Network/Computer Security School

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello, I am seeking a school where I can get an undergraduate degree in Computer Security with a minor in Business Administration or vice versa. My father owns a small network security company here in Wisconsin, where I have been working for the past couple of years; he wants me to take over the business but will not do so until I have attained a degree. So I am looking for a school that will allow me to expand on my knowledge of Network Security/System Admin while at the same time learning about how to operate a company.</p>

<p>My Stats:
Graduated from HS in June 2011
UW GPA is 3.3
Class Rank 99/236
ACT Composite was 29 (I did bad in the English portion)</p>

<p>I would prefer a school in the Midwest, but would be willing to go South or East if need be. Right now I am completely lost, I don't know what schools offer what I am looking for and I really need help. Thanks</p>

2

<p>You can approach this one of two ways:</p>

<p>More technical: major in computer science in the engineering or arts/science division, taking courses in operating systems, networks, and security, among other things. Requires strong math ability as well as willingness to do a lot of computer programming. If the school you are looking at is not one of the top schools in CS (such as many of the midwestern flagships), look for [url=&lt;a href=“http://www.abet.org%5DABET%5B/url”&gt;http://www.abet.org]ABET[/url</a>] accreditation for its CS degree program. Business-relevant courses can be taken alongside.</p>

<p>Less technical: major in IT/MIS, usually offered in the business division. However, there is the risk of insufficient technical content, which you would have to learn on your own.</p>

<p>One option you may consider is to go to community college for two years. Then transfer to a state university to complete the desired degree. Look up the state universities to find out what community college courses would be needed to transfer.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the advice, I am excellent at mathematics and computer programming but I am not very good at reading/english. I know my GPA is pretty low, perhaps I should start at a community college and then transfer. But I still wouldn’t know where to transfer to, I have the University of Wisconsin Green Bay near my house…but I don’t think they are known for CS.</p>

4

<p>Many for-profit colleges advertise that major. Beware. Some will leave you will mountains of high interest rate debt and no credits that will be accepted by an accredited college.</p>

5

<p>For the future you have outlined I would advise against getting a CS degree. The type of things you can learn while studying CS are given on the page at [Considering</a> CS?](<a href=“http://cs.stanford.edu/degrees/undergrad/Considering.shtml]Considering”>Stanford University Undergraduate Major in Computer Science) Notably absent is anything about security or system administration. That’s because securing and administrating computers is typically done by those with an IS background. You can graduate with a CS degree from a top program like Stanford and know virtually nothing that you can use in a day-to-day job of securing and administrating a network.</p>

<p>I’m a little surprised that your dad, as the owner of a small business doing this type of work, hasn’t been able to give you more focused advice on the type of training you need. What I suggest you do is first find some other companies where you live in the same line of business and find out what they want to consider someone as a hire out of school; you’ll find out about the degree(s) and experience they look for. At the very least, you ought to aim to have the same.</p>

<p>My suggestion (and I’m not an expert in this, just my thoughts here) is to start by getting an associates degree in a networking field. See, for example, [Information</a> & Office Tech](<a href=“http://www.nwtc.edu/academics/degrees/business/information-officetech/Pages/NetworkSpecialist.aspx]Information”>http://www.nwtc.edu/academics/degrees/business/information-officetech/Pages/NetworkSpecialist.aspx) offered at a CC in your area. It would be helpful to look for programs that offer Cisco Certification, which are often available thru community colleges. See [IT</a> Certification - Cisco - Cisco Systems](<a href=“Cisco Training, Events, and Webinar Resources - Cisco”>Certifications - Training & Certifications - Cisco) for more info about these certificates. I don’t know if the CC in your area offers enough training for these certificates or if some other CC would be better; something you’ll need to look into.</p>

<p>At that point you’d know enough to be employable in the industry, but since you’re planning on running a small business I suggest you then go on to earn a 4-year degree in a business related area, such as something like <a href=“http://www.uwgb.edu/catalog/files/pdf/4yrplans/busadmin_management.pdf[/url]”>http://www.uwgb.edu/catalog/files/pdf/4yrplans/busadmin_management.pdf&lt;/a&gt; You may even be able to add in a minor in Information Technology.</p>

<p>Some UW campuses seem to offer a 4-year degree in IT such as <a href=“B.S. Computer Networking and Information Technology”>http://www.uwstout.edu/programs/bsitm/index.cfm&lt;/a&gt; Since you are considering starting at a CC you should contact them if you are thinking of getting a 4-year degree in IT instead of one in business to find out what they recommend doing (and where) at a CC. If you go this route I’d suggest adding a minor in business so that you have the tools needed to run a small business.</p>

<p>Lastly, all the schools I mentioned above have counselors both in admissions and in their academic departments. I suggest you set up meetings with them to get more specific advice on planning your future.</p>

6

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<p>Unfortunately, it is often the case that business-background IT/IS people have too little technical background to understand how to effectively manage and secure computers and computer networks.</p>

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<p>While true, this does not prevent a CS major from taking relevant elective courses, such as those in operating systems (often required anyway), networks, and security. And, given the choice of self-educating system administration from a CS background versus a business background, it is probably a lot easier to learn system administration from a CS background.</p>

<p>Of the University of Wisconsin non-flagship schools, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh have ABET-accredited CS degree programs.</p>

7

<p>

Agree 100%. That is why I earlier suggested finding a program that specifically offers training in networking and has classes leading to some of the Cisco certificates. For example the page at [Computer</a> Science/Information Technology [Los Angeles CC]](<a href=“http://www.lacitycollege.edu/academic/departments/csit/course_descriptions.html]Computer”>http://www.lacitycollege.edu/academic/departments/csit/course_descriptions.html) lists several Cisco Academy classes that provide the exact training needed for some of the certificates. Hundreds of other CCs offer classes like these.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for all your responses. The reason my Dad hasn’t been giving much advice, is because he never got any type of CS or IT degree himself, his highest level degree is an MBA from DePaul. He learned so much about computer security, and network infrastructure pretty much by himself as well as various jobs he took back when CS was in it’s infancy (when it was easier for someone to just pick up the trade).</p>

<p>I am definitely going to have to research the more about associates degree programs in my area and see what would give me the best possible stepping stone to higher education. Although most of the people within my dad’s company work from home, I could definitely also ask one of the guys where they got their degree from and what type of education they received to get to where they are today.</p>

9

<p>Note that there are different levels of Cisco certifications; the CCIE and higher ones are the ones that are generally respected.</p>