Capitol College welcomed its first cohort of doctoral students to campus today for the first of three residencies in the new doctor of science in information assurance program. The students will remain on campus through the weekend while they fulfill their residency course.
The course titled Situation Awareness Analysis and Action Plan Processes focuses on operational leadership, both from the long-term perspective and crisis intervention. Class activities are designed to enhance student awareness of action plan processes leading and effective strategy execution.
Today, the students were welcomed with a residency orientation and will later begin the process of selecting their dissertation topics. With the help of Dr. Helen Barker, Dr. David Ward, Dr. Audrey Andrews and Dr. Craig Johnson, the students will discuss their dissertation topics and have their ideas evaluated by the program’s faculty.
“I have had a fantastic experience at Capitol, and [the experience] has allowed me to stay ahead of the information assurance game,” said doctoral student James Hall, who has worked with Capitol's network security program in the past. “The network security degree opened many doors for me and I believe the IA doctorate will do the same.”
The proposed dissertation topics are wide ranging and deal with network security in the realms of government, healthcare, psychology and even law. After this weekend, students will have a clearer idea of their topics and will begin the demanding work involved with completing their dissertation.
The students were also welcomed by Capitol College President, Dr. Michael Wood; Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Vic Maconachy; and Vice President for College Advancement, Dr. Michael Gibbs, who shared their own doctoral experiences.
Because the degree is completed mostly online, the Capitol doctoral students traveled from as far as Stuttgart, Germany to complete their residency course. Capitol’s online format allows those living outside the Baltimore Washington, DC corridor to fulfill their doctoral requirements. The program is perfect for active military members stationed away from Capitol’s campus.
Capitol began offering the nation’s first full degree program in network security in 2001, and has expanded the program since to include a master’s degree and doctoral degree. Capitol is a DHS/NSA nationally designated Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.
For more information on Capitol’s doctorate program, follow this link.