Information Assurance
Fort Hays State University has been designated by the United States Federal Government as a National Center
of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance. This is a very prestigious recognition reserved for a
handful of institutions that are able to demonstrate quality of faculty, curriculum, student services,
student performance, labs, industry support, and several other important factors. This designation is
valuable to students as it signifies that they are part of a unique program. Students studying Information
Assurance at both the undergraduate and graduate levels may note on their resumes that their education
was obtained from a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance.
Demand for Graduates
The world faces a growing need for secure digital networks and data storage. This has created significant
demand for high skilled Information Assurance professionals. Information Assurance is a rapidly growing and
well compensated field. Businesses, governmental organizations such as cities, counties, state and federal
agencies, law enforcement and public safety agencies, the military, medical providers, bioscience businesses
and research organizations, banking and financial organizations are among the critical organizations
dependent upon secure digital networks and data storage. Even consumers face critical challenges in
protecting and preserving private data. Information Assurance (IA) is the science of managing the risks to
information assets.
Undergraduate Study
Undergraduate study in Information Assurance at Fort Hays State University focuses on protecting data
and networks. Students earn a concentration in Computer Networking and Telecommunication with an emphasis in Information Assurance. Many Information Assurance programs
at other institutions focus on programming or software development. Fort Hays State University has listened
to industry and employers who are seeking graduates with skills in protecting networks, servers, and
PCs- the key tools for business, medicine, and government in the 21st Century. (Course requirements for undergraduate study in information assurance)
Graduate Study
Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is pleased to offer a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree with concentrations in Information Assurance Management and Cyber Security. It also offers a unique Master's of Business Administration with
a specialization in Information Assurance.
Masters of Professional Studies in Information Assurance
The Master of Professional Studies options in Information Assurance offer an in-depth concentration developing a mastery of information
practices, network security software and hardware applications, and of operating systems and offers
students two options:
The curriculum for the Information Assurance concentrations are offered through the Department of Informatics. Both on-campus and distance learning options are available. All required courses
are offered through distance learning and do not require campus visits.
The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree is a multi-disciplinary master's degree designed to meet emerging workforce development needs. The MPS in Information Assurance curriculum contains four components: 1) a 9-hour core curriculum which includes a research methods course, a statistics course, and a concentration-specific introductory graduate course, 2) a 12-hour major concentration area, 3) a 6-hour cognate field of free electives are, and 4) a 3-hour projects of internship course. The total number of credits required for this degree is 30 credit hours. It also includes coursework certified by the United States Government's Committee on National
Security Systems for CNSS 4011 and 4013E Standards 2008-2013.
Master of Professional Studies Program
Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Information Assurance
The Master of Business Administration is a 34 credit hour graduate program that is offered on campus
and online. All required courses are offered through distance learning and do not require campus visits.
It consists of a 25 credit hour Business core and a 9 credit hour specialization in Information Assurance.
It includes coursework certified by the United States Government's Committee on National Security Systems
for CNSS 4011 and 4013E Standards 2008-2013.
MBA with Information Assurance Specialization
FHSU Offers Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) Certified Coursework that meets national
certifications:
- NSTISS 4011 National Training Standard for Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals; and
- NSTISS 4013E National Information Assurance Training Standard for System Administrators.
Students will earn and be recognized with a certificate upon successfully completing Informatics 684 Foundations
of Information Systems Security. This course is open to students of any major or profession who have
completed MIS 101 or have received permission from a course instructor.
Program Focus
The Fort Hays State University program is network and professionally oriented. It covers the domains
of the Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP). Its curriculum is mapped to the NSA
4011 and NSA 4013 standards. It also provides curriculum preparing students for the Cisco security
certifications and Cisco networking certifications. Students will learn theory and applied strategies
for using professional tools to protect, PCs, servers, data and voice networks. Students will learn that
information security encompasses more than technology. Physical security, policies, practices, and law are
also key components in protecting information.
Program Leadership
Fort Hays State University conducted a national search during the summer of 2007 and recruited
Dr. Keyu Jiang to lead the Information Assurance educational and research effort. Dr. Jiang has an impressive
background in government and private industry. He has conducted sponsored research for DARPA and NASA.
He has multiple patents. One of these was the basis for a successful business of which he was CEO before
selling it and returning to academia.
Professors Kevin Shaffer, Jon Tholstrup, Angela Walters, Robert Swindler, Robert Pierce, Hongbiao Zeng,
John Sands, and Mark Bannister also instruct Information Assurance oriented classes. Fort Hays State
University offers a team of quality Information Assurance faculty
who are dedicated to teaching students.
Current Graduate Students & Alumni are working at:
Cisco
Sprint
Net Standard Incorporated
Mesa State College
Berbee Information Networks
Nex-Tech
Fort Hays State University
Clark County, Washington
Cargill
Corporations offering support to the Fort Hays State University Information Assurance program:
Cisco
IBM
Oracle
Nex-Tech
Juniper
Nortel