A Qualitative Analysis of Computer Security Education and Training in the United States

Abstract Ever since September 11th there has been an almost constant bombardment of articles written about the need for every aspect of security. The news stories are in newspapers, magazines, and on television. You just cannot pick up any medium and not find one. The resulting President's Critical Infrastructure Committee on homeland security has determined computer security education and training to be paramount for the security of America. This paper examines relevant literature about computer security education and training, examines similar programs at other community colleges, and proposes the creation of two certificate training programs, in criminal justice and computer protection. The authors then argue that these two programs are unlike any other program in the country. These two certificates present a two-headed attack to the problem in ways never approached by other community colleges, colleges, or universities. The paper then proposes logistical information and value added impact outcomes for implementing these certificates at St. Petersburg College. The authors conclude by looking at the future for computer security.