Program Overview

The CIT Master’s program prepares students to advance their careers in the information technology domain as technology supervisors and project managers, business analysts, lead coders and designers, and researchers.  Given the pervasiveness of technology worldwide, students outside the information technology domain may weave their prior industry experience with information technology theories, processes, and best practices to take on roles within the information technology industry.  Students who would benefit most from completing this degree include individuals pursuing career advancement in the computer information technology domain as well as individuals transitioning their careers from non-technical backgrounds to the computer information technology domain.

The program emphasizes skills related to the interplay between computer information technology and its supervision, the organizational and human impact of technology, technical innovations, the global reach of technology, and research and associated methods as applied to the computer information technology domain.  Theories and models associated with computer information technology, best practices, and current research and examples will provide students with learning experiences rooted in both theory and application of computer information technology concepts and methods to solve business problems.  Students will also develop skills associated with critical thinking and reading, reflection, research, analysis, problem solving, and technical and scholarly writing.

Information Security & Assurance Emphasis

• Explore the technical, legal, social, and political theories and issues of Information Security and Assurance including cybersecurity including privacy and data classification as well as vulnerabilities and threats posed by cyber criminals, terrorists, and other threats to our national infrastructure including computer networks as legally regulated by federal laws, executive orders, regulations, and cases related to surveillance, cyber intrusions of national and global proportion, data breaches, privacy issues, and important civil liberties;
• Evaluate best practices associated with planning, managing personnel and processes, generating policies and procedures, and assuring adequate security measures to maintain confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer systems including secure software development, operating systems security, and database design security;
• Identify ethical and legal issues using technology and procedures to manage an equitable, sustainable, and safe computing environment including maintaining compliance with securing and protecting information, copyright laws, and privacy laws from state and national perspectives while accounting for social, ethical, and legal implications when designing technology initiatives and practical applications;
• Integrate risk assessment and management strategies including Control Focused Risk Management and Event Focused Risk Management as well as short and long term risk management and remediation techniques for information technology projects based on an assessment of the security landscape that also includes identifying possible threats, potential vulnerabilities, and likely consequences of security failures;
• Compare and contrast common security standards, associated catalogues of security controls, and cybersecurity models including the CIA triad as well as best practices for implementing security training including certification and accreditation