UMUC

School of Undergraduate Studies

Information Assurance

Major in Information Assurance

The major in information assurance prepares graduates to be information assurance leaders (in both government and industry), with a global outlook, interpersonal skills, leadership and management skills and awareness of current issues in the field. The curriculum focuses on the practices, policies, operational procedures and technology and future of information assurance. The major prepares students for careers as information systems security professionals, senior systems managers and system administrators responsible for information systems and security of those systems.

Objectives

The student who graduates with a major in information assurance will be able to

  • Identify the terms, functions and interrelationships among the hardware, software, firmware and other components of an information system.
  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles and practices of information security and the policies and procedures required to ensure reliability and accessibility of information systems and prevent and defend against unauthorized access to systems, networks and data.
  • Conduct risk and vulnerability assessments of planned and installed information systems to identify vulnerabilities, risks and protection needs.
  • Define and apply to scenarios or case studies the responsibility of the senior system manager in addressing approval to operate, accreditation, compliance, acquisitions and establishing security controls.
  • Identify and address information technology workforce planning and management issues such as recruitment, retention and training.
  • Develop systems security contingency plans and disaster recovery procedures.
  • Evaluate ethical issues related to information systems, work productivity and human factors.

Degree Requirements

A degree with a major in information assurance requires the successful completion of 120 credits of coursework, including 30 credits for the major; 41 credits in general education requirements; and 49 credits in the minor, electives and other degree requirements. At least 15 credits in the major must be earned in upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above).

Course Requirements for the Information Assurance Major

Recommended Sequence

The following course sequence will fulfill all the requirements for the BS in information assurance. Since some recommended courses fulfill more than one requirement, substituting courses for those listed may make it necessary to take additional courses to meet degree requirements. Students should consult an advisor whenever taking advantage of other options.

Coursework for the major is indicated by ‡

First Courses (to be taken within the first 18 credits)

Note: Placement tests are required for math and writing courses.

  • EDCP 100 Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning (3) (strongly recommended as first course)
  • LIBS 150 Information Literacy and Research Methods (1)
  • WRTG 101/101X Introduction to Writing (3)
  • MATH 106 Finite Mathematics (3) or higher-level math course

Introductory Courses (to be taken within the first 30 credits)

  • IFSM 201 Introduction to Computer-Based Systems (3) (prerequisite to later courses)
  • CMIS 102 Introduction to Problem Solving and Algorithm Design (related requirement and prerequisite for later courses)
  • PHIL 140 Contemporary Moral Issues (3) or ENGL 240 Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama or other ARTH, ARTT, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, literature or foreign language course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement
  • Both BIOL 101 Concepts of Biology (3) and BIOL 102 Laboratory in Biology (1) or BIOL 103 Introduction to Biology or other course(s) to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture and laboratory requirement
  • WRTG 291 Expository and Research Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing requirement
  • GVPT 170 American Government (3) or other ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, SOCY or eligible AASP, CCJS, GERO or WMST course to fulfill the first behavioral and social sciences requirement

Foundation Courses (to be taken within the first 60 credits)

  • PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (3) or SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology or other course to fulfill the second behavioral and social sciences requirement (discipline must differ from first)
  • NSCI 100 Introduction to Physical Science (3) or ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy or other course to fulfill the biological and physical sciences lecture requirement
  • HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3) or HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 or other ARTH or HIST course to fulfill the arts and humanities requirement in historical perspective (discipline must differ from other humanities course)
  • IFSM 300 Information Systems in Organizations (3) (Related requirement for the major, also fulfills the interdisciplinary issues/computing requirement)
  • ANTH 344 Cultural Anthropology and Linguistics (3) or a foreign language course (recommended elective)
  • SPCH 100 Foundations of Speech Communication (3) or WRTG 390 Writing for Managers or other course to fulfill the communications/ writing or speech requirement
  • IFSM 304 Ethics in the Information Age (3) (recommended elective)

Additional Required Courses (to be taken after introductory and foundation courses)

  • WRTG 393/393X Advanced Technical Writing (3) or other course to fulfill the communications/ upper-level advanced writing requirement
  • ‡ IFSM 310 Software and Hardware Concepts (3)
  • ‡ IFSM 430 Information Systems and Security (3)
  • ‡ IFSM 450 Telecommunication Systems in Management (3)
  • ‡ IFSM 433 Information Security Needs Assessment and Planning (3)
  • ‡ IFSM 454 Information System Security Mechanisms (3)
  • ‡ IFSM 350 Wireless Telecommunications (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ IFSM 431 Policy Planning for Security Architects (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ IFSM 432 Disaster Recovery Planning (3) or other supplemental major course
  • ‡ IFSM 457 Cyberterrorism (3) or other supplemental major course

Capstone Course for Major (to be taken in the last 15 credits)

  • ‡ IFSM 485 Trends and Projects in Information Assurance (3)

Minor and/or Elective Courses (to be taken in the last 60 credits along with required major courses) (37)

Total credits for BS in information assurance: 120