MIS 420: Information Security and Assurance Master Syllabus
Course Instructor:
Office Number:
Office Hours:
Email:
Course Meeting Times:
Mason Canvas
Mason Canvas: Getting Started for Students
Course Materials
- This course uses open educational resources (OERs). There is no book to purchase.
- All course materials are posted via Canvas course website.
Course Description
Covers technical concepts, and managerial and policy topics in information and cyber security. Lectures, reading, presentations, exercises, and examinations ensure that students have sufficient technical awareness and managerial competence related to information security and assurance. Examines the nature of threats and vulnerabilities, cryptography, software vulnerabilities, managing risk, and security controls.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to
- Articulate the role of cyber and information security.
- Explain the concepts, principles, and best practices in managing information security.
- Identify and analyze the common security threats and threat resources.
- Describe the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of information security measures.
- Design information security policies and procedures
- Evaluate information security policies and procedures against regulations and laws.
- Utilize cryptography to harden security.
- Identify the common vulnerabilities in areas, such as storage, database, network, operating system, software applications, and mobile devices.
Mason Core Learning Goals
- Students will understand the principles of information storage, exchange, security, and privacy.
- Students will become critical consumers of digital information; they will be capable of selecting and evaluating appropriate, relevant, and trustworthy sources of information.
- Students can use appropriate information technologies to organize and analyze information and use it to guide decision-making.
- Students will be able to choose and apply appropriate algorithmic methods to solve a problem.
MIS (Management Information Systems) Learning Goals
Students majoring in MIS concentration will master the following by graduation:
- Systems Design: Apply knowledge of information technology and business functions to assess, design, and improve business processes.
- Information Management: Develop data organization, storage, and processing solutions to support organizational needs for information management.
- Systems Analysis: Acquire an understanding of the systems development life cycle to effectively support business functions with system solutions.
BS Business Learning Goals
By the end of the BS Business program, students will master:
- Ethical Reasoning: Students will utilize ethical principles when making business decisions.
- Communication: Students will employ effective written and oral communication skills for professional business environments.
- Critical Thinking: Students will analyze, evaluate, and generate solutions using core business disciplinary knowledge.
- Global Perspective: Students will integrate global perspectives in making business decisions and recommendations.
- Data Analytics Skills: Students will apply analytical tools including AI to make data-informed decisions and recommendations.
- Concentration-Specific Knowledge & Skills: Students will utilize knowledge and skills appropriate for specialization in their concentrations.
Grading Policy
The letter grades are assigned based on the total number of points earned, not the percentage of possible points. No curving or rounding will be applied.
| Assignment | Value |
|---|---|
| Homework (1) | 4 points |
| Quizzes (12) | 48 points |
| Exam (2) | 30 points |
| Project (1) | 18 points |
| Total | 100 points |
| Grade Scale | |
|---|---|
| A+ | 98.00 and above |
| A | 93.00 to 97.99 |
| A- | 90.00 to 92.99 |
| B+ | 87.00 to 89.99 points |
| B | 83.00 to 86.99 points |
| B- | 80.00 to 82.99 points |
| C+ | 77.00 to 79.99 points |
| C | 70.00 to 76.99 |
| D | 60.00 to 69.99 |
| F | Below 60 |
Course Topics
| WEek/Date | Lesson |
|---|---|
| 1 | Lesson 0: Course Orientation and Requirements Lesson 1: Information Security and Assurance Overview |
| 2 | Lesson 2: Vulnerability Management and Risk Management |
| 3 | Lesson 3: Information Security Management and Data Management |
| 4 | Lesson 4: Security Defense Models and Laws |
| 5 | Lesson 5: Cryptography |
| 6 | Lesson 6: Identity & Access Management and Mobile Device Security |
| 7 | Exam #1 (Lesson 1 to 6) |
| 8 | Lesson 7: Network Security |
| 9 | Lesson 8: Operating System Security |
| 10 | Lesson 9: Software Security |
| 11 | Lesson 10: Data Security and Database Security |
| 12 | Lesson 11: Artificial Intelligence Security |
| 13 | Lesson 12: Cloud Security and Storage Security |
| 14 | Lesson 13: Physical Security |
| 15 | Exam #2 (Lesson 7 to 13) |
| Project |
To print: Right-click and choose “Print,” then follow your browser’s print settings.
To download: Right-click and choose “Print,” then select “Save as PDF.”