Implementing the Software Assurance Curricula
These resources can help promote and implement the Software Assurance Curricula in academic programs or workforce development programs.
Publisher:
Software Engineering Institute
Abstract
To protect the complex software systems that we depend on for defense, government, energy, communication, transportation, manufacturing, and finance, we need skilled professionals who can build security and correct functionality into software and systems under development. Software assurance education is essential to meet this growing demand for skilled professionals, yet there are few graduate software assurance programs or tracks that focus on developing assured software.
CERT researchers addressed this need by collaborating with a team of educators from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, (ISC)2, Stevens Institute of Technology, Monmouth University, and Union College to develop software assurance curricula.
The curricula include materials for undergraduate and graduate level programs as well as materials for educators. These free materials can be incorporated into existing education programs or be used to develop new courses.
Other resources are also included that can be helpful in promotion and implementing software assurance curricula.
Collection Contents
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Software Assurance Curriculum Project Volume I: Master of Software Assurance Reference Curriculum
August 1, 2010 • Technical Report
By Nancy R. Mead, Julia H. Allen, Mark A. Ardis (Stevens Institute of Technology), Thomas B. Hilburn (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Andrew J. Kornecki (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Richard C. Linger (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), James McDonald (Monmouth University)
In this report, the authors present a master of software assurance curriculum that educational institutions can use to create a degree program or track.
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Software Assurance Curriculum Project Volume II: Undergraduate Course Outlines
August 1, 2010 • Technical Report
By Nancy R. Mead, Thomas B. Hilburn (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Richard C. Linger (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
In this report, the authors describe seven courses for an undergraduate curriculum specialization for software assurance.
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Software Assurance Curriculum Project Volume III: Master of Software Assurance Course Syllabi
March 1, 2011 • Technical Report
By Nancy R. Mead, Julia H. Allen, Mark A. Ardis (Stevens Institute of Technology), Thomas B. Hilburn (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Andrew J. Kornecki (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Richard C. Linger (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
In this report, the authors provide sample syllabi for the nine core courses in the Master of Software Assurance Reference Curriculum.
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Software Assurance Curriculum Project Volume IV: Community College Education
September 1, 2011 • Technical Report
By Nancy R. Mead, Elizabeth K. Hawthorne (Union County College), Mark A. Ardis (Stevens Institute of Technology)
In this report, the authors focus on community college courses for software assurance.
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Master of Software Engineering Curriculum Presentation to Faculty
September 7, 2017 • Presentation
The Master of Software Engineering Curriculum is a presentation for getting buy-in for implementing a Master of Software Engineering Curriculum.
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Software Assurance: A Master's Level Curriculum
October 26, 2010 • Podcast
By Nancy R. Mead, Thomas B. Hilburn (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Richard C. Linger (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), Julia H. Allen
In this podcast, participants explain how knowledge about software assurance is essential to ensure that complex systems function as intended.
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Assured Software Development 1 (ASD1) Course
May 22, 2014 • Educational Material
This course covers the fundamentals of incorporating assurance practices, methods, and technologies into software development and acquisition lifecycle processes and models.
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Assurance Management (AM) Course
May 23, 2014 • Educational Material
This course covers the fundamentals of software and system assurance management.
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Software Assurance Competency Model
March 11, 2013 • Technical Note
By Thomas B. Hilburn (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Mark A. Ardis (Stevens Institute of Technology), Glenn Johnson ((ISC)2), Andrew J. Kornecki (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Nancy R. Mead
In this report, the authors describe a model that helps create a foundation for assessing and advancing the capability of software assurance professionals.
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The Software Assurance Competency Model: A Roadmap to Enhance Individual Professional Capability
May 16, 2013 • White Paper
By Nancy R. Mead, Dan Shoemaker (University of Detroit Mercy)
In this paper, the authors describe a software assurance competency model that can be used by professionals to improve their software assurance skills.
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A Software Assurance Curriculum for Future Engineers
September 24, 2015 • Podcast
By Nancy R. Mead
In this podcast, Nancy Mead discusses how, with support from the Department of Homeland Security, SEI researchers developed software assurance curricula and programs for graduate, undergraduate, and community colleges.
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Software Acquisition Curriculum
January 22, 2020 • Educational Material
This course covers how to identify, validate, and resolve supply-chain issues that can occur when acquiring commercial off-the-shelf and custom software solutions.
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Software Assurance Curriculum Description
January 24, 2013 • Brochure
This brochure describes an implementable curriculum that addresses assuring the functionality, dependability, and security of software and systems.
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Software Assurance Curriculum Master Bibliography and Course References
June 1, 2011 • User's Guide
By Julia H. Allen, Nancy R. Mead, Mark A. Ardis (Stevens Institute of Technology), Thomas B. Hilburn (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Andrew J. Kornecki (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), Richard C. Linger (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
In this report, the authors provide the master bibliography that is used with the software assurance curriculum.
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Workshop: How to Get Started in Software Assurance Education
February 8, 2010 • Conference Paper
By Nancy R. Mead, Dan Shoemaker (University of Detroit Mercy)
In this workshop, software assurance education is introduced to faculty who are interested in adding these concepts to existing and new educational programs.
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SQUARE Instructional Materials
October 2, 2013 • Educational Material
SQUARE instructional materials are designed for teaching the SQUARE method.
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Software Security Engineering Course Material
October 4, 2012 • Educational Material
By Nancy R. Mead
This course focuses on fundamental concepts, methods, and practices for developing secure software systems.
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Software Assurance for Executives Course Materials by Type
February 14, 2014 • Educational Material
This collection of videos and slide sets about software assurance for executives and managers can be viewed and downloaded by media type.
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Software Assurance for Executives Course Materials by Topic
February 14, 2014 • Educational Material
These videos cover software assurance challenges and the resources and methods available for addressing software assurance in development and acquisition
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Secure Software Management Course Material
November 30, 2010 • Educational Material
By Dan Shoemaker (University of Detroit Mercy)
This course teaches the fundamental organizing principles and control techniques delineated by the ISO/IEEE 12207 and the ISO 15288 standards.
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Secure Software Design and Programming Course Materials
September 1, 2015 • Educational Material
By David A. Wheeler (George Mason University)
These course materials are for the Secure Software Design and Programming graduate course offered at George Mason University.
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Static Analysis for Software Quality
June 7, 2011 • Presentation
By Jonathan Aldrich
In this presentation, Jonathan Aldrich describes the benefits of static analysis technology and how it complements techniques like testing and inspection.
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Engaging the Community: Strategies for Software Assurance Curricula Outreach
March 14, 2012 • Article
By Carol A. Sledge
In this article, Carol Sledge describes strategies for encouraging computing educators to adopt software assurance curricula.
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Secure Acquisition Curriculum
January 22, 2020 • Educational Material
This course covers how to identify, validate, and resolve supply-chain issues that can occur when acquiring commercial off-the-shelf and custom software solutions.
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