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Become a cyber cop
Investigate crimes online with Zayed University's new postgraduate programmes in information security. Maysam Ali reports
- Become a cyber cop
- Published: 00:05 June 8, 2008
Zayed University's (ZU) College of Information Technology will launch three postgraduate programmes in information security and digital crime investigation in October. The programmes will be offered in partnership with the George Washington University's (GWU) Department of Forensic Science in Washington, DC and will be offered at ZU's campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The programmes were announced during an awareness seminar held last week in ZU's Institute for Technological Innovation.
Relevance to the region
The UAE is one of the most wired countries in the Middle East; because of its technological advancement, it follows that information security is developing into a highly critical area. In fact, it is needed for the expansion of e-commerce and e-government services and the protection of critical information infrastructure of the UAE, said ZU officials.
"Dubai and the region are early information adopters," Dr Leon Jololian, acting dean, College of Information Technology, told Notes. "Everything that involves data in an organisation and wireless communication raises a question about security."
On the other hand, there is an IT skill shortage in the country, which will continue unless studied measures are taken to increase the supply, said Jololian.Most IT professionals worldwide have not been formally trained in IT security, he added.
Hence a Master of Science in Information Technology, with a specialisation in Cyber Security, a Graduate Certificate in Information Security and another in High Technology Crime Investigation were introduced.
The programmes
The master's degree is a two-year part-time programme, which focuses on the areas of information security, internet crime prevention and digital crime investigation. The in-class instruction for each course will be conducted on Thursday and Friday evenings, along with a daylong session on Saturday. Tutors will conduct both in-class and distance learning tuition.
The graduate certificates consist of four major courses each, conducted over a year. They focus on the fields of information security and digital crime investigation.
"The increase of high technology crime has generated a need for an investigator who can combine the science of information technology and forensic science with the art of investigations and critical thinking.
Today, any crime that involves a computer as a crime itself or as the storage place for evidence - may be part of an investigation," Jololian said.
Graduates from the ZU programmes should be able to investigate a variety of cases that include fraud, child exploitation, money laundering and more violent crimes.
Partnering GWU
Faculty from the Department of Forensic Science at GWU will visit ZU to tutor students. "GWU has specialised professionals who have a wealth of knowledge to share," Jololian said. The college will look into ways to fortify its relationship with GWU; with exchange programmes and distance learning, she said.
Admission
All students of all nationalities can apply for the programmes. This is relatively new at Z U, whose core undergraduate education is restricted to female UAE nationals. Applicants will be assessed according to their undergraduate degree and grades.
Students must have an undergraduate degree in information technology, computer science, information security, management information system, business or a related field from an accredited university. "Students with no technical background can still apply but they will have to take prerequisite courses before they start their postgraduate degree," Jololian said.
Students must have a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 2.5 or higher, and adequate English proficiency to suit the standard of the programme.
Those interested in this field or in specialising in one of the majors offered can apply for either a master's degree or a graduate certificate; the first course will commence in October and the deadline for applications is late September.
The university administration is expecting three cohorts of 20 students each to register for the courses by September. So prepare all the necessary documents if you find this academic qualification suitable for your future career.
Admission requirements
- Four-year baccalaureate degree in information security, computer science, information technology, or related field with a GPA of 2.5 or higher from an accredited university
- English proficiency 550 on the paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), 220 on the computer-based TOEFL, or 5.50 on ional English Language Testing System).
- Sponsorship and Reference Letters
- Photocopy of your passport
- Two passport-sized photos
- A current resume
- A completed application form
Tuition Fees
- For an M.S. in Information Security: Dh128,000
- For a Graduate Certificate in Information Security: Dh40,000
- For a Graduate Certificate in High Technology Crime Investigation: Dh40,000
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