URI launches master’s degree in cyber security

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – For the first time this fall, the University of Rhode Island is offering an online master’s degree in cyber security, which will combine intensive cyber security and digital forensics education with business applications.
The 36-credit professional science master’s degree in cyber security is one of only two programs of its kind in the country, according to a news release from the university.
“The cyber security degree is significant, as URI is responding to a critical workforce need by creating skilled personnel who can mitigate threats to our state industry’s technological infrastructure,” Lori E. Ciccomascolo, dean of URI’s Feinstein College of Continuing Education in Providence, said in a statement.
The new master’s degree program, a response to growing demand internationally and locally, is a natural expansion for the university, which is a National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security National Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense. In addition, URI offers two 16-credit graduate certificate programs in the field and an annual Cybersecurity Symposium, which, coupled with URI’s 2014 Honors Colloquium, Cybersecurity and Privacy, have drawn hundreds to its Kingston campus to hear talks from the U.S. Department of Defense, Congress, FBI, media and businesses such as IBM, Google and Fidelity.
“We have been hearing from our students in the certificate programs, and they have been telling us repeatedly that they want a master’s degree,” Lisa DiPippo, professor of computer science and academic director of URI’s cyber security program, said. “They want the credential so they can advance their careers. This is for people in high-level jobs who want to get hands-on experience with computer systems and the ways in which those systems can be protected. And if someone does hack into those systems, this program will teach students how to track the bad guys.”
According to DiPippo there are several master’s programs in cyber security throughout New England, but very few are offered online and there are no existing professional science master’s degrees in cyber security.
DiPippo’s comments about demand are backed up by data from Burning Glass International Inc., a Boston company that matches jobs with job-seekers. According to the firm, cyber security job postings have grown 74 percent from 2007 to 2013, twice as fast as all information technology jobs. Demand for cyber security jobs is high – according to the firm it takes 36 percent longer to fill these positions than those for other jobs.
URI’s program differs from other cyber security programs in many ways. Firstly, it is offered fully online, so students will have access to course work from virtually anywhere with Internet access. In addition to education in cyber security, the program will also teach business and management skills necessary to effectively apply the technical skills to the professional environment.
“Traditional master’s degrees in cyber security provide the technical training, but not the business skills,” DiPippo said.
Each student in the program must complete a cyber security internship and attend weekly online meetings with professors and other students during the duration of their internship.
The URI program aims at applying a national reach to cyber security, and is currently talking with the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. and other institutions about research collaboration. The program will enlist national experts to teach courses in addition to leading cyber security faculty from URI. One of them is Daniel Dickerman, a special agent and the technical advisor and director of training for the International Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Electronic Crimes program and URI adjunct professor.
The program will offer two tracks, forensics and security, each with four required courses: introduction to information assurance, introduction to network and systems security, professional skills for cyber security and the cyber security internship. Each track has five courses tailored to prepare students for work in those specific fields. Individuals who have completed the 16-credit graduate program certificates in forensics or security may apply those credits towards the completion of the master’s program.
For information, visit http://www.dfcsc.uri.edu/academics/psm.

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