Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Offered in Augusta, Bangor, UC Centers and Online
(Post-Baccalaureate Option Available)

The emerging field of Cybersecurity is based on an evolving discipline that involves the study of strategy, policy, and standards regarding the security of and operations in cyberspace.  Topics include threat reduction, vulnerability reduction, deterrence, international engagement, incident response, resiliency, and recovery policies and activities, including computer network operations, information assurance, law enforcement, diplomacy, military, and intelligence missions as they relate to the security and stability of the global information and communications infrastructure (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies).

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program will prepare you for career opportunities or advanced education in the Cybersecurity field including positions in security analysis, information assurance, digital forensics, intelligence, and cyber defense to name a few.  

With billions of dollars in global losses due to cybersecurity exploits, the need for trained experts is growing at an astonishing rate. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is predicting 37% growth in employment in the cybersecurity field by 2020. Graduates with a B.S. in Cybersecurity will be prepared to fill these new positions as well as a predicted gap in Maine’s IT workforce significantly improving the statewide prospect for excellence in the computer-based delivery of information security services. 

Available through a partnership between UMA, UMFK, UMaine, and USM, the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity incorporates a multidisciplinary perspective through a combination of courses that offer a holistic approach to cybersecurity education by providing the opportunity to take courses not only in computer science and technology but also in the humanities, social sciences and ethics (e.g. Crisis Communication, Human Communication Skills, Philosophy of Social Media, and Security).

The curriculum has been designed to meet the stringent academic standards of the NSA/DHS jointly sponsored Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense (CAEIA/CD) program. The B.S. in Cybersecurity is the first ever system collaborated degree program to be recognized by the CAEIA/CD. This NSA/DHS recognition program serves as the de facto accreditation standard for Cybersecurity.

Required courses can be taken completely online, or through a combination of live, online and ITV classes.  Students can enroll now in the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and classes will begin in the fall 2015 semester.  Contact UMA Enrollment Services at 1-877-UMA-1234.

UMA will host an information session about the new degree on Wednesday, May 27th at 4:00 PM.  Registration is recommended.

 

Cybersecurity Information Session

UMA will host an information session about the new degree on Wednesday, May 27th at 4:00 PM.

The session will be held in Katz Library room 16 on its Augusta campus and will be broadcasted live to the UMA Bangor campus and at all of the University College Centers.

Topics will include careers in cybersecurity, program curriculum, admissions requirements & application process. The event is free and open to the public.  

Registration is recommended, to register contact UMA Enrollment Services at 1-877-UMA-1234 or click on the link below.

Register now »

 

Like Us on Facebook

Check out the new UMA CIS Facebook page. Facebook isn't just for reuniting with old friends or planning events for weekend. This is a great opportunity for us to connect with all our CIS students as most of you are already using this medium. You can also visit this page by clicking on the Facebook icon from our program site < http://cis.uma.edu >

Please help us increase our social networking activity by liking and sharing our page. We look forward to sharing news and information about our program.

The UMA CIS Facebook page is currently being managed by a CIS student who is pursuing the Web Design and Development concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. Please email Diana Kokoska if you have something you would like to add to our Facebook page.

Out the New 2015-2016 Checksheets

When a new student enrolls in the CIS program, he/she is assigned the current checksheet which lists the courses and requirements that must be completed to earn the degree. When changes are made to the degree requirements, a current student may choose to adopt the new checksheet or continue with the assigned checksheet.

It is important, however, to note that once a student has adopted a "new" checksheet, he/she may not revert to the "old" checksheet.

Listed below are the changes in the 2015-2016 checksheet:
Removed from the Core

1. CIS220 Hardware and Software
2. BUA/CIS303 Management Information Systems
3. CIS212 Visual Basic

1. CIS110 Programming Fundamentals
2. CIS221 Unix
3. 200-level or higher CIS or ISS elective

You may want to see how these changes would affect your degree progress. If you have questions about the advantages and disadvantages of switching to the new checksheet, please contact your academic advisor.

CIS110 Programming Fundamentals

CIS221 Unix

This course introduces students to the Unix operating system. The course covers a number of application programs that have come to be part of Unix, including editors, electronic mail processing programs, and message-passing programs. An introduction to Unix system administration, including process and user management, will be presented. Students will work with Unix in a multi-user computer environment. The prerequisite is CIS101 Introduction to Computer Science.

During the spring 15 semester, three CIS students designed and developed program Web sites for Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Architecture. These will be hosted on servers administered by the CIS program on the Advanced Computing Group's (ACG) supercomputer in Orono. Each program site will have a unique Web address, such as

programs.uma.edu/da
programs.uma.edu/cis

Web Developer/Content Manager Needed

Are you an aspiring Web professional with good writing and basic Web design skills? Are you interested in gaining hands-on experience in the field? We need you to manage these new sites. Depending on your eligibility, this could be a workstudy position or a volunteer position, where you could earn a free class.

The ideal candidate will be a freshman/sophomore level who has taken CIS131 Web Design and Development or has equivalent skills who may be interested in continuing in the position and accept increased levels of responsibility as the student's skills develop.

Please contact Diana Kokoska, Coordinator of the CIS program, for more information about applying for this position.

Distinguished CIS Program Students

The CIS program graduates on average 14 students each academic year in the associate, bachelor, and post bac degree programs. Each and every student deserves to be recognized for his/her accomplishments, and we congratulate each of you for your personal achievement. With a blockbuster number of graduates -- 39 students applying to graduate in December, May, or August -- selecting a Distinguished CIS Student to recognize for academic excellence and/or University service was not an easy task. With students taking classes in Augusta, Bangor, at sites and centers, and online, so many students made an impression we decided to recognize as many students as possible at each of the graduation events.

The following students were individually recognized at various ceremonies:

In Augusta

• Maria Irrera
• Robert Wilcox

• Shaun Bourque
• Marcus Murchison

• Nellie Burns

Congratulations, Nathaniel (Nate) LaClaire

Each year, the University selects a Distinguished UMA student who demonstrates academic excellence, University service, and community engagement. This is the first year that a CIS student has received this award, and the faculty and students in the CIS program are proud to have "one of their own" selected.

Nathaniel (Nate) LaClaire - Commencement, May 9, 2015

As part of the nomination process, the CIS faculty submitted a package highlighting Nate's technical skills, service and support to the CIS program and the University, and his community contributions.

Although he has exceptional technical skills, it is not so much WHAT he does, but HOW he does it that is so impressive. His humor, humility, positive attitude, leadership skills, and constant professionalism make him the ideal candidate for this award.

We asked a faculty, an administrator, a student and an employer to describe their interactions with Nate. We hear over and over from prospective employers how important "soft skills" are to career success! This is where Nate truly excels! The following quote from employer, Kelly Rickert, Director of Workforce Development - Office of Information Technology, says it ALL:

His performance has been absolutely stellar and he is an exemplary professional. He is a shining star and the quality of his work is absolutely flawless. He pays attention to details and is self-motivated, often managing his own workflow to the point of sheer amazement. Few have the technical skills, professionalism, soft skills, leadership skills, and excellent ability to relate to others all bundled in a package as Nate does.

He is a “quiet giant” and I am not sure he even understands the greatness and magnitude of his talents. He contributes to our office by adding a sense of professionalism, and a high level of enthusiasm and energy that is contagious.

He constantly promotes others, highlights the work of team players, and humbly goes about effortlessly executing some of the most complex projects.

CONGRATULATIONS, NATE!

Although no one seems to have a foolproof solution to the problem, many suggest forming a dynamic community of women and girls from diverse backgrounds who are committed to transforming the culture of computing and technology. This is the mission of Mainely Tech Women -- an outgrowth of the systemwide Student Success Committee, that is comprised of successful women and aspiring technology professionals.

This group meets monthly at convenient locations throughout the State and provides distance access to its meetings. We are always seeking new members who are interested in sharing experiences and providing positive connections.

Current members and student volunteers are developing a digital presence with a Web site and Facebook page (Coming soon). If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Bridget Stuart at bridget.stuart@maine.edu to be added to our membership list.

On Friday, May 1, the CIS program had a fun-packed day starting with internship presentations in the morning, the annual CIS picnic at noon, and E-Commerce presentations in the afternoon.

Spring 2015 Internships

During the spring semester, 17 CIS students applied their technical skills at internship positions in a number of public and private business throughout the state of Maine. As part of the experience, students were given an opportunity to present their IT project to organizational mentors, faculty mentors, and other students. After watching some of the presentations, the CIS faculty only wished that they could participate in one of these exciting internship opportunities.

Annual CIS Picnic

It's nice to know our students don't actually look like this in person!" Te He

At lunch, CIS students, faculty, and guests enjoyed a family-style picnic with Chef Henry Felch in charge of the BBQ grill. This was a pot-luck event with everyone bringing something to grill and a side dish to share. Professor Mark Goodridge made a delicious moose chilli and Professor Whitsel's wife baked her legendary cookies.

We would like to thank Natasha Moiseenko, UMA alumni, for all of her hard work organizing and setting up for the event.

This was a great opportunity for online faculty and students to meet face to face for the first time. Students have an advantage -- they often get to see or hear the faculty in class videos, but faculty usually only have e-mail communications or telephone conversations to form a mental picture of the student! It's great to know they don't actually look like the image we had imagined when they called us all stressed out.

E-Commerce Presentations

In the afternoon, students in the CIS438 E-Commerce class presented their group projects to a panel of Web design and development professionals from the UMA community.

Throughout the 15-week class, the students developed individual demonstration sites and worked in Web Design Teams to design and develop a Drupal-powered e-commerce site. Most groups were comprised of members who did not know each other prior to the team project. Students learned to accommodate each other's schedules, share digital files, and communicate online.

The presentations included three very unique E-Commerce sites:

• A brew pub site (Welcome to Bubba Dog Brew Pub!)
• A Roller Derby site (Bangor Roller Derby)
• A print media site (We Photo It)

The students did an excellent job of presenting the sites and were given comments and suggestions from the expert panelists.

We were all disappointed that there were no samples :(