School of Information Sciences - Information Science & Technology Program

Information Assurance Scholarship Program

Do you want to pursue a challenging profession in Information Assurance?
Do you want to work for the Department of Defense and help defend our nation's cyber space?
Do you want to have your education fully paid for?

Apply for the Security Assured Information Systems (SAIS) specialization at the University of Pittsburgh, a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R). Receive certification for the following national IA standards CNSS 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, and 4015.

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Information Security Specialization

Providing security and assurance to information systems has emerged as one of the most daunting technological and social challenges of recent times. The rapid development of Internet-based technologies and society's increasing reliance on these systems, coupled with the threat of malicious attacks, have raised the importance of new knowledge, professional skills, and human resources in the area of information assurance.

A series of courses in information security and assurance provides you with the opportunity to focus your studies in the theory and practice of developing secure and highly assured information systems and networks. The curriculum in Security Assured Information Systems (SAIS) has been certified by the Committee on National System Security (CNSS) as meeting the national standards for INFOSEC education. By joining this elite group of students in a National Security Agency-certified National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (NCAE/IAE), you will gain a thorough understanding of the principles of secure systems and networks and learn how to build highly assured information systems.

Prerequisites

Students must have taken INFSCI 2500 Data Structures or the equivalent prior to entering the Security Specialization.

Courses and Electives for IS

Any changes to the distribution of credits below must be requested, in advance, through petition to the GIST faculty.

Note: Recommended courses have been pre-approved to fulfill the following academic areas. You may choose classes from outside of the list of recommended courses and are encouraged to discuss your options with your academic advisor.

Foundation Courses (6 credits)

Required course

  • INFSCI 2170/TEL 2820 Cryptography (SAIS CORE)

Recommended courses

  • INFSCI 2625

Cognitive Courses (6 credits)

Systems & Technology (18 Credits)

Required (6 Credits)

  • INFSCI 2150 Information Security and Privacy (SAIS CORE)
  • TELCOM 2821 Network Security (SAIS CORE)

Required (6 Credits)

  • INFSCI 2591 Algorithm Design (Note: this course can be used for Foundations Area requirement – in that case students can take any other Systems & Technology course)
  • INFSCI 2710 Database Management (Can be waived if a student has taken Undergraduate DBMS course in IS/CS/CE)

Two required from the following courses (6 Credits) (*)

Electives (6 Credits)

Recommended

  • INFSCI 2750 Cloud Computing
  • INFSCI 2625 Cybersecurity & Privacy Regulation
  • LIS 2184 Legal Issues in Information Handling
  • INFSCI 2210 Information Ethics
  • INFSCI 2629 Capstone Course in Security
  • Other SAIS courses listed below (*)

Special Note:

Upon completion of a SAIS track, students will be given certificates for CNSS standards 4011, 4012, and 4013. If a student has taken INFSCI 2621/TELCOM 2813: Security Management and Computer Forensics to fulfill the elective requirement, the certificates for CNSS 4014 and 4015 will also be provided.

CNSS certifications are available till 2018

 

This specialization is also offered in the MST Program.

Courses and Electives for Tele

Core Requirements (13 credits)

Required courses:

  • TELCOM 2010 Computer Networking Laboratory
  • TELCOM 2210 Physical Layer of Communications 2
  • TELCOM 2120 Network Performance
  • TELCOM 2310 Computer Networks
  • TELCOM 2011 Telecommunications Seminar (1 credit)

Human Communication Management and Policy (3 credits)

One course from this list:

  • BUSBIS 1630  Project Management
  • BMIS  2551 Project Management Concepts and Processes
  • BMIS 2537 Business Systems Platforms
  • INFSCI 2220/LIS 2186 Information Policy

SAIS Track Core (12 credits)

Required courses:

  • INFSCI 2150/TELCOM 2810 Information Security and Privacy
  • INFSCI 2170/TELCOM 2820 Cryptography
  • TELCOM 2821 Network Security
  • INFSCI 2629/TELCOM 2830 Capstone Course in Security

SAIS Track Electives 3 credits

One course from this list:

  • TELCOM 2825 Information Systems & Network Infrastructure Protection
  • INFSCI 2731 Security in E-Commerce
  • INFSCI 2621/TELCOM 2813 Security Management and Computer Forensics
  • TELCOM 2829 Advanced Cryptography

Plus Two Elective Courses which can be from the Security Area or other Areas of Study.

Upon completion of a SAIS track, students will given certificates for CNSS standards 4011, 4012, and 4013. If a student has taken INFSCI 2621/TELCOM 2813: Security Management and Computer Forensics to fulfill the elective requirement, the certificates for CNSS 4014 and 4015 will also be provided.

 

To view the term in which a class is offered, please see the Projected Course Offerings.

Click here for the current plan of study.

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