Information Assurance - Graduate Courses
Core Courses: 12 Credit Hours
TS 505 are an interdisciplinary exploration of technology and ethical issues, with a special emphasis on cyber technology. Cyber technology refers to a “broad spectrum of technologies that range from stand-alone computers to the cluster of networked computing, information and communication technologies” (Spinello & Tavani 1). Such technologies are omnipresent today, affecting nearly every aspect of our lives. They contribute to what many consider to be a higher standard for our quality of life. These technologies increase our ability to communicate on increasingly effective levels and utilize information like never before, making life more comfortable, more convenient, and more productive. Has this technology in and of itself or as part of large complex systems introduced new moral issues? Or has technology just reformulated timeless ethical and moral challenges? This course will explore issues that connect cyber technology to moral challenges in the 21st century.
This course explores the relationship between culture and technology with an emphasis on patterns of change in American technology that address critical issues posed by contemporary technological development exemplified throughout history. By understanding important issues, identifying patterns of change, and thinking critically about contemporary implications, you will evaluate consequences and formulate conclusions that will shape your reception to the next generation of technological change. Since the inception of the United States Patent Office in 1790, choices regarding how, when, and why new technologies were either adopted or rejected involved decisions by government, industry, community, and individuals. When new technology is introduced, what values are embedded that constitute change and others that represent continuity? Historic patterns of change affected by the relationship between technology and culture reflect a wide spectrum of values constituting both the myth and reality of American technological progress. Such factors present ideas and theories about changing patterns of behavior, thought, and values that continues to shape American progress.
TS 508 are an interdisciplinary course designed to explore ideas, theories, and human experience in relationship to the control of technology. This relationship pivots upon our understanding of the definition of technology and how we measure progress. We will examine complex and simple relationships between control and technology on a global, national, community, and individual scale. This will be a traditional face-to-face seminar course with some online discussion assignments. We will use scholarly and pop culture sources in our efforts to assess the control of powerful technologies. Readings will be a foundation of this course. You will gain understanding key issues affecting the control of technology through world events, theoretical approaches, as well as personal experience.
The purpose of this course is to introduce empirical approaches to assessing technology. The course will simultaneously present various methodological and statistical approaches for conducting research on various technological issues within society, the community, and formal organizations.
Capstone or Thesis Option
All students will complete either a capstone project or thesis. The capstone is the culminating experience in the Master of Science in Technology Studies (MSTS). It provides an opportunity for students to integrate and apply what they have learned in the core and concentration courses to an outcome developed by the student in consultation with the supervising faculty member. The outcome will vary depending on which of the two capstone options is chosen. As stated in the Graduate Catalogue, those options are:
- Capstone Project: a 4-credit option consisting of TS 697 and TS 699; CISSP prep class and exam
- Thesis: a 6-hour option consisting of TS 691 and 695. For this option, the student must form a thesis committee, and comply with the Graduate School policies as stated in the Thesis Manual. Recommended for those students who plan on enrolling in a PHD Program.
Information Assurance Management
This course addresses end-to-end TCP/IP networking. Students will apply various skills and techniques in a practical environment, increase their level of cyber navigation and troubleshooting competence level, and gain sound TCP/IP analysis and operator skills.
This course provides for the information system security professional a foundation in the concepts and skills required for the audit and control of information systems. The course follows the curricula recommendations of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and the IT Governance Institute (ITGI), (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Foundation - ISACF), and uses the Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) as its instructional framework.
The identification of threat, risk and vulnerability as applied to enterprise IT systems. The physical safeguards and policies necessary to meet requirements for the protection of data, personnel, and property. Students will conduct a site security analysis of a facility. Gap analysis, gap closure and countermeasures will be discussed and documented in an effort to counter identified vulnerabilities. Prereq IA 642
Development and evaluation of administrative policies and procedures required to administer an information system in a secure environment. Emphasis on writing information security policies that comply with federal information security guides and directives as applicable regulations, business continuity/disaster recovery and incident response plans, developing security awareness programs, and risk management. Prereq
This course provides students with an effective immersion into the realm of Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. It follows a progressive approach that introduces relevant concepts and techniques while preparing students to pursue graduate-level research avenues in Data Mining, with an emphasis on the field of Information Assurance.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity is built upon the concepts of risk analysis and business impact planning, this course is designed to provide a foundation and guide to coordinated organizational emergency response and event management during and after a disruptive occurrence.
Network Security
This course addresses end-to-end TCP/IP networking. Students will apply various skills and techniques in a practical environment, increase their level of cyber navigation and troubleshooting competence level, and gain sound TCP/IP analysis and operator skills.
Students examine the infrastructure and configuration of complex Microsoft-based (Windows) networks from a security administration perspective. Students will manage selected network services and test various configurations for performance, data integrity and security. Students analyze the vulnerabilities of a complex Windows network, apply security controls, and evaluate solutions in open source networking. Prereq: IA 642
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity is built upon the concepts of risk analysis and business impact planning, this course is designed to provide a foundation and guide to coordinated organizational emergency response and event management during and after a disruptive occurrence.
Students examine the infrastructure and configuration of complex open source-based (Linux) networks from a security administration perspective. Students will manage selected network services and test various configurations for performance, data integrity and security. Students analyze the vulnerabilities of a complex open source network, apply security controls, and evaluate solutions in open source networking.
This course focuses on developing techniques for attack detection and mitigation in enterprise networks. The course uses penetration testing as a means for evaluation of enterprise networks. Additional, the course includes: traffic/log analysis, anomaly detection, intrusion prevention, adaptive security policy, alarm analysis, and worm contaminating and quarantining, performance evaluation of defense systems. Strong emphasis will be placed using practical knowledge of TCP/IP, cryptographic routines such as DES, AES, and MD5, and the Windows and Linux operating systems. Prereqs: IA 642, IA 647, IA 645
This course provides existing and prospective managers of Information Assurance incident response teams with a practice view of the issues that will be faced during the creation and operation of an effective team. Tools, techniques, and methodologies in performing enterprise incident response and analysis will be discussed alongside an introduction to the incident handling best practices used to define, create and govern incident response practices. Methodology and simulated incidents with practical labs will be studied. Prereq: IA 642
Digital Investigations
Intensive hands on investigation of computer related crime designed for the profession as an electronic crime investigator. Course prepares students to become effective cyber crime investigators. Students will identify, evaluate, classify, and demonstrate proficiency in investigating computer related crimes. Students subject to background investigation prior to admittance.
Applied course which focuses attention on the evaluation and synthesis of information in cyber crime investigations. Knowledge will be gained on Fraud Investigation, Malicious Logic, Encryption, Intrusion Detection, hacking and cracking, and Internet Child Pornography. Students subject to background investigation prior to admittance. Prereq: IA 533
This course addresses the comprehension and application of Computer Forensic Investigations. Students will evaluate and synthesize technical and legal issues in relation to digital evidence. Students will apply various skills and techniques, combined with numerous investigative software tools to analyze seized electronic media. Students subject to background investigation prior to admittance. Students subject to background investigation prior to admittance. Prereq: IA 533 & IA 557
Comprehension of network forensic investigations and application of investigative framework methodologies. Students will apply Linux for forensic analysis, and Access Data Forensic Tool Kit. Evaluation of Steganography tools and field acquisition of electronic media will be presented. Students subject to background investigation prior to admittance. Prereq: IA 558
This is a technical course that provides for the preparation and response to a foreign or domestic act of terrorism. Students will explore the technology of weapons of mass destruction, how to prepare their communities, respond to the incident, and mitigate the effects of a terrorist act.
This course provides existing and prospective managers of Information Assurance incident response teams with a practice view of the issues that will be faced during the creation and operation of an effective team. Tools, techniques, and methodologies in performing enterprise incident response and analysis will be discussed alongside an introduction to the incident handling best practices used to define, create and govern incident response practices. Methodology and simulated incidents with practical labs will be studied. Prereqs: IA 642