Master of Science in Information Assurance Curriculum
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IAC Links
Bridge Program Requirement (if applicable)
| Department | Course | Title | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSC | 501 | Programming | 4 |
| CSC | 506 | Advanced Programming and Data Structures | 3 |
| CSC | 507 | Architecture and Operating Systems | 3 |
Core Courses (24 Hours + Comprehensive Examination 1 Hour)
| Department | Course | Title | Credit | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSC | 510 | Mathematical Foundations | 3 | 40132 |
| CIA | 523 | Ethics, Law and Policy in Cyberspace | 3 | 4013 |
| CIA | 582 | Introduction to Information Assurance | 3 | 40123 , 4013 |
| CIA | 583 | Secure Software Engineering | 3 | |
| CIA | 610 | Cryptography | 3 | 4013 |
| CIA | 670 | Computer Forensics and Incident Handling | 3 | |
| CIA | 675 | Computer Viruses and Malicious Software | 3 | 4013 |
| CIA | 683 | Advanced Computer and Network Security | 3 | 4012, 4013 |
| CIA | 702 | Comprehensive Examination | 1 |
Elective Courses (12 Hours)
| Department | Course | Title | Credit | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIA | 684 | Systems Security Administration, Management, and Certification | 3 | 4012 |
| CIA | 685 | Risk Management | 3 | 4012 |
| CIA | 686 | Systems Security for Senior Management | 3 | 4012 |
| CIA | 690 | Network Security and Intrusion Detection | 3 | |
| CIA | 691 | Wireless Networks | 3 | |
| CIA | 692 | Secure Distributed Computing | 3 | |
| CIA | 695 | Special Topics | 3 |
2 CNSSI 4013 System Administrator is pending
3 Pending clarification.
Course Descriptions
CSC 510 Mathematical Foundations Lecture 3/Credit 3
Propositional and Predicate Calculus. Proof techniques. Queuing theory. Mathematical formulations of data structures. Basic models of computation expressions and grammars. Prerequisite: Discrete Mathematics and Data Structures.
CIA 523: Ethics, Law and Policy in CyberspaceLecture 3/Credit 3
Study of ethical issues, legal resources and recourses, and policy implications inherent in our evolving online society. Provides an overview of the ethical challenges faced by individuals and organizations in the information age. Introduces the complex and dynamic state of the law as it applies to behavior in cyberspace. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
CIA 582 Introduction to Information AssuranceLecture 3/Credit 3
An introduction to the various technical and administrative aspects of Information Security and Assurance. This course provides the foundation for understanding the key issues associated with protecting information assets, determining the levels of protection and response to security incidents, and designing a consistent, reasonable information security system, with appropriate intrusion detection and reporting features. The purpose of the course is to provide the student with an overview of the field of Information Security and Assurance. Students will be exposed to the spectrum of Security activities, methods, methodologies, and procedures. Coverage will include inspection and protection of information assets, detection of and reaction to threats to information assets, and examination of pre- and post-incident procedures, technical and managerial responses and an overview of the Information Security Planning and Staffing functions. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
CIA 583: Secure Software EngineeringLecture 3/Credit 3
An overview of methodologies, tools and techniques for producing secure software systems. Students will cooperatively develop a secure software product. The course will also provide an introduction to professional resources and ethical issues for software developers. Prerequisites: CIA 582.
CIA 610 Cryptography
Cryptographic techniques to achieve confidentiality, integrity, authentication and non-repudiation are examined. The underlying mathematical concepts are introduced. Topics to be covered include symmetric and public key encryption, hashing, digital signatures, cryptographic protocols and other recent developments in the field. Prerequisite: CSC 510
CIA 670 Computer Forensics and Incident HandlingLecture 3/Credit 3
Identifying, acquiring, preserving, and analyzing electronic evidence from single machines, networks, and Internet. It will explore both technical and legal issues of computer forensics investigations. Topics include forensics law and regulation issues, incidence response, open and commercial tools, evidence recovery theory and practice of computer file systems, memory, registry, network logs and communications. Special focus will be given to windows systems and networks.
CIA 675 Computer Viruses and Malicious SoftwareLecture 3/Credit 3
This course involves the study of malicious software (malware) including computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Topics include the various mechanisms used in the construction of malicious software; existing commercial anti-virus software; preventative and reactive means for dealing with malicious software on workstations, servers, and in networks; training and education of users; and reliable sources to monitor for alerts as well as the prevention of hoaxes.
CIA 683 Advanced Computer and Network SecurityLecture 3/Credit 3
Introduction to security problems in computing and networking. Information Security Models. Encryption and decryption techniques. Cryptographic protocols and practices. Operations Security. Program Security. Security in networks and distributed systems. Database Security. Electronic commerce security. Legal and ethical issues in computer and network security. Prerequisite: CIA 582.
CIA 684 Systems Security Administration, Management, and CertificationLecture 3/Credit 3
Outlines the principles of systems security administration, management, and certification. Provisioning, procurement and installation of network, hardware and software systems for mission critical enterprises. System configuration and maintenance. Incident handling and response. Facilities Management. Contingency Plans. Law, standards of contract. Operations Management. System certification, testing and validation. Prerequisite: CIA 582.
CIA 685 Risk ManagementLecture 3/Credit 3
Outlines the aspects of computer security and risk management. Accreditation, implementation, extension, and operation principles for secure information systems. Security policy and plan development. Contingency, continuity and disaster recovery planning. Incident handling and response. Prerequisite: Prerequisite: CIA 582.
CIA 686 Systems Security for Senior ManagementLecture 3/Credit 3
Develops the knowledge necessary for senior security management to analyze and judge the reported systems for validity and reliability to ensure such systems will operate at a proposed trust level. Topical review and discussion on current trends in CNSS 4012 standard. Includes grant final approval to operate, grant review accreditation, verify compliance, ensure establishment of security controls, ensure program managers define security in acquisitions, assign responsibilities, define criticality and sensitivity, allocate resources, multiple and joint accreditation, assess network security. Prerequisite: CIA 582.
CIA 690 Network Security and Intrusion DetectionLecture 3/Credit 3
Provides a comprehensive overview of network security and intrusion detection. Topics include security overview, authentication, attacks and malicious code, communication security, Web security, network security topologies, intrusion detection, firewalls and VPNs, security baselines, security algorithms, physical security, disaster recovery, forensics overview, and other state-of-the-art developments.
CIA 691 Wireless NetworksLecture 3/Credit 3
Examines security of wireless networks which have become ubiquitous such as cellular networks, wireless LANs, mobile ad hoc networks, wireless mesh networks, and sensor networks. Unprotected wireless networks are vulnerable to several security attacks including eavesdropping and jamming that have no counterpart in wired networks. Topics will include: authentication, secure hand-offs, key management in wireless networks, attacks on MAC protocols, selfish and malicious behavior in wireless routing protocols, secure multicast.
CIA 692 Secure Distribute ComputingLecture 3/Credit 3
Covers theoretical and applied aspects of security and privacy needed for the middleware and service-ware architectures to offer reasonable assurance for modern distributed systems. Topics include cloud computing, distributed storage systems, virtualization, distributed systems architectures, technologies and management; distributed system design, security and privacy issues; and applications such as Web services and mobile commerce.
CIA 695 Special Topics in Information AssuranceLecture 3/Credit 3
A treatment of advanced topics of interest in Information Assurance not routinely covered by existing courses. May be repeated when topics vary. Prerequisite