Information Assurance and Security

The concentration in information assurance and security provides opportunities for both applied and scholarly work in computer and data security using a graduate-level perspective of best practices in technical and managerial skills that promote information security in a variety of organizations. The concentration also offers course work that prepares individuals for computer security certification programs, including those required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Defense Directive 8570.1.

For more information on the Information Assurance program, visit the UMW Information Assurance homepage.

Program Structure
Effective Fall 2009

Foundation Courses (0-15 credits)

Any or all of the foundation courses may be waived, depending on professional experience, previous course work, or certification. Final determination of a waiver is made by the program director.

BPST 316 Statistics for Managers (3 credits)
CIST 299, 305, 401, 406 or equivalent (3 credits)
CIST 304 or equivalent (3 credits)
LRSP 311, 331 or equivalent (3 credits)

Three credits from the following:

ACCT 201 Accounting for Managers or equivalent (3 credits)
LRSP 306 Economics for Business or equivalent (3 credits)
LRSP 412 Marketing for Managers or equivalent (3 credits)
LRSP 435 Leadership, Innovation, and Creativity (3 credits)

Note: Students may complete a maximum of 9 credits in graduate-level courses (including graduate transfer courses) prior to completion of all required foundation credits. Any student who earns a grade below C in a foundation course taken at the University must retake the course and earn a C or higher.

Core Courses (24 credits)

MBUS 550 Computer-Based Decision Support Systems (3 credits)
MMIS 500 Management Information Systems (3 credits)
MMIS 505 Information Systems Analysis and Design (3 credits)
MMIS 515 Information Technology Project Management (3 credits)
MMIS 535 Strategic Management of Information Systems and Innovation (3 credits)
MMIS 540 Computer Information Security (3 credits)
MMIS 590 MIS Research Project (3 credits)
MMIS 591 MIS Externship (3 credits)

Required Courses (12 credits)

MMIS 541 Network Security and Cryptography (3 credits)
MMIS 542 Security Policy, Planning, and Assurance (3 credits)
MMIS 543 Computer Forensics (3 credits)
MMIS 544 Ethical Hacking and Malware Analysis (3 credits)

Note: A matriculated MSMIS student can obtain each of the following two concentrations if the requisite course work in each concentration is successfully completed. No more than one course is allowed to overlap concentrations. Completion of more than one MSMIS concentration does not result in the awarding of more than one degree. Attaining an additional concentration after graduation requires the completion of a minimum of 12 additional credits.

Advising Guide (effective Fall 2009)

Earlier Versions of Advising Guides