Program Overview

The market for individuals with broad education in accounting and business plus a good understanding of the technological infrastructure supporting electronic commerce, and technical skills in the area of Information Assurance & Security has been steadily expanding. Recent threats posed to the Internet infrastructure and the businesses that depend on that infrastructure have increased the necessity for people with good assurance & security skills.

The information technology component of accounting firms has grown considerably faster than other related assurance practices in recent years. Currently, firms have been recruiting primarily computer science graduates for assurance practices in areas such as network security, intrusion analysis, operating systems assurance, network penetration audits, etc. However, there is a pressing need in accounting firms as well as in corporate America for candidates who have sufficient knowledge of accounting and business, but do not wish to pursue licensure as accountants.

Students graduating with an MBA and a concentration in Information Assurance can expect to begin careers in security & assurance related practices with Big-4 and other large accounting firms, large management consulting firms, information security & privacy consulting firms, as well as large national & international corporations with needs in the areas of information security, audit, and security. This program provides an avenue for students to gain education in the specialized area of information assurance.

The Curriculum

A typical program for a student accepted into full-time graduate study requires the completion

Of 61 credits (up to 10 credits are waivable) and taken four semesters to complete. Admission

is for the fall semester and is available to full-time students only.

First Year

In the first year of the MBA Program, students learn the fundamentals of business through courses in the discipline (economics, statistics, organizational behavior and information technology management) and in the functional areas (marketing, production and operations management, finance, human resources and accounting.) The first year of business culminates

with a globally orientated integrative case study. A typical schedule for the first year would include:

Fall Semester (Year 1)

BUS 523 Presentation Skills (1)

ITM 510 Visual Basic (1)

ITM 520 Database (1)

ITM 513 Business Statistics (3)

MGT 513 Organizational Behavior and Managerial Skills (3)

FIN 515 Economic Analysis (3)

ACC 518 Accounting For Managers (3)

Spring Semester (Year 1)

ITM 522 Information Decision Systems (3)

FIN 525 Financial Management (3)

MKT 522 Marketing Management (3)

MGT 514 Human Resources Management (3)

BUS 524 Global Business (4)

Second Year

The second year is comprised of specialized IS courses, using a highly team-orientated approach in develop professional skills.

Fall Semester (Year 2)

ACC 522 Statistical Analysis for Business Decisions (3)

ACC 681 Accounting Information Systems (3)

ACC 531 Introduction to Cost Analysis (3)

ITM 514 Operations Mgt (3)

Spring Semester (Year 2)

MGT 682 Strategic Management (3)

ACC 661 Auditing of Advanced Accounting Systems (3)

ACC 683 Advanced Topics in Accounting Information Systems (3)

ACC 680 Research Seminar in Accounting (3)

Elective (3)

Placement

Placement of our graduate is a high priority at Albany. Students receive individual assistance with their job searches and work closely with faculty and alumni to find the right position. Using a variety of methods including alumni/corporate events and an Internet web site, student qualifications are showcased to potential employers. Graduates have taken position at such firms as AT&T, Deloitte & Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PeopleSoft, The Hunter Group, Anderson Consulting, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Towers Perrin and Merck Pharmaceuticals. Respected business publications as well as the U.S. Department of Labor forecast that the number of AIS positions would increase substantially in the next decade.