Do I need to have an IT background to be successful in the University of Fairfax graduate programs?
No, the University provides IT foundation courses for individuals whose IT background is limited. However, unstructured problem solving and management skills are critical competencies for successful Information Security Analysts.

If I already have an IT background, is the University of Fairfax graduate program for me?
The University offers a project-focused curriculum that permits you to individualize your graduate education. If you have an extensive IT background, your projects will be more elaborate. Your projects will offer you the opportunity to display your more sophisticated technical expertise to potential employers. The University’s expert faculty members are practitioners as well as instructors focused on training the adult learner; they help you to individualize your educational experience through the project assignments you complete.

How much demand is there for information security professionals?
Information assurance is rapidly growing. The SEC recently required all public companies to demonstrate that they have protected their “information” assets. The President has established the Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, and Congress has passed the Government Information Security Reform Act (GISRA) and its replacement FISMA, which require federal agencies to secure their information systems and assets. All of these trends create an unusual opportunity for individuals seeking to enter or move up the information security career path.

Recently Howard Schmidt, vice chair of the White House Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, stated:
“… The federal government potentially faces a significant staffing shortage in the next five years. The efforts of universities to enable mid-career professionals to transition into the federal sector can help us to forestall this shortage. Universities can also help the federal employees to upgrade their careers so that federal agencies can fully comply with GISRA and now FISMA….”

Is financial assistance available?
The University of Fairfax has arranged with TERI and Sallie Mae to provide financial assistance for qualified students. The University, in conjunction with selected employers, also offers graduate fellowships, which can help our students to complete their degrees. For more information please click here.

How soon can I get started?
The University forms classes when it has accepted a compatible group of adult learners who will work together to complete their career transition and their graduate degrees. On average, the University begins a class every eight to ten weeks.

How long will it take me to complete my master’s degree?
The Master of Science in Information Security (MSIS) program involves seven eight-week terms with four weeks of vacation added at different points during the year. Thus, students can finish their MSIS degree after a total of sixty weeks of attending 60 sessions in the evening or on the weekend.

Why do employers seek to recruit University of Fairfax students?
Employers seek to recruit University of Fairfax students for three reasons:

1. The caliber of students admitted to the University.
   
2. The quality of the University’s practitioner faculty.
   
3. The University's project-focused curriculum.

The University of Fairfax originally developed and continually updates its curriculum by asking employers what experience they want to see on graduates’ résumés in order to address their information security employment needs. Employers indicated the kinds of projects they wanted students to complete and the certifications they sought. Based on this guidance, the University incorporated the projects and certification preparation into its curriculum. The University then recruited practitioner faculty from these same employers to teach our students. Our faculty designed the courses to enable students to successfully complete the projects. Finally, the faculty determined what kinds of students could successfully complete the curriculum. This guidance was used to establish the admissions requirements.

What are the long-term career prospects for information security?
Because of increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities, the long-term career prospects for information security professionals are good and getting better. Among other trends, the growth of the Internet and broadband access will only accelerate the demand for information security professionals. The Economist article projects a demand for 75,000 positions, and the federal government projects a retirement of over 30,000 federal IT professionals in the next five years. Howard Schmidt, Vice Chair of the White House’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, further confirms the growing need for information security professionals in the federal sector that spurred the creation of the Critical Infrastructure Board and the passage of the Government Information Security Reform Act.

How much upward mobility is there in the information security career path?
The career paths in information security are varied. project managers, information security engineers, information security analysts, chief privacy officers (CPOs) and chief information officers (CIOs) are all points along the information security career path. Each student brings prior experience from a specific industry sector to which the student can return and then apply information security skills acquired. Health care, financial services, and government are only three examples of sectors facing severe shortages of qualified information security professionals.

What graduate degrees and certificates are offered at the University of Fairfax?
The University of Fairfax offers graduate certificates in Information Security, Information Assurance (IA) Project Management, and Database Systems. Students earn graduate certificates after completing 16 credits of coursework.

The University offers a Master of Science in Information Systems with three concentrations:
Information Security, IA Project Management, and Database Systems. Finally, students can complete a Ph.D. in Information Systems with a concentration in Information Assurance Policy.

Where and when are classes held?
The University offers classes at its campus in Tysons Corner or at employer sites. Classes are held evenings and weekends.

What are the admissions requirements?
The University seeks individuals who:

1. Are motivated and willing to work hard
   
2. Have good communication skills
   
3. Have completed a bachelor’s degree
   
4. Have completed the application process
   
5. Understand the career potential this education provides and are excited about the information security or IT career path

Where are the information security positions?
You can find information security positions throughout the D.C. region, the United States, and the world.
Why should I get a Ph.D. in Information Assurance Policy?
Students seeking to secure senior executive positions, to undertake research that contributes to cybersecurity, to obtain senior policy positions addressing cybersecurity issues, or to teach at the graduate level are among those who should seek a Ph.D. in Information Assurance Policy. Graduates of this program are prepared for high-demand positions in the information security field.

Why should I get a Master of Science in Information Systems with a concentration in Information Security?
The information security field is a rapidly growing, high-demand field. The sector experiencing the most demand now is the federal employment sector, which includes both federal agencies and private contractors. The federal government has put an increased emphasis on employees holding degrees to ensure that it employs the best talent. A graduate degree in Information Security not only gives you access to a career in demand; it helps to position you for promotions and greater job security. For more information please click here.

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