|
DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION ASSURANCE (DSc)
Description
This degree program helps students to advance their Information Assurance careers in government, industry or academia. Students develop field research competencies that enable them to undertake applied research that results in a theoretical contribution to the field of Information Assurance.
Program Objectives
-
To gain expertise in a specialized field of study based upon theory, concepts and skills relevant to Information Assurance practitioners.
-
To apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the exploration of a specialized field of study designed to advance theoretical concepts relevant to Information Assurance research.
-
To demonstrate integration of the core concepts of risk analysis, project planning, and change management through the completion of the Qualifying Exam.
-
To demonstrate mastery of literature-based research skills and APA documentation and citation formats through the completion of Level I Comprehensive Exams.
-
To demonstrate mastery of selected domains within the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) in Information Security through the completion of Level II Comprehensive Exams.
-
To develop primary field research competencies that can result in an “industry driven” contribution to knowledge in a specialized field of study relevant to Information Assurance practitioners.
-
To contribute new Information Assurance knowledge by conducting an a priori hypothesis test which extends prior empirically developed theoretical research.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this degree program, graduates will be able to:
-
Establish the rationale and objectives for conducting primary research in a specialized area of Information Assurance.
-
Demonstrate knowledge and synthesis of the current body of literature with respect to a specialized area of Information Assurance.
-
Apply appropriate hypothesis testing methodologies and analysis techniques in conducting theory driven primary field research in a specialized area of Information Assurance designed to test and advance theory and theoretical concepts.
-
Contribute to the body of knowledge through the documentation of hypothesis testing research methods and findings resulting from conducting primary field research in a specialized area of Information Assurance.
Qualifying Exam
Doctoral students enrolled in the DSc program must pass the Qualifying Exam. This exam, which is the required deliverable for the IA 9200 course, consists of a 20-25 page Strategic Risk Mitigation Plan. This plan must integrate principles and techniques of risk analysis, project planning, and change management.
Comprehensive Exams (Level I and II)
Doctoral students enrolled in the DSc program must pass Level I and Level II Comprehensive Exams.
Level I Comprehensive Exams consist of three 25-30 page research papers which are the required deliverables for IA8220, IA8230 and IA8240 and must demonstrate mastery of content and literature-based research skills, while utilizing APA format and citation requirements.
Level II Comprehensive Exams consist of two 25-30 page papers addressing research questions relating to three of the ten Information Security domains known as the Common Body of Knowledge (CBK). These exams must demonstrate mastery of the content and literature-based research skills, while utilizing APA format and citation requirements.
If necessary, students may repeat any or all of the Level I or Level II Comprehensive Exams.
Credit Requirements
The DSc consists of a total of 70 semester credits beyond a Master’s degree, including 24 credits of core courses, 9 credits of specialization-specific courses, and 37 credits of research-related courses. Students must pass Comprehensive Exams prior to beginning research-related courses.
To ensure that students make steady progress towards the completion of their dissertations, the University has developed the Dissertation Project Plan. This plan consists of a series of deliverables students produce in research methods courses and dissertation courses.
Click here to view the curriculum for the DSc Program.
Click here for Course Descriptions.
|
