Alfred State College Announces New 4-Year Program in Computer Security

Alfred State College
officials are pleased to announce the approval by SUNY (State University of New
York) and the NY State Education Department of a new bachelor of technology
(BTech) program in computer security, Information Security and Assurance, which
will begin accepting students for the spring 2009 semester.

Austin
Cheney, dean, School of Management and Engineering Technology, where the
program is housed, notes, "Alfred State has information technology faculty
with unique experiences relating to the specialized subfield of cybersecurity.
In fact, one of our faculty members was a leader of information security for
the White House! It's wonderful to be able to offer this program, another that
capitalizes on the excellent credentials of our faculty."

The
information security and assurance program stresses laboratory, hands-on
training and a comprehensive internship experience. The combination of the
various skill areas, general education, and selected electives prepares
graduates for gainful employment in this expanding career field.  The
curriculum includes information security, security tools, security management,
network and host security, legal issues in security, enterprise recovery
planning, and security policies and risk management as well as related
electives.  Alfred State has designed its
information security and assurance degree program to meet the standards of the
United States National Security Agency training standards for information
security programs (INFOSEC) professionals.

Alfred
State provides over 1,600 computers and a 2:1 student-to-computer ratio. The
campus is equipped with a wire­less network that provides network access using
laptops in and out of the classroom. The Information Technology Department
maintains six computer labs which are upgraded regularly for use in providing
hands-on training. The network admin­istration program uses three of the labs
to provide students with experience performing common networking tasks.
Virtualization technology is used so that students can work with several
"virtual computers" at one time. This gives each student the ability to create
com­plex "virtual networks" using cutting-edge technology. Sixteen
enterprise-class Cisco routers and switches are
available
for student use in the CiscoAcademy lab. Alliances with Microsoft Corp. and
VMware provide students with free software for educational use. Classroom
instruction is enhanced by the use of computer projection equip­ment in all of
the department's class­rooms.

Information
security and assurance majors take
15 to 18 credit hours per semester and spend approximately 20 hours per week in
the classroom or lab. Average class size is under 25 with most networking
classes limited to 16. Many students are also involved in campus organizations,
including the department's student chapter of the Association for Computing
Machinery (ACM). Some students also gain valu­able experience by working for
the col­lege's Technology Services Department.

Because
organizations of all types and sizes need information security and assurance
specialists, gradu­ates
will be able to find employment working as systems administrators, network
technicians, Web server administrators, and LAN specialists. More than
two-thirds of ASC students accept job offers before they have completed their
final semes­ter internships. Others have chosen to go on to graduate school.

For additional information about this exciting new field, contact the Alfred
State College Admissions Office at 1-800-4-ALFRED or (607) 587-4215 or visit
the academic program page
on our Web site.