Introducing new MSIT degrees
June 16, 2016 | Sikha Bagui, Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science | bagui@uwf.edu
The University of West Florida’s department of Computer Science is introducing a new Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) with two specializations: Cybersecurity and Database Management. The vision for this new MSIT degree is to give the working professional (as well as the traditional student) a scope for career change and advancement by getting an advanced degree in a STEM field. This degree is available completely online.
MSIT/Cybersecurity specialization
Students of the MSIT/Cybersecurity specialization will be able to plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. With the amounts of Cyber attacks increasing in every industry, those industries are going to need Information Security analysts - one of the main job titles for the MSIT, Cybersecurity specialization. Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 18 percent (faster than average) from 2014 to 2024. There were 82,000 jobs positions available for Information Security Analysts in 2014. (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm).
The industries that would employ Information Security Analysts would be:
- The health industry
- Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Wireless Telecommunications Carriers
- Monetary Authorities
- Data Process, Hosting and Related Services
- Among others…
MSIT/Database Management specialization
“Most companies today have plenty of data. Conversely, creating intelligence and gleaning real insight from this data is what continues to elude organizations.”(footnote: Competing on Analytics:The New Science of Winning, Thomas Davenport and Jeanne Harris)
Students of the Database Management specialization will administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. The most common job title for this specialization would be a Database Administrator. Again, database administrators will be needed in almost any industry. Employment of database administrators is projected to grow 11 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth in this occupation will be driven by the increased data needs of companies across the economy (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/database-administrators.htm.)
