Education Detail

Doctor of Philosophy

Computer and Information Sciences
- Information Science
4.0 GPA
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
2024

Education Specialist

Information Science and Learning Technologies
- Educational Technology
4.0 GPA
University of Missouri
2016

Master of Science

Information Systems Security
4.0 GPA
University of the Cumberlands
2020

Master of Engineering Management

3.63 GPA
Saint Martin's University
2006

Bachelor of Science

Major: Management Information Systems
Minor: Psychology
3.147 GPA
University of Tampa
1985

Associate of Applied Science

Major: Information Systems Management
Community College of the Air Force
1989

Associate of Applied Science

Major: Work Center Management
Community College of the Air Force
1984

Doctoral Research Dissertation

EXPLORATION OF THE GAP BETWEEN THE SECURE WEB APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCIES NEEDED BY INDUSTRY AND THOSE COMPETENCIES PROVIDED BY GRADUATES OF U.S. UNDERGRADUATE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROGRAMS

Abstract:
Literature demonstrates that threats and attacks on computer systems and networks have been around since the beginning of computing, and the number, severity, sophistication, and costs of attacks and data breaches are continuing to grow. Several studies suggest that one of the most common causes of data breaches is insecure web applications that contain vulnerable application code. These studies suggest that poor secure web application development practices are a prime cause of the susceptible web applications. Additionally, studies suggest that higher education is not meeting industry's secure software/web application development needs. Employers have reported that they are not getting the employees with the necessary secure web application development mitigation knowledge and skills. The literature demonstrates there is a secure web application development skills gap between industry needs and the web application development skills graduates of U.S. undergraduate software engineering programs are bringing to organizations. This research study addresses this lack of secure web application development skills of graduates that are greatly needed by industry. The purpose of this study is to help reduce this skills gap. The research methodology selected for this study is the qualitative research approach because it has been used successfully for studies involving security and privacy and can help address the 'how' and 'what' in research questions. This study started with an extensive literature review that demonstrated several important factors that established a solid foundation for the study. From this foundation, the collection and analysis of data from two data sources was planned and executed. The data collection was accomplished by qualitative document reviews, and conceptual content analysis was used for analysis. The first data source, job advertisements, was analyzed to identify the level of secure web application development competencies organizations are requesting from potential employees. The second data source, academic curricula, was analyzed to identify the level of secure web application development competencies included in undergraduate software engineering/web development programs. The results of the analysis from the two data sources were compared to provide any corroboration or insights into how the secure web application development competencies in job postings correspond with undergraduate software engineering program curricula. There were 341 job advertisements and 156 undergraduate software engineering/web development program curricula analyzed. The results showed the level of intensity at the bottom 4 percent for job advertisements and bottom 13 percent for academic curricula. The extremely low intensity level results suggest that emphasis on secure software/web development competencies is low within both datasets. Employers are not including much of these skill requirements in job advertisements and higher education institutions are not including much of this content in their software engineering/web development programs. In addition, there appears to be a relationship between the two results due to the low levels of secure development intensity of both datasets. However, this cannot be proven because job advertisements are only one of several methods that are used to identify industry needs by higher education institutions. Based on the results of the study, several recommendations and a Secure Web Application Development Curriculum Model was developed and proposed. The goal of the recommendations and Curriculum Model is help generate more web developers with greater secure software/web development competencies. The Curriculum Model can help establish active communication and collaboration between industry and educational institutions. This could help to create academic curricula with secure development competencies integrated throughout the entire program. Overall, this could help bridge the gap between the secure web application development competencies needed by industry and those competencies provided by graduates of U.S. undergraduate software engineering programs, and help address current and future threats and vulnerabilities in software and web applications.

Link to Dissertation:
https://www.proquest.com/docview/3144736881/

Graduate Courses Completed (194 Semester Hours)

Graduate Studies Include

Information Technology: 52 Graduate Semester Hours
Information Security: 40 Graduate Semester Hours
Business Administration/Management: 25 Graduate Semester Hours
Education: 18 Graduate Semester Hours
Doctoral Research: 42 Graduate Semester Hours
Other: 17 Graduate Semester Hours

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

BINS-5351, Data Analysis and Reporting, 3 Sem Hours
CSEC-7192, Foundations of Cybersecurity, 3 Sem Hours
CSEC-7320, Cybersecurity Operations, 3 Sem Hours
IFSC-5345, Information Visualization, 3 Sem Hours
IFSC-7360, Data Protection and Privacy, 3 Sem Hours
IFSC-7192, Graduate Seminar 1, 1 Sem Hour
IFSC-7192, Graduate Seminar 2, 1 Sem Hour
IFSC-7192, Graduate Seminar 3, 1 Sem Hour
IFSC-9600, Doctoral Research / Dissertation, 6 Sem Hours
IFSC-9700, Doctoral Research / Dissertation, 7 Sem Hours
IFSC-9700, Doctoral Research / Dissertation, 7 Sem Hours
IFSC-9700, Doctoral Research / Dissertation, 7 Sem Hours
IFSC-9700, Doctoral Research / Dissertation, 7 Sem Hours
IFSC-9800, Doctoral Research / Dissertation, 8 Sem Hours

University of the Cumberlands

ISOL-531, Access Control, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-532, Telecommunications and Network Security, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-533, Information Security and Risk Management, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-535, Cryptography, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-536, Security Architecture and Design, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-631, Operations Security, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-632, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-633, Legal Regulations, Compliance, and Investigation, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-634, Physical Security, 3 Sem Hours
ISOL-699, Information Security Project, 1 Sem Hour
ITS-831, Information Technology Importance in Strategic Planning, 3 Sem Hours
ITS-832, Information Technology in a Global Economy, 3 Sem Hours
ITS-833, Information Governance, 3 Sem Hours
ITS-834, Emerging Threats and Countermeasures, 3 Sem Hours
ITS-835, Enterprise Risk Management, 3 Sem Hours
ITS-836, Data Science and Big Data Analytics, 3 Sem Hours
DSRT-734, Inferential Statistics in Decision Making, 3 Sem Hours
DSRT-736, Dissertation Seminar, 3 Sem Hours
LEAS-830, Leadership in Theory and Practice, 3 Sem Hours

University of Missouri

ISLT-7310, Mobile Web Applications Development, 3 Sem Hours
ISLT-7361, Introduction to Digital Media, 3 Sem Hours
ISLT-7370, Intermediate Web Development, 3 Sem Hours
ISLT-9455, Summative and Formative Evaluation, 3 Sem Hours
ISLT-9467, Technology to Enhance Learning, 3 Sem Hours
ISLT-9471, Instructional Systems Design, 3 Sem Hours
ISLT-9484, Teaching Online Courses, 3 Sem Hours
ISLT-9485, Designing and Implementing Online Courses, 3 Sem Hours
ESCPS-7170, Introduction to Applied Statistics, 3 Sem Hours

Wilmington University

IST-7000, Data Management, 3 Sem Hours
IST-7020, Analysis, Modeling, and Design, 3 Sem Hours

Nova Southeastern University

DISS-720, Human Computer Interaction, 4 Sem Hours
DISS-750, Database Systems, 4 Sem Hours

Eastern Michigan University

EM-580, Engineering and Enterprise Integration, 2 Sem Hours
QUAL-546, Total Quality Management, 2 Sem Hours
QUAL-552, Quality Planning, 2 Sem Hours

Saint Martin's University

MEM-611, Systems Design, 3 Sem Hours
MEM-612, Systems Controlling, 3 Sem Hours
MEM-610, Systems Engineering Management and Planning, 3 Sem Hours
MEM-670, Personnel Administration, 3 Sem Hours
MEM-690, Thesis, 3 Sem Hours
MBA-502, Survey of Finance, 3 Sem Hours
MBA-601, Organizational Theory and Behavior, 3 Sem Hours
MBA-603, Managerial Accounting, 3 Sem Hours
MBA-606, Marketing Concepts, 3 Sem Hours

University of Southern California

EDCI-530, Seminar in Curriculum and Instruction, 3 Sem Hours

City University

MI-513, Information Resource Management, 2 Sem Hours

Certifications and Certificates

Professional Certifications

QM Certified Peer Reviewer (for Higher Education). 2016. Quality Matters.
Stanford Certified Project Manager (SCPM). 2013. Stanford University.
Stanford Advanced Computer Security Professional (SACSP). 2013. Stanford University.
Project Management Professional (PMP). 2006. Project Management Institute.
Distance Education Certified Trainer (DECT). 2006. University of West Georgia.
Certified Enterprise Integrator (CEI). 2005. Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
Certified Management Engineer (CME). 1991. US Air Force.
Certified Open Water Scuba Diver. 1978. PADI.

Graduate Certificates

Online Educator Graduate Certificate

University of Missouri
2016

Key Undergraduate Courses Completed

Information Technology

Computer System Security
Systems Analysis and Design I
Systems Analysis and Design II
Computer Programming Concepts
Systems Programming
COBOL Programming
Advanced COBOL Programming
FORTRAN Programming
Programming in BASIC
Advanced Computer Networking
Data Processing Systems
Data Processing Administration
Selected Advanced Computer Topics

Management / Business Administration

Human Resource Management
Leadership/Management II
Personnel Management
Material Management
Elements of Supervision
Manpower Management
Work Measurement
Research Methods and Statistics
Management Engineering Statistics
Business Statistics
Financial Accounting
Managerial Accounting
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Science, Technology, and the Public Interest

Psychology

General Psychology
Physiological Psychology
Theories of Personality
Psychological Statistics and Experimental Design
Abnormal Psychology
Psychological Assessment
Human Sexual Behavior

Other Education

Professional Development. Over 4000 contact hours in professional development and continuing education courses.