How much weight in WGU's MSISA degree with 0 years of experience in Security?

Nyblizzard

Weighing my post graduate education options in NYC and was wondering if someone were to graduate with this degree with 0 years of Security experience, how much value would there really be in the degree?

ptilsen

It's always hard to say. It certainly won't hurt, but you probably won't see a short-term RoI, not that you really ever will, but for getting your first job in IT security it is really hard to argue that a master's degree adds value. Entry-level security jobs -- if there's really such a thing -- are going to go to any qualified candidate, and you don't need a graduate degree to qualify.

Now if you have IT experience but no security experience, I would argue a master's in IS is huge. It's a great way to break out of other IT and into security.

Either way, I generally think that in this field if a particular master's aligns with your goals, it's a good idea. Once you're past the question of if, it becomes a question of when. If you are currently not employed in IT at all and would be delaying employment by getting your master's, it is my position that when is not now. Nothing but professional experience qualifies you for IT work above entry-level. If you already have some experience, now might be a great time.