Update: Penn State World Campus - MPS Cyber & Info Assurance
jamthat
Member Posts: 304 ■■■□□□□□□□
I said I'd provide some updates with this program as I went, so here's a brief recap of what I've done since my last post.
Courses I've taken/am taking since then:
Complete:
IST456 - Information Security Management
I don't really remember much about this (I took a semester off after it), but I remember thinking "man, this is like an undergraduate course", then realizing there were also undergrads in the course with me.
In Progress:
IST815 - Foundations of Information Security and Assurance
This is the program's "CISSP prep course", so to speak.....which is based off of the old CBK. I was pretty bummed going into it, expecting it to be meh, but the professor is awesome. If you're in this program and have the option to take Dr. Cole (Robert) for any course, do it. Extremely smart guy who is not just an academic - he has a ton of technical experience and will challenge you, then provide solid feedback. He also updated the course content to align with current information, which he didn't officially have to do and is much appreciated. It's a lot of work, but I'm learning a lot and liking it. This is what I feel like all graduate courses should be.
IST816 - Web Fundamentals
This course is, for some reason, required for my program. Nothing to do with security and feels like an undergrad elective course. Unnecessary amount of work (both group and individual) and no real constructive feedback on assignments (easy A, atleast). This should absolutely be replaced with something that is more relevant to the field - I feel like it is a complete waste of money. /rant
So far - overall, I'll give the program an A for 'completability', an A for 'school/name recognition', and a C for 'value' (if paying out of pocket)
Courses I've taken/am taking since then:
Complete:
IST456 - Information Security Management
I don't really remember much about this (I took a semester off after it), but I remember thinking "man, this is like an undergraduate course", then realizing there were also undergrads in the course with me.
In Progress:
IST815 - Foundations of Information Security and Assurance
This is the program's "CISSP prep course", so to speak.....which is based off of the old CBK. I was pretty bummed going into it, expecting it to be meh, but the professor is awesome. If you're in this program and have the option to take Dr. Cole (Robert) for any course, do it. Extremely smart guy who is not just an academic - he has a ton of technical experience and will challenge you, then provide solid feedback. He also updated the course content to align with current information, which he didn't officially have to do and is much appreciated. It's a lot of work, but I'm learning a lot and liking it. This is what I feel like all graduate courses should be.
IST816 - Web Fundamentals
This course is, for some reason, required for my program. Nothing to do with security and feels like an undergrad elective course. Unnecessary amount of work (both group and individual) and no real constructive feedback on assignments (easy A, atleast). This should absolutely be replaced with something that is more relevant to the field - I feel like it is a complete waste of money. /rant
So far - overall, I'll give the program an A for 'completability', an A for 'school/name recognition', and a C for 'value' (if paying out of pocket)
Comments
What's up next for you? I only have 3 courses left but we should see if we can line one up. Left for me are 852, 555, and 885.. Then capstone