Academic Programs in Information Security

Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security

For additional information, including admission requirements and course descriptions, see the Graduate Catalog of the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences.

This program offers a course of study leading to the degree of doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in information systems with concentration in information security. It is offered in both cluster and institute formats, which combine traditional and online instruction to provide professionals the opportunity to pursue graduate study while continuing to work in their current positions. The program is especially well suited to professionals working in areas such as information system planning, systems analysis and design, project management, information system administration, or software engineering. It provides technology-oriented professionals with the knowledge and ability to develop creative solutions to substantive real-world problems in information systems. Each student must complete eight courses, four projects, and a dissertation.

The concentration in information security is recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) based on its certification of the school’s curriculum for compliance with the requirements of NSA national training standards NSTISSI No. 4011 (Information Systems Security Professionals) and CNSSI No. 4013 (System Administrators). Students who complete the concentration may also request a graduate certificate.

The Curriculum for the Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security

The Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security was developed to address the rapidly growing global problems of maintaining and securing computer information. The program requires 64 credit hours, of which 40 are for courses and 24 are for the dissertation. Most students take two core courses and one project course per term during the first two years and register for the dissertation in the third year. The dissertation must be in an area closely related to information security. Courses and dissertation registrations are listed below:

Required Courses  (three credits each) (take all of these)
DISS 725  The System Development Process
DISS 750  Database Systems
DISS 755  Information Security Management
DISS 765  Managing Risk in Secure Systems
DISS 775  Privacy
DISS 791  Client-Server Computing

Elective Courses  (three credits each) (select two of these)
DISS 700  Research Methodology
DISS 710  Decision Support Systems
DISS 720  Human-Computer Interaction
DISS 740  Telecommunications and Computer Networks
DISS 745  Electronic Commerce
DISS 770  Information Policy
DISS 792  Enterprise Architecture Infrastructures Planning and Management
DISS 799  Special Topics in Information Systems (offered on various subjects)

Required Project Courses  (four credits each) (must be taken concurrent with, or following completion of, the corresponding 700-level course)
DISS 855  Project in Information Security Management
DISS 865  Project in Managing Risk in Secure Systems
DISS 875  Project in Privacy

Elective Courses  (four credits each) (select one of these) (must be taken concurrent with, or following completion of, the corresponding 700-level course)
DISS 825  Project in the System Development Process
DISS 850  Project in Database Systems
DISS 891  Project in Client-Server Computing

Dissertation Registrations
DISS 910  Dissertation I (12 credits)
DISS 915  Dissertation II (12 credits)
DISS 920  Continuing Dissertation (6 credits)