Dear Former Computer Science Student:
We are requesting your participation in a brief survey about your educational and career aspirations. The questionnaire you are asked to complete is designed to elicit information on several attitudes and opinions about a new educational program being proposed at IUP.
It is important to us that you participate and answer all questions fully and candidly. Only by reading your responses are we going to be able to make informed decisions about the demand for and interest in this program.
Thank you for spending the few minutes needed to help us.
Jim Wolfe, on behalf of the Computer Science
Department
Note: This survey is meant to be
anonymous. No information that you give will be attributed to you
individually, nor will it be regarded as a commitment on your part, nor
will there be any follow-up related to your specific input (unless you
request it).
General Demographic Questions:
1. In what year did you graduate? ___________
2. What is your gender: Male_____ Female _____
3. What was your track or degree? _______________________
4. What was your grade point average? Check one of the choices below.
2.0-2.49 _____ 2.5-2.99 _____ 3.0-3.49 _____ 3.5-4.0 _____
5. What are your plans with respect to employment/education? (please choose one)
Continue working or get another job _____ (please go on to # 6)
Continue my education at a trade school ______ (please go on to # 6)
Continue my education in graduate school ______
In what field _________________________
(please skip # 6 and go on to # 7)
Other (please specify) ________________________ (please go on to # 6)
6. If you selected "Continue Working", "Continue my education at a trade school" or "Other" above, what factors might convince you to continue your education for a graduate degree? To better help us measure your response please indicate how likely you would be to continue in school if the following occurred.
a. If I felt that a graduate degree
would help me advance in my present job or get a better job.
1
2
3
4
5
|____________|_____________|_____________|_____________|
Very Likely
Likely
Not Sure
Unlikely
Never
b. If I could support myself while attending graduate school.
1
2
3
4
5
|____________|_____________|_____________|_____________|
Very Likely
Likely
Not Sure
Unlikely
Never
c. If there were a graduate degree program that was really interesting to me.
1
2
3
4
5
|____________|_____________|_____________|_____________|
Very Likely
Likely
Not Sure
Unlikely
Never
Program Specific Questions - Please look at the Program Summary at the end
7. If you were to consider a graduate school program, does the interdisciplinary approach of the MS in IA appeal to you?
If yes, how likely are you to apply to such a program?
1
2
3
4
5
|____________|_____________|_____________|_____________|
Very Likely
Likely
Not Sure
Unlikely
Never
Are there any factors that would
increase your likelihood of applying to such a program?
If the interdisciplinary core does
not appeal to you, how would the program need to change to attract your
attention?
8. It is likely that the courses for this program would be offered outside of normal class hours. Please indicate which class hours you would prefer and which you would find acceptable.
Prefer (choose one) Acceptable
(choose any/all)
Normal daytime (8:00-5:00)
______
______
Evening (6:00-9:00)
______
______
Saturdays (whole or half day)
______
______
Weekends (Fri, Sat. and/or Sun.)
______
______
Online
______
______
9. There are four choices for the location/environment in which the Masters in Information Assurance may be offered. Please indicate which location/environment you would prefer and which you would find acceptable?
Prefer (choose one)
Acceptable (choose any/all)
IUP main campus
_______
________
New Armstrong campus
_______
________
Monroeville campus
_______
________
Online (all or part)
_______
________
10. If this program offered summer classes (in addition to those in regular semesters) with the possibility of completing the degree in 1 1/2 years instead of 2 years, would you be likely to take the summer classes?
1
2
3
4
5
|____________|_____________|_____________|_____________|
Very Likely
Likely
Not Sure
Unlikely
Never
11. The Computer Science track would include courses on Wireless Networks, Operating Systems, Applied Cryptography, Formal Methods of Assuring Correctness, and Applied Research Methods. It would also offer courses in E-Commerce Security, Systems Auditing, Advanced Network Security and Secure Business Software. If this track interests you, please answer the following:
a. Are there other topics which you
would like to see in this program? If yes, please specify.
b. If this track carried with it
the possibility of receiving a nationally recognized certification, would
that increase your interest in the program?
12. The Criminology track would include courses on the Theory of Cybercrimes, Applied Research Methods, and Cybercriminals and Cybervictims. It would also offer courses in Legal Issues, Management in Criminal Justice, Advanced Qualitative Methods and Ethical and Philosophical Issues in Criminology. If this track interests you, please answer the following:
a. Are there other topics which you
would like to see in this program? If yes, please specify.
b. If this track carried with it
the possibility of continuing on to work on a PhD in Criminology, would
that increase your interest in the program?
13. The Business track would include courses on E-Commerce Security, Systems Auditing, Data Communications, Management Information Systems, and Secure Business Software. It would also offer courses in IT Policy and Strategy, Data Warehousing, Analysis Modeling & Design, Project Management for IT, and Organizational Communications. If this track interests you, please answer the following:
a. Are there other topics which you
would like to see in this program? If yes, please specify.
b. If this track carried with it
the possibility of receiving a nationally recognized certification, would
that increase your interest in the program?
14. Other Comments?
Program Summary
IUP is considering the creation of a program called Masters of Science in Information Assurance. The program's structure includes a group of core courses from several disciplines and three tracks (specializations). The core courses are listed below with a note at the end indicating the department providing the course.
Theory & Practice of Information Assurance: covers the issues related to security and information assurance in computer networks; considers vulnerabilities and threat analysis; introduces actions which can be taken to increase assurance. (Computer Science)
Information Security Policy: considers access control, authentication mechanisms, security objectives, issues of intellectual property and individual privacy; discusses policies for implementing security. (Political Science)
Information Security in the Enterprise: an overview of the threats to the security of information; emphasis on tools for information security and areas of training. (Business)
Legal and Ethical Issues in Information Assurance: discusses applicable legal statutes and court rulings regarding information privacy, failures in information security; presents enforcement mechanisms. (Criminology)
Digital Forensics: covers the concepts of computer evidence seizure and examination; forensic tools and methodologies associated with file systems are presented; hands-on network tools for Windows and Linux. (Computer Science & Criminology)
The three tracks, which may be chosen,
would be in Computer Science, Criminology, or Business. Courses
for these tracks are listed briefly in the survey questions and are described
in more detail on the Web at www.cosc.iup.edu/deb/msiasurvey.htm