Overview
Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute (JHUISI) Leads the Way in the Science and Technology of Security
Information security related to computer networking is one of the great challenges of the electronic age, from protecting business and personal data to securing state secrets. Digital communication is increasingly vulnerable as the world becomes more and more dependent on information systems and collaborative networks. The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Information Security Institute (ISI) seeks to identify and resolve security and privacy issues that affect public policy, commerce, technology, and civil and criminal legal matters.
The ISI, deemed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research (CAE-R), is the premier provider of educational programs, and leads the way in cutting-edge research in the foundational science. In addition, the institute is the key center for applying technology to the task of guarding our invaluable stores of data, the bits and bytes of information on which our commerce, culture, knowledge, and viability as a nation depend.
Degree Offerings Include Three Dual-Master Programs, with All Degrees at the Leading Edge of the Data Security Specialty
The Master of Science in Security Informatics (M.S.S.I.) degree is awarded upon completion of ten courses that earn 30 credits. All the courses required for the M.S.S.I. fall into one of four categories -- policy, health, technology, and management -- and the course programs are distributed across the categories in a specific, defined way.
Graduate students in the ISI must take and pass a minimum of four courses, worth at least 12 semester credits, in the technology category, and at least three of them must be in the "core technology" group, including a required core cryptography course. Students must also complete at least four core courses worth 12 credits in the policy category, with at least one of these being in health or management policy.
The graduate program comes to fruition in a project wherein an investigation addresses an approved topic in the field of information security and assurance from the "perspective of relevant applications." This means that a successful project must result in development and use of a "deliverable" product, accompanied by an in-depth report that meets the program standards for online publication.
There are also three dual-master's programs, one of which is combined with the Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) in Computer Science. The second combines with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, while the third is associated with the Bloomberg School of Public Health's Master of Health Sciences (M.H.E.) degree.
Renowned Educators and Leading Researchers Introduce ISI Graduate Students to Careers in Security, Research, Forensics
The dedicated and highly regarded faculty members in the ISI program are devoted to both areas of a wholistic education, lecture and laboratory. The research projects undertaken by graduate students in support of the faculty include such topics as applied cryptology, network security, security and privacy in computing, medical information privacy protection, software integrity and security, data privacy in information systems, intrusion detection and investigation, and network forensics, among many others. The relationships that develop between and among faculty, researchers, students, staff, and visiting experts are key in the formation of a career path for ISI program graduates.
Special Research Programs Prepare Students for Careers in Government and Research
Special research opportunities extend the curriculum into new and innovative areas at JHUISI. The RFID (radio frequency identification) Security Lab, part of the RFID Consortium for Security and Privacy, is a research program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that brings together RFID specialists to accelerate advances in security and privacy.
The NSF also funds the ACCURATE Research Center, a voting research program with participants from numerous institutions, as part of the NSF's Cyber-Trust initiative. Cryptography research at the Security and Privacy Applied Research Lab (SPAR) considers the design and implementation of cryptographic systems and protocols, while SPAR biometrics research seeks to improve upon classic authentication technologies by focusing on such dynamic individualized actions as keystrokes, voice patterns, and handwriting.
Scholarships, Grants, Loans, Awards, and Internships Offset the Cost of the ISI Program for Qualified Graduate Students
The JHU Information Security Institute offers the NSF-funded Scholarship for Service to qualified students. Scholarship for Service (SFS) is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's critical information infrastructure.
This program provides scholarships that fully fund the typical costs that students pay for books, tuition, and room and board while attending an approved institution of higher learning. Additionally, participants receive stipends of up to $12,000 for graduate students. The selected students are then obligated to serve in the federal government for a period equal to the scholarship terms (typically two years).
Each year the ISI also recommends candidates for the Department of Defense IASP Scholarship, which is also a service scholarship.
ISI graduate students may be eligible for graduate fellowships from different sources or for full or partial tuition waivers and stipends by taking part-time teaching and research assistantships. Other funding -- in the form of scholarships, grants, and awards -- is typically available from government agencies, private donors and corporations, and a variety of work-study, employment, and internship opportunities can also defray educational expenses.
Loan options may include the Federal Perkins Loan Program, the Federal Stafford Loan Program, and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, which are awarded to graduate students who have exhausted their eligibility for federal direct student loans. Financial need does not have to be demonstrated.
Baltimore Offers ISI Students a Balanced, Healthy, and Harmonious Life with Activities for Mind, Body, Soul, and Spirit
With a history of some 400 years, Baltimore, Maryland, is among the nation's oldest cities, as well as one of the most visited ones. The famous Inner Harbor offers fine dining, entertainment, and shopping right on the water, and is home to the National Aquarium and a variety of other attractions. The city is home to several championship professional sports franchises, and has a lively and ethnically diverse arts, music, and cultural scene.
A short drive into the Maryland countryside provides numerous and varied opportunities for recreation, hiking, camping, boating, and other seasonal adventures. A graduate student's life in Baltimore is one that can balance a serious, challenging academic undertaking with activities to keep the body, soul, and spirit as engaged as the mind.
