a student is expected to have taken courses or have working experience in,
• Introductory Programming
• Computer Organization
• Discrete Mathematics
Students who have deficiency in any of the above courses are expected to take the pre-requisite courses as assigned by their advisor.
Degree Requirements
The program requires a completion of 32-semester
hours coursework over four semesters. A GPA of 3.0 is required for
matriculation. Candidates may opt to take a heavier per semester
workload but course selection for credit toward the degree must
remain within the program guidelines. All candidates must complete
the Core of 24 semester hours, 4 semester hours of electives, and
a 4 semester hour interdisciplinary Capstone Team Project. A summary
of the coursework is given below:
• CORE:
IA G100 Foundations
of Information Assurance 4SH
IA G110 Computer Systems
and Networks 4SH
IA G114 Applied Cryptography
4SH
IA G120 Security Risk
Management & Assessment 4SH
IA G124 Information
System Forensics 4SH
IA G128 Ethics, Privacy
& Digital Rights 4SH
• ELECTIVE:
Choose one from the following list (with the approval of the advisor
and instructor)
CJ
G222 Computers in Criminal Investigations 4SH
CJ
G224 Forensic Psychology 4SH
CJ G252 White Collar Crime 4SH
CJ
G242 Terrorism and International Crime 4SH
CS G110 Managing Software
Development 4SH
CS G112 Computer Systems
4SH
CS G130 Introduction
to Database Systems 4SH
CS G150 Fundamentals
of Computer Networking 4SH
CS G250 Wireless Networks
4SH
CS G254 Network Security
4SH
CS G274 Foundations
of Formal Methods and Software Analysis 4SH
Any other graduate course approved by the Program Director
• CAPSTONE:
IA G674 Capstone Project/Seminar
4SH
Specimen Curricula
The program for full-time students will be as follows:
Fall Semester Year 1
IA G100 Foundations
of Information Assurance
IA G110 Computer Systems
and Networks
8 SH
Spring Semester Year 1
IA G114 Applied Cryptography
IA G120 Security Risk
Management & Assessment
8 SH
Summer Semester Year 1
IA G124 Information
System Forensics
IA G128 Ethics, Privacy
& Digital Rights
8 SH
Fall Semester Year 2
IA G674 Capstone Project
CS or CJ Elective or Other by Approval
8 SH
Total Semester Hours = 32
Course Descriptions
Please see the course descriptions
page or use the links to each course from this web page.
Application Process
Please visit the applications area
of this Web site.
Financial Aid Information
• Link to Information on DoD Information Assurance Scholarship Program.
• Dean’s Scholarship: tuition scholarship subject to the following guidelines:
1. Full-time students in graduate degree and certificate programs are eligible for a graduate tuition scholarship of up to 1/3 of their tuition to a maximum dollar amount not to exceed the tuition charged for 4 semester hour in each term of full-time registration.
2. Part-time students in graduate degree and certificate programs are eligible for a graduate tuition scholarship of up to 1⁄4 of their tuition to a maximum dollar amount not to exceed the tuition charged for 2 semester hour in each term of part-time registration.
3. Provisional, special and other students are not eligible for scholarships.
For detailed information, contact the Office of Student Financial Services, 139 Richards Hall, (617) 373-5899.
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