The Master of Science in Information Technology Auditing and Cyber-Security (ITACS) at the Fox School of Business is aligned with the curriculum set forth by ISACA, the international governing organization for IT assurance that designs and awards the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification.
Officially aligning with the organization responsible for the CISA designation is important, ITACS Director Richard Flanagan said. One great benefit is that graduates of Temple’s ITACS program are required only two years of work experience before they can earn their CISA designation from ISACA, instead of the usual five years.
“It’s a big deal,” Flanagan said. “Information systems have become increasingly important to businesses, and firms sometimes spend more on information systems staff than any other department. What students are learning at Fox is what ISACA thinks they should be learning.”
The ITACS program began in January 2012. For 10 months, students from around the world learn to assess, manage and control IT risks while preparing for the CISA exam.
The strengths of the ITACS program and its faculty benefit undergraduate students, too. It was with the help of Flanagan that Kazuhiko Koyanagi, a management information systems and accounting double major, won a $2,500 Fall 2011 tuition scholarship from the Philadelphia chapter of ISACA for his essay, “Secure Mobile Device Management in This Information-Driven Era.” Koyanagi was recognized for the accomplishment in June 2012.
In addition, the ITACS program is now recognized by the U.S. government as a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degree, which means that international students are granted 17 additional months of Optional Practical Training, which allows them to work at U.S. firms without needing a special visa.
“Our international students can now work for almost two and a half years for an American company before needing sponsorship,” Flanagan said.
