Despite recent economic downturns in the technology arena, there is a growing demand for well-educated computer professionals in information assurance.  Information assurance (IA) is a set of information operations that protect and defend information systems by ensuring confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, and non-repudiation.  In addition, IA incorporates protection, detection, and reaction capabilities which can be used to restore systems in the event of an attack or compromise.  Norfolk State University's (NSU) new M.S. degree program in computer science is quite unique in that it offers a specialization option in information assurance.   The graduate program began in the Fall of 2003 and has currently doubled it's enrollment while graduating nine students since it's inception.

In support of information assurance studies, the University also recently established the NSU Institute for Information Assurance Research (IIAR). Dr. Gregory Patrick (center), Assistant Professor of Computer Science, is the Center's Director.  The Institute will provide opportunities for students to learn about the theory and practice of IA.  It will also advance the discipline of information Assurance via research, and it will position NSU to be a national leader in IA research and education.

With national defense falling back on the home front in physical and information warfare, the citizens of the nation and the Commonwealth[1]  not only need security awareness, but also know-how, research and educational capability in information assurance. The Information Assurance program will address the nation's growing need for a diverse group of qualified computer and network security professionals.  In order to bring national recognition to our program, we will seek certification as a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (COEIAE)[2]. The [COEIAE] program goal is to reduce vulnerability in our National Information Infrastructure by promoting higher education in information assurance, and producing a growing number of professionals with IA expertise in various disciplines. Of the 36 universities nationwide that have attained COEIAE status, two Virginia universities (George Mason and James Madison) have been designated as COEIAEs. We aim to bring IA education to Virginia's growing southeastern region, and to be the country's first HBCU COEIAE.

[1] Public-Sector IT Staffing Survey: Shortages Persist for State and Local Governments, by Bill Keller,  Bill Rust, and Ned Frey, Gartner Report, Jan. 2002
[2] COEIAE, http://www.nsa.gov/isso/programs/coeiae/index.htm