MISM vs CF Grad Cert w/ Masters in CIS

Your ability to do the work that I need done is the most important thing and that's even more important than what institution taught you those skills.

That said, the University of Rhode Island program looks strong and if I were choosing between the two, I'd easily opt for that program. They have a nice looking graduate program that includes digital forensics content. I love the fact that they give students the opportunity to learn industry standard tools like EnCase or FTK. They also have some sort of digital forensics lab on campus.

I don't pay much attention to the degree to be quite honest. Usually because BS and MS degree's don't provide much other than "theory". I might be the minority, but I think the education system in America is pretty worthless in terms of graduating and then being able to apply "real world" knowledge and hit the job running. I would be more interested in your experience rather than your school (or program title).

The only place I have seen college matter was Washington DC while trying to pick up girls. They would always ask, "where did you go to school" and "where do you work"… If you don't graduate from Harvard, Yale, etc. I don't see the degree mattering too much (regardless of your courseware).

Other than that, I would rather see a Comp Si graduate because computer programming of some kind is usually a requirement for graduation. I would look to use their skills for automating process, etc. That's the only "real world" application I can see coming out of a "Management" level program of any thing, "IT".

This is a pretty good program and pretty cheap ($450 a credit hr). I go to Bellevue http//www.bellevue.edu/degrees/graduate/cybersecurity-ms/major-requirements.aspx - Again, there wont be much real world application once computed, but if you're just looking for a "good" program that's affordable you should check it out. It's all online too.

Your choice now depends on what "specialty" you are most interested in. There seems to be a group of schools that focus of Cybersecurity (infrastructure protection), and others that are more traditional computer forensics ("forensic-centric"?). From what I see, Kellogg and Bellevue aptly handle the former, while URI's Digital Forensics program is the later. As I mentioned in a previous posting, the URI program has a LOT of hands-on lab work where the biggest thing I learned was problem-solving in a forensic environment. Yes I learned the normal skills, but many times things didn't work out and you had to figure out "work-arounds." That's the most "real life" feature that I took away. Plus having direct contact with and feedback from the instructors was a huge plus, and very "lab-like."