Florida Tech University Online Launches New Master's Degree and Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

TAMPA, Fla., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With businesses, government agencies and the military experiencing up to 10 million cyber attacks per day*, highly trained cybersecurity experts are being enlisted to help protect and secure information and technology assets. Florida Tech's Harris Institute for Assured Information - created through a partnership with global security leader the Harris Corporation - is now offering a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity as well as a For-Credit Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, both available 100% online. These career-building credentials are designed to prepare professionals for high-level positions in a field the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook projects will experience 22% growth through 2018.

Ranked a Tier 1 Best National University and recognized on the Top Online Education honor roll by U.S. News & World Report, Florida Tech has held a distinguished reputation since its founding in 1958. The university is also an established leader in the field of information technology and security, and is one of a select few universities certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research (CAE-R).

"Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and much more sophisticated," says Dr. Liam M. Mayron, Assistant Professor in the Harris Institute for Assured Information and the Department of Computer Sciences at Florida Tech. "As a result, cybersecurity specialists are in high demand. By bringing the information assurance and cybersecurity degree and certificate online, Florida Tech is opening the door for qualified professionals across the country to expand their knowledge and take advantage of these opportunities."

The Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity is designed to help professionals with technical backgrounds become highly qualified experts in the field. The curriculum, consisting of 11 courses, delves deep into the discipline on day one. Students will learn how to recognize threats and vulnerabilities by studying attack models, host and application security, network security, cryptography, and other topics while gaining the knowledge needed to understand the security of systems ranging from an individual terminal to an enterprise. The for-credit graduate certificate, consisting of four foundational courses, enables students to acquire post-baccalaureate knowledge and add a respected credential to their resume in as few as eight months; they can also apply credits earned toward Florida Tech's MSIA Cybersecurity degree if they decide to pursue one in the future.

Students enrolling in either Florida Tech program will follow the same curriculum as main-campus students, gaining advanced knowledge through highly interactive online courses led by industry experts. "Professionals wanting to increase their career opportunities and salary potential by continuing their education now have a very convenient way to do so," says Adrian Marrullier, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for University Alliance, Florida Tech's partner in online learning. "These programs enable people currently working in computer-related fields to continue fulfilling their work responsibilities while gaining respected credentials from a traditional university, 100% online."

Classes start every eight weeks, and no application fee or GRE is required. For enrollment information and more, visit www.FloridaTechOnline.com.

* USNews.com, U.S. Nukes Face Up to 10 Million Cyber Attacks Daily, March 2012
Forbes.com, 10 Million Cyberattacks A Day, August 2010

About Florida Tech

Florida Tech is a regionally accredited university that is world renowned for its distinguished faculty, comprehensive curriculum and unyielding innovation. Florida Tech is ranked a Tier 1 Best National University and is recognized within the Top Online Education honor roll by U.S. News & World Report. It is also rated by the Fiske Guide to Colleges and named in Barron's Best Buys in College Education. Founded in 1958, Florida Tech has more than 50,000 alumni. Its main campus is located on 130 subtropical acres in Melbourne, Florida, on the state's famous Space Coast.

About University Alliance

The University Alliance (UA) facilitates the promotion and online delivery of associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees as well as professional certificate programs from the nation's leading traditional universities and institutions. Powered by UA's technology and support services, its university partners have surpassed 450,000 online enrollments - making UA the largest facilitator of e-learning in the country. University partners include Villanova University, the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, Florida Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, the University of San Francisco, The University of Vermont, The University of Scranton, Jacksonville University, Dominican University, and New England College.

Contact Information:

Sandy Levine, VP of Marketing Services
Bisk Education/University Alliance Online
9417 Princess Palm Avenue, Tampa, FL 33619
813-621-6200, ext. 328

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SOURCE University Alliance