2017 RCB CIS Fall Graduate Rankings Brochure

Department of Computer Information Systems Preparing talented and diverse students to lead in big data analytics, enterprise systems and cybersecurity.

Diverse Students, Diverse Programs Housed in a renowned business school that excels at research and teaching, Robinson’s CIS Department prides itself on preparing a diverse student body for jobs at the world’s leading companies. While many of our students have an average of 4 years experience in the IT industry, our programs welcome and support students from non-traditional backgrounds and those that come from non-technical fields. Our programs embed a two-semester field study, so students enter the workforce with significant work experience. Robinson also offers an accessible, highly inclusive program for women. Over the last two years, 42% of students in our cybersecurity concentration have been women. Georgia State University is a national model for student success. We have eliminated achievement gaps based on race, ethnicity and income.

Our programs include MSIS degree concentrations in Big Data Analytics, Enterprise Systems and Cybersecurity. Robinson also offers a Master of Science in Information Systems Audit and Control focused on enterprise-wide approaches for managing growing international risks and emerging regulations.

Focus on Cybersecurity The Global Cybersecurity Industry is Booming and Georgia is a Hub For years, there has been an extreme shortage of qualified information technology (IT) professionals as the field experiences explosive growth. Among all IT jobs, those in cybersecurity are often the hardest to fill, creating unparalleled career opportunities for qualified professionals.

Despite increased hiring, the shortage of cybersecurity professionals is growing. Frost & Sullivan predicts a global workforce gap of 1.8 million by 2022, of which 265,000 of these positions will be located in North America. In fact, the global unemployment rate for cybersecurity professionals is 2%, and job satisfaction is 81%.

Georgia is at the heart of a tech revolution and, according to Forbes, is a leading contender in the race to become the world’s cybersecurity capital. The state is home to 115+ information security companies, with the vast majority located in metro Atlanta.

Tech-focused Cybersecurity Programs Are Not Enough At Robinson, we understand cybersecurity is a multi-dimensional problem. With this in mind, the Computer Information Systems (CIS) Department focuses on ensuring our students are capable of managing solutions at the intersection of technology and people. Students possess knowledge that achieves cyberspace resiliency, improves attack prediction and prevention, and develops new defenses. Maintaining a holistic picture of a digital enterprise and the ever-evolving threat landscape allows our students to find jobs at a large range of organizations.

Cybersecurity at Robinson Robinson’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) produces graduates who can combine business knowledge with the latest information systems tools and techniques. Our cybersecurity concentration takes a deep dive into network security and hacking, risk management, protecting information assets, and advanced topics in cybersecurity.

The Center for Research in Information Security and Privacy (CRISP) is a focal point for research in cybersecurity and privacy at Georgia State. The center promotes world-leading, multidisciplinary research across campus and is dedicated to research that seeks to understand and help shape the complex development, use and social effects of emerging cybersecurity technologies and policies. Members of the center include CIS faculty and those from departments in criminology, computer science, psychology, mathematics and statistics, communication and law.

Robinson’s CIS program offers a virtual lab that takes experiential learning to new heights. Through our virtual lab, our students have direct experience with industry-leading tools of the trade. We created a virtual infrastructure in which students can use real hacking and defense tools in a controlled environment insulated from the internet.

We plan to double our virtual infrastructure investment this year to further enhance the student experience.

Top-Ranked CIS Programs

World-Class Faculty

#10

More Robinson faculty members have received the Association for Information Systems’ LEO Award for Lifetime Achievement than any university in the world.

undergraduate program

#11

graduate program (U.S. News & World Report, 2017)

Our faculty include scholars with doctorates from schools such as Harvard, M.I.T., Cornell, Indiana and N.Y.U. Many hold endowed chairs or professorships.

Notable Facts 100%

of cybersecurity students received multiple job offers

CIS Department Research Productivity #1

cybersecurity firms call Georgia home

in the world based on publications in AIS “senior scholar” basket of six journals

45+

#3

42%

in the world for publications in MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research

115+

number of years CIS programs have been offered at Robinson

of cybersecurity MSIS students are women, compared to an 11% industry average

Notable Faculty Supporting Cybersecurity Richard Baskerville is the author of more than 200 articles in scholarly journals and books. He received honorary doctorates from Roskilde University, Denmark and University of Pretoria, South Africa, and he is the fourth Robinson recipient of the LEO Award.

Curtis A. Carver Jr. is a renowned cybersecurity expert who has been voted Top Professor by three recent MSIS cohorts. He is a frequent keynote speaker having previously held key leadership positions at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and serving as vice chancellor and chief information officer for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

Murthy Rallapalli brings more than two decades of IT experience to CIS and teaches courses on cybersecurity and big data analytics.

He is a recipient of a Fulbright Specialist award in the area of cloud computing and information security.

Barry West, Executive-in-Residence, teaches cybersecurity courses and provides advice on cybersecurity initiatives and curricula. He serves as Deputy CIO for the Department of Homeland Security, where he oversees cybersecurity and IT infrastructure operations.

Dmitry Zhdanov is an information security scholar who combines an active research agenda with passion for program building and student success. He is actively working to expand the role of cybersecurity at Georgia State. He has been voted Top Professor by the 2017 MSIS Cybersecurity cohort. He co-authored an MIS Quarterly curation on Securing Digital Assets, among other intellectual contributions and editorial assignments.

Georgia State University #4

most innovative university in the nation

#8

best undergraduate teaching in the nation

#11

most diverse university in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report, 2017)

(My Vision Research University Rankings, 2014-16)

Student & Alumni Spotlights Shadricka Walker, 2018 master degree candidate majoring in Cybersecurity and the winner of the Bergeron Women in Technology Leadership Scholarship.

“I was attracted to the CIS department because of its distinguished faculty, flexible curriculum; and mentorship, internship and leadership development opportunities. My student experience has been truly unforgettable and has shaped me in profound ways. I had a chance to lead an organization called Women in Technology and landed a highlycompetitive internship at Mercedes-Benz USA.” Sumedha Iramani, 2017 CIS graduate who majored in Big Data and Analytics.

“I chose Robinson because of the collaborative culture and experiential learning. My professors challenged us to ask the right questions and find the best solutions, which made all my classes highly interactive. The diversity of my classes also inspired creativity and prepared me to work in an increasingly multicultural and global world. The Center for Career Advancement was also a great resource for networking, resume writing and mock interviews, and upon graduating, I joined McKinsey & Company as a Senior Data Analyst.”

P.O. Box 4015 Atlanta, GA 30302-4015

The Robinson Advantage Top-ranked and World-class Programs The Computer Information Systems (CIS) Department at the Robinson College of Business offers top-ranked programs taught by world-class faculty that push the boundaries of traditional classrooms and conventional ways of delivering content. CIS classes focus on experiential learning so students complete deliverables that solve real-world problems to drive smarter decisions and better outcomes.

Exceptional Job Placement When it comes to computer information systems, we graduate the best and the brightest. Robinson’s CIS students have obtained many internationally recognized certifications including CISSP, CISA, CISM, CEH and CCSP and often receive at least one job offer by graduation. Last year, all of our cybersecurity graduate students received multiple job offers. Our employers include: Amazon, Boeing, Boston Consulting Group, Capgemini, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Delta, Ernst & Young, First Data, Georgia-Pacific, Home Depot, KPMG, McKinsey & Company, Mercedes-Benz, PwC and SunTrust Banks.

The Robinson College of Business is a community of students, educators and professionals who specialize in discovering insights that drive smarter business decisions. More Georgia executives hold advanced degrees from the Robinson College of Business and Georgia State University than from any other school in the nation. Our programs are designed to push beyond the classroom and offer experiences that bridge the gap between business education and the business world.

cis.robinson.gsu.edu