Cyber Education Project Accreditation Committee November 2014

 Accreditation Committee Overview  Expectations of Members  What is Cyber Science?  ABET Background on Program Criteria  Thoughts about Program Criteria in Cyber Science  Process and Timeline  Discussion Outline

 WHO: Representatives from academia, industry, government, and other major stakeholder groups interested in the accreditation of cyber science programs.  STRUCTURE: Chair and co-chair, and both of these individuals will serve on the Cyber Education Project’s (CEP) Steering Committee.  NEW MEMBERS: Chair and co-chair will approve new members for service on the committee. The chair of the CEP Steering Committee can also appoint members to the Accreditation Committee.  INFORMATION: Members of the committee and their contact information shall be posted at the CEP website. Accreditation Committee Overview

 Develop draft ABET Program Criteria for Cyber Science. Intent is to encourage the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET to adopt these Criteria by working thru CSAB as the lead society.  Interface with CSAB and ABET. And other cooperating societies as they express interest.  Work closely with CEP’s Learning Outcomes Committee.  Share committee minutes with CEP’s Steering Committee and other CEP committees. Charge of Committee

Committee members will …  Support the Cyber Education Project’s goals.  Attend meetings when possible and also contribute to discussions via .  Share their expertise of Cyber Science, ABET, and CSAB to work toward producing the best possible draft Program Criteria for Cyber Science.  Provide feedback on draft Program Criteria. The Accreditation Committee will likely be needed for about three years. Expectations of Members

What is Cyber Science?

V1.0 d. l. s. 08/31/2014 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT © COPYRIGHT 2014 AND LATER, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Computing problem domain Adapted from ACM Computing Curricula 2005 (Overview Report, p ) The Computing Problem Domain

V1.0 d. l. s. 08/31/2014 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT © COPYRIGHT 2014 AND LATER, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Positioning Information Technology Adapted from ACM Computing Curricula 2005 (Overview Report, p ) The Information Technology Domain

V1.0 d. l. s. 08/31/2014 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT © COPYRIGHT 2014 AND LATER, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Positioning Information Systems Adapted from ACM Computing Curricula 2005 (Overview Report, p ) The Information Systems Domain

V1.0 d. l. s. 08/31/2014 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT © COPYRIGHT 2014 AND LATER, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Positioning computer science Adapted from ACM Computing Curricula 2005 (Overview Report, p ) The Computer Science Domain

V1.0 d. l. s. 08/31/2014 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT © COPYRIGHT 2014 AND LATER, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CS, IS, IT: differences and commonality CS & IS CS IS IT & CS IT IT & IS IT, CS, & IS Adapted from ACM Computing Curricula 2005 (Overview Report, p ) The Computing Problem Domains

V1.0 d. l. s. 08/31/2014 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT © COPYRIGHT 2014 AND LATER, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Cyber Science Domain?

 Cyber science is a computing-based discipline regarding the study of the construction, operation, analysis, and testing of secure computer, network, and communication systems. It includes aspects of law, policy, human factors, ethics, risk management, and other topics directly related to the success of the activities and operations dependent on such systems.  Differs from CS, IT, and IS in that its focus is on security and ramifications.  Current Program Criteria do not capture this discipline.  In the next few slides we examine what existing Criteria look like and explain they do not fit what we need for Cyber Science. What is Cyber Science?

 Assumption: Cyber Science as defined by CEP is a computing-based discipline; CSAB/CAC is the likely lead for this model.  Currently there are three programs under the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC):  Computer Science  Information Systems  Information Technology  All ABET programs accredited by the CAC must satisfy the General Criteria plus one of the Program Criteria.  Program Criteria is discipline specific.  One can view the Program Criteria as defining its discipline. ABET Background on Program Criteria

PROGRAM CRITERIA FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND SIMILARLY NAMED COMPUTING PROGRAMS Lead Society: CSAB [From ABET] These program criteria apply to computing programs using computer science or similar terms in their titles. 3. Student Outcomes The program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation: (j) An ability to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in design choices. [CS] (k) An ability to apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity. [CS] Program Criteria for CS

5. Curriculum Students must have the following amounts of course work or equivalent educational experience: Computer science: One and one-third years that must include:  Coverage of the fundamentals of algorithms, data structures, software design, concepts of programming languages and computer organization and architecture. [CS]  An exposure to a variety of programming languages and systems. [CS]  Proficiency in at least one higher-level language. [CS]  Advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [CS] Program Criteria for CS (cont.)

One year of science and mathematics: Mathematics: At least one half year that must include discrete mathematics. The additional mathematics might consist of courses in areas such as calculus, linear algebra, numerical methods, probability, statistics, number theory, geometry, or symbolic logic. [CS] Science: A science component that develops an understanding of the scientific method and provides students with an opportunity to experience this mode of inquiry in courses for science or engineering majors that provide some exposure to laboratory work. [CS] 6. Faculty Some full time faculty members must have a Ph.D. in computer science. Program Criteria for CS (cont.)

3. Student Outcomes The program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation: (j) An understanding of processes that support the delivery and management of information systems within a specific application environment. [IS] 5. Curriculum Students must have course work or an equivalent educational experience that includes: Program Criteria for IS

Information Systems: One year that must include: coverage of the fundamentals of a modern programming language, data management, networking and data communications, systems analysis and design and the role of Information Systems in organizations. [IS] advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [IS] Information Systems Environment: One-half year of course work that must include varied topics that provide background in an environment in which the information systems will be applied professionally. [IS] Quantitative analysis or methods including statistics. [IS] Program Criteria for IS (cont.)

6. Faculty Some full-time faculty, including those responsible for the IS curriculum development, must hold a terminal degree in information systems. Program Criteria for IS (cont.)

3. Student Outcomes The program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation: (j) An ability to use and apply current technical concepts and practices in the core information technologies. [IT] (k) An ability to identify and analyze user needs and take them into account in the selection, creation, evaluation and administration of computer-based systems. [IT] (l) An ability to effectively integrate IT-based solutions into the user environment. [IT] (m) An understanding of best practices and standards and their application. [IT] (n) An ability to assist in the creation of an effective project plan. [IT] Program Criteria for IT

5. Curriculum Students must have course work or an equivalent educational experience that includes: Coverage of the fundamentals of the core information technologies of human computer interaction, information management, programming, networking, web systems and technologies. [IT] information assurance and security. [IT] system administration and maintenance. [IT] system integration and architecture. [IT] Advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [IT] Program Criteria for IT (cont.)

Our goal will be to develop draft Cyber Science (CySc) Program Criteria The next slides, show some ideas in order to stimulate conversation What eventually become the CySc criteria will surely evolve alongside the work of the Learning Outcomes Committee What do Cyber Science Criteria Look Like?

3. Student Outcomes The program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation: (j) An ability to conduct a threat and vulnerability assessment of a system. [CySc] (k) An ability to perform tactical and strategic planning in the context of Cyber Science. [CySc] (l) An ability to conduct a forensic analysis of a cyber system using standard computing tools. [CySc] (m) An ability to perform reconnaissance of a network. [CySc] (n) An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities in the context of Cyber Science. [CySc] Sample Set of Program Criteria for Cyber Science

5. Curriculum Students must have course work or an equivalent educational experience that includes coverage of the fundamentals of:  Cyber attack and cyber defense. [CySc]  Information assurance and network security. [CySc]  Cryptography. [CySc]  Systems security engineering and system administration and maintenance. [CySc]  Wireless networks and electronic communications. [CySc]  An exposure to a variety of programming languages and operating systems. [CySc]  A mathematics component that must include discrete mathematics. [CySc]  Advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [CySc] Program Criteria for Cyber Science (cont.)

6. Faculty Faculty members must remain current in Cyber Science. Program Criteria for Cyber Science (cont.)

 Work closely with CEP’s Learning Outcomes Committee, using their work to help define or validate the criteria If / when CSAB decides to “take over”, work closely with the CSAB criteria.  Generate and iterate through versions of the Program Criteria, sharing that work with the Steering Committee.  Provide draft Program Criteria to the Lead Society (CSAB) for Cyber Science.  There will be a public comment period for the proposed Program Criteria.  We will revise the Program Criteria and submit for another period of public comment.  Conduct pilot visits with a version of the Criteria.  Timeline is roughly two to three years. Process and Timeline

 Questions and comments  Volunteers Discussion