How to Get a PhD or SciD in Information Security Systems

The Internet connects people in a way that contemplating a day without online browsing, shopping, or sending email conjures up visions of Armageddon. Yet the Web and the entities connected to it have never been under attack as much as they are today. So why doesn't the infrastructure teeter or collapse? The Internet owes its health to the vigilance and expertise of professionals who are highly educated in network and application security. A doctorate in information systems security can help you prepare to enter this fast-paced industry.

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Begin Your Search for a PhD in Information Systems Security

There are many ways to research graduate level programs, from reference books to online guides. Here are a few ideas to get your started:

Graduate Programs in Engineering and Applied Sciences 2010 (also called Peterson's Graduate Programs in Engineering and Applied Sciences) is a reference book with a whole section devoted to Computer Science and Information Technology, and within that section you can find Information Systems Security. Use this book to compile a list of schools that offer the PhD in information systems security and to learn the basic facts about the schools. The book is available in some libraries and bookstores and is available for purchase online.

U.S. News & World Report's "Best Graduate Schools" is available online, although to use all of the search capabilities, you must pay a small fee. The list is generated based on answers supplied by the schools to U.S. News & World Report. This tool is handy because it gives you large list of schools with links that go directly to schools' programs.

The U.S. Department of Education offers the College Navigator, an online tool that can help you find schools that offer a PhD in information systems security. Besides searching by degree program, you can set other parameters that may be of importance, including distance from your ZIP Code, size of student population, type of environment (urban, suburban, town, or rural), and whether the school offers housing. Other criteria that you can search on are SAT and ACT minimum scores, percent of applicants admitted, cost of tuition, whether the school is public or private, religious affiliation, specialized mission. You can even find out if the school offers hybrid or online degree programs.

WorldWideLearn.com is another online source of information about advanced degree programs. Search for the PhD in information systems security by location, online graduate school, or submit a form to have graduate schools contact you directly. You can also search for programs that are offered on campus or online. The handy thing about WorldWideLearn.com is that you can request information from schools that are of interest to you directly from the site.

Each reference source listed above delivers its own special take on doctoral level programs in information systems security. By consulting several sources, you can get a good feel for which schools appeal to you in terms of specialization, location, setting, size, reputation, affordability, and online offerings.

Choosing the Right Doctoral Program: Why Research Is Key

Once you've put together a broad list of campus-based and online colleges that meet your initial criteria, it's time to narrow your focus. To successfully trim your list to a mere handful, make sure you dig a bit deeper into both the schools and the programs you're considering. A recent study conducted by the Council of Graduate Schools identified six key factors that influence student success in PhD programs:

Selection
Mentoring
Financial Support
Program Environment
Research Mode of the Field
Processes & Procedures

When visiting school Web sites and talking to faculty, staff, and current PhD students, gear your research and questions around these six elements. For example, questions to ask PhD students in a program of interest may include:

How often do you work directly with professors?
What on campus or online resources do you have at your disposal?
Did the school work with you to secure the proper funding?
Does the school and/or programs provide career services?

In essence, researching potential PhD programs thoroughly can help you make a good choice to begin with, get the mentoring and financial support you need, find an environment in which you can thrive, work on research you love, and understand how to get through the process--from application through graduation.

Earning your PhD in information systems security can influence where you earn you livelihood and how much you make. To help potential PhD students make smart career decisions, the National Science Foundation (NSF) collects data from a large group of men and women who hold PhD degrees in the sciences. These men and women are surveyed year-over-year to measure both their satisfaction with their careers and their pay, among other things. NSF data show that PhD in information systems are among the very highest earners among all science workers.

Alternative Degrees to the PhD in Information Systems Security

The PhD in information systems security is earned in schools of engineering or science, depending on the institution. The degree might also be earned as a Doctor of Science (SciD). Whether you pursue a PhD or a SciD in the discipline, you'll likely encounter a wide range of specializations.

Areas of Specialization in ISS

During the four or more years you work toward your degree, much of your time may be spent preparing for, conducting, and writing about your original research. If you intend to work for industry or government in the area of cyber security, select a program with faculty who conduct research and actively publish in that specialization. The right collection of mentors can play a vital role in shaping your research and helping you prepare for your dissertation and defense (two elements necessary for graduation). If your objective is to teach, consider focusing your studies (and your dissertation) on the proliferation of knowledge and/or examination of theories in the field.

As the name implies, information system security includes both hardware and software and concerns itself with both on-device and in-flight transactions. Therefore, you can expect to study security at every level with laboratory work and courses in the following topics:

Programming language security
Operating system security
Database and distributed systems security
Network security
Security software design
Security policy planning, implementation, compliance, and audit
Security protocol analysis
Intrusion detection
Electronic commerce security
Security best practices

Faculty

Faculty can determine which specializations are available at each institution. The more aware of your educational and career objectives you are now, the more likely you will be to find the school, program, and faculty to support your success. If you are sure you want to specialize in information systems security, identify schools with faculty who have a particular interest in security so you can benefit from their research and guidance.

Accreditation

Attending a school with accreditation has a number of benefits. First, if the accreditation has been recognized by the Department of Education, you can qualify for federally backed financial aid. Furthermore, a PhD from an accredited institution may hold more weight in the eyes of potential employers. To check if a PhD program you're considering has been accredited, the Department of Education's Web site has a thorough list. WorldWideLearn.com also offers an extensive section on accreditation, which can provide much more info on the subject and its importance.

Program Reputation

There are many factors that drive a program's reputation: how selective the admission process is, completion rates of those who enter the program (how many complete the program and how long it takes them to do so), where graduates are employed after being awarded their degrees, and how long it takes them to find employment. All these factors can impact your educational and career paths, so be sure to research them thoroughly.

Assessing Campus and Online Programs

Some people who enter PhD programs have business, family, or community commitments that preclude them from relocating. Even if you are able and willing to relocate, online PhD programs may be a valuable option. Besides the fact that most, if not all, of your work is done via the computer, online programs allow you the flexibility of setting your own study schedule. When comparing the costs of getting your PhD in information systems security from your top program picks, be sure to factor in not only tuition and fees, but housing, transportation, and lost wages. For more information about costs, WorldWideLearn.com has a number of charts and helpful articles.

When considering where to get your information systems security doctoral degree, take a look at the alma maters of people working for companies that you aspire to join. Not only can this substantiate the value of the schools from which these people received their degrees, but it creates an immediate network for you when it is time to seek employment. You might be surprised to find that they hold degrees from online universities. Quickly find both on campus and online PhD programs in information systems security at the WorldWideLearn.com.

The Application Process and Financial Aid

Each school--and program within the school--has its own application requirements. However, be prepared to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, and some form of a letter of intent. You may also need to submit GRE or other test scores, and if you are an international student, TOEFL scores.

At many schools you are automatically considered for financial aid once you have been accepted. This aid is often available in the form of teaching or research assistantships. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of scholarships, grants, and loans available as well. Get started researching what is available for U.S. and international students on the financial aid pages of WorldWideLearn.com.

Respect deadlines for all applications; it may be impossible to recover from a missed filing.

Publications, Conferences and Professional Associations

Publications

One easy way to keep on top of the latest in information systems security is to subscribe to journals. Subscriptions can be costly, so access professional publications through your school library's subscriptions. One of particular interest is the Journal of Information System Security.

To get a quick scan of books on information security, check out Information Security Today, where you can find the latest print and online info from Auerbach Publications. Auerbach also accepts book proposals, and even has a tool to help you prepare a proposal.

Conferences

If you are interested in security, you are probably already aware of the two biggest industry (versus academic) annual conferences. DefCon is the hackers gathering held in Las Vegas every summer. Boycotted for years by the big Internet security firms, it is now the place where the good guys go, (incognito?), to check out their adversaries. It is definitely worth a visit at least once in a lifetime. The RSA conference held in San Francisco every spring is the industry gathering for legitimate security luminaries. Both are great places to get information and make contacts.

Professional Associations

The Information Systems Security Association is a not-for-profit global association of information security professionals that sponsors conferences, publishes research and position papers, and enables communication of its members through its Web site.

Sources

Council of Graduate Schools, PhD Completion Project
Peterson's, Graduate Programs in Engineering and Applied Sciences 2010
Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning an M.A. Or Ph.D., by Robert Peters
U.S. News & World Report. Best Graduate Schools
U.S. Department of Education. College Navigator
WorldWideLearn.com. Online Technology and It Degrees in Information Systems Security