APPENDIX B
Knowledge Areas of the IT Field

This appendix contains the knowledge areas of the IT field. They are grouped according to the degree programs. Each knowledge area is subdivided into parts for Theory, Abstraction, Design, and Technology.

The accompanying Cross-Reference Matrix shows the page numbers of each knowledge area and how the individual degree programs draw upon the knowledge areas.

Curriculum Cross Reference Matrix

Download Curriculum Cross Reference Matrix (Adobe Acrobat required)

COMPUTER SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE AREAS (CS)

Top Level Areas

DISCRETE STRUCTURES
ALGORITHMS, DATA STRUCTURES, AND COMPLEXITY
PROGRAMMING
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES & COMPILERS
ARCHITECTURE
OPERATING SYSTEMS
NETWORKS AND DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING
DATA MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND METHODOLOGY
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE
SYSTEM MEASUREMENT AND CAPACITY PLANNING
SOCIAL, ETHICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

Matrix Rows

DISCRETE STRUCTURES
Computing machines operate in discrete state spaces. Most physical phenomena are continuous. Discrete structures are models of computational spaces that help control errors when approximating physical processes and prove useful properties of algorithms.

Theory

Functions, relations, and sets
Basic logic
Proof methods
Basics of counting
Graphs and trees
Fractals, Mandelbrot sets, strange attractors, chaos
Digital representation and processing of signals

Abstraction

Flow networks
Computational grids
Finite element methods
Algorithms for computing fractals, strange attractors

Design

Variable density grids
Finite element data structures
Representing graphs for computations
Classic algorithms of discrete structures

Technology

Applications of discrete analysis in various domain

ALGORITHMS, DATA STRUCTURES, AND COMPLEXITY
Every computing machine is controlled by algorithms, which are mechanical procedures of machine-implementable instructions. The efficiency of algorithms depends on the organization and structure of the data.

Theory

Automata theory
Computability theory
Complexity theory (notation; classes including P and NP)
Concurrency theory
Probabilistic algorithm theory
Database theory
Randomized algorithms
Pattern-matching algorithms
Graph and network algorithms
Algebraic algorithms
Combinatorial optimization
Cryptography
Proving algorithm correctness

Abstraction

Object oriented paradigms
Experimental studies of algorithms
Stress testing of algorithms
Heuristic algorithm testing
Divide and conquer algorithms
Greedy algorithms
Dynamic programming
Finite state machine interpreters
Stack machine interpreters
Heuristic searches
Randomized algorithms
Genetic algorithms
Evolutionary algorithms
Geometric algorithms

Design

Top 10 algorithms of 20th century
RSA public key system
VLSI circuit layout and simulation systems
Design methods such as predicate transformers
Object oriented design

Technology

Libraries of algorithms (e.g., mathematical, statistics)
Object oriented design tools

PROGRAMMING
Programming is the art of designing working programs that use appropriate algorithms and data structures to solve problems. It is a central practice of information technology.

Theory

Notations for predicates and invariants
Proof methods for programs
Mapping program text to execution dynamics

Abstraction

Algorithms and problem-solving
Basic programming constructs
Basic data structures
Recursion
Abstract data types
Object-oriented programming
Event drive and concurrent programming
Functional programming
Logic programming

Design

Tools to assist programming
version control
syntax directed editors
profilers

Technology

Modern APIs
Class libraries
Function libraries
Extant programming languages

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES & COMPILERS
This area deals with notations for virtual machines that execute algorithms and with notations for algorithms and data; the sets of strings of symbols that are generated by such notations are called languages. It also deals with efficient translations from high-level languages into machine codes.

Theory

Acceptors, transformers, and generators (e.g., Turing machines, Post systems, Lambda-calculus, Pi-calculus, Propositional logic)
Semantics
Types
Code optimization

Abstraction

Language classes (e.g., static typing, dynamic typing, functional, procedural, object-oriented, logic, message-passing, dataflow)
Application classes (e.g., business, commerce, data processing simulation. graphics)
Implementation models (run-time environments, e.g., imperative object-oriented, logic, constraint, concurrent, distributed)
Type systems

Design

Declarations, modularity, and storage management
Methods of implementing models (e.g., static execution, dynamic execution, storage and register allocation, compilers, cross-compilers, interpreters, parallism-finders).
Methods of debugging and testing
Compiler generators
Production-quality compilers
Plug-ins and add-ons (e.g., equations for documents)

Technology

Programming languages (e.g., C, C++, Pascal, Fortran, Lisp)
Compiler generators (e.g., YACC, LEX)
Syntax directed editor

ARCHITECTURE
This area deals with methods of organizing hardware (and associated software) into efficient, reliable systems.

Theory

Digital logic and digital systems
Boolean algebra
Coding theory
Finite-state machine theory
Finite arithmetic
Error propagation

Abstraction

Finite-state machine models
Machine level representation of data
Assembly-level machine organization
Optimal instruction sets for given workloads
Hardware reliability
VLSI space-time tradeoffs
Information hiding
Levels of abstraction
Simulation of machines
Memory system organization
Shared memory models
I/O and communication
CPU implementation
Cache optimization strategies
Bus sharing strategies
RISC versus CISC
SIMD and MIMD models
Interrupt systems
Procedure call systems

Design

Machine types (e.g., von Neumann, functional, dataflow, pipeline, hypercube, vector, supercomputer)
Parts-based system synthesization
Methods to optimize instruction sets
Function units
Memory
I/O (A/D and D/A converters, output transducers, DMA)
Attachment cards (e.g., graphics, network, ethernet)
VLIW
CAD methods for integrated circuits
Logic simulators

Technology

Intel chips (x86)
Motorola chips
Chip foundries
Silicon compilers
Case studies of machines of each manufacture

OPERATING SYSTEMS

This area deals with control mechanisms that allow multiple resources to be efficiently coordinated in computations distributed over many computer systems connected by local and wide-area networks.

Theory

Concurrency theory (synchronization, determinacy, and deadlocks)
Scheduling theory
Program behavior and memory management theory
Network flow theory
Performance modeling and analysis
Cryptographic protocols

Abstraction

Astraction and information-hiding principles
Naming and binding
Binding user-defined objects to internal computational structures
Interrupt systems
Procedure call models
Process and thread management
Memory management
Job scheduling
Secondary storage and file management
Device management
Files and directories
Shells and GUIs
Performance analysis
Experimental validation of performance models
Distributed computation
Remote procedure calls
Real-time systems
Access and flow models
Secure computing

Design

Time sharing systems
Automatic storage allocators
Multilevel schedulers
Memory managers
Hierarchical file systems 

Technology

Existing systems (e.g., Unix, MS/DOS, Windows, Mach, MacOS)
Utilities (e.g., editors, document formatters, compilers, linkers, device drivers)
Queueing network modeling package 

NETWORKS AND DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING

This area deals with the architecture of communication networks used for data communication, distributed computing, and collaboration; and with their use in computing and communicating.

Theory

Network flow theory
Spanning trees
Network queueing and congestion theory
Network-based cryptographic protocol proofs

Abstraction

Layered protocols
Internet protocols
Cryptographic protocols
Naming
Remote resource usage
Help services
Dynamic routing protocols
Local network routing protocols (e.g., token-passing and shared buses)
GPS (global positioning systems)
Client-server computing
The Web
Distributed object systems
Distributed operating systems
Distributed systems
Checkpoint and recovery

Design

Network architectures (e.g., Ethernet, FDDI, token ring, ATM, Frame Relay)
Internet protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL)
Conferencing protocols
Security protocols
Client-server protocols
Authentication protocols

Technology

Specific protocol implementations
GPS

DATA MANAGEMENT
This area deals with the organization of large sets of persistent, shared data for efficient query and update.

Theory

Relational algebra
Relational calculus
Concurrency theory
Serializable transactions
Deadlock prevention
Synchronized updates
Statistical inference
Rule-based inference
Sorting
Searching
Indexing
Cryptographic sealing and authentication

Abstraction

Data models (e.g., object based, record based, object-relational)
Storing files for fast retrieval
Access methods
Query optimization
Concurrency control and recovery
Integrity
Security and privacy
Virtual machine interpreters for query languages
Hypertext and multimedia integration
Archiving and media-migration methods

Design

Database architectures (e.g., relational, hierarchical, network, distributed, and retrieval systems)
Multilevel secure database systems

Technology

Commercial database systems (e.g., Ingres, Oracle, System R, dBase, Sybase)
Commercial retrieval systems (e.g., Lexis, Osiris, Medline)
Commercial hypertext systems (e.g., NLS, NoteCards, HyperCard, SuperCard, Intermedia, Xanadu)

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING AND METHODOLOGY
This area deals with the design of programs and large software systems that meet specifications and are safe, secure, reliable, and dependable.

Theory

Program verification and proof
Temporal logic
Reliability theory

Abstraction

I/O specifications of systems
Software reliability
Measurement and evaluation of programs
Software tools and environments
Software testing and maintenance
Megaprogramming (aka programming in the large)

Design

Software project management
Software construction processes
Software systems development processes
Matching software systems with machine architectures
Quality assurance
Secure computing

Technology

Specification languages
Version tracking systems
Syntax directed editors
Tools (e.g., program development, measurement, profiling text formatting, debugging, CASE)

INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
This area deals with the modeling of animal and human cognition, with the ultimate intention of building machine components that mimic or augment them.

Theory

Logic systems for reasoning (e.g., first order logic, fuzzy logic, temporal logic, probabilistic logic, deduction, induction)
Knowledge representation
Formal models for knowledge representation
Search methods (e.g., branch-and-bound, alpha-beta, tree pruning genetic algorithms)
Theories of learning
Neural networks
Pattern recognition
Computer vision
Speech recognition and understanding
Natural language translation
Robot systems  

Abstraction

Knowledge representation models
Problem-solving models
Search heuristics
Learning models
Agents
Language understanding models (natural language processing)
Speech models
Pattern recognition models
Vision models
Neural network models
Genetic algorithms
Models of human memory
Knowledge robots (e.g., "knowbots" or "bots")

Design

Logic programming
Expert systems
Knowledge engineering environments
Natural-language problem-solving systems
Games of strategy (esp., chess, checkers)
Neural network models
Fuzzy logic modules
Speech synthesis and recognition
Robots

Technology

Lisp, Prolog
Dendral, etc.
Margie, SHRDLU
Chess playing programs
Music composition programs (e.g., EMI)
Dragon systems, ViaVoice
Genetic algorithms

GRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA

Graphics is concerned with processes for representing physical and conceptual objects and their motions visually on a 2D computer screen or in a 3D hologram.

Theory

Computational geometry
Projecting 2D images of 3D objects
Chaos theory
Fractal theory
Graphics theory
Sampling theory
Color theory

Abstraction

Drawing algorithms (e.g., rendering, smoothing, shading, hidden line removal, ray tracing, hidden surfaces, translucent surfaces, shadows, lighting, edges, color maps, splines, textures, antialiasing, fractals, animation, object hierarchies)
Geometric modeling
Visualization
Animation
Virtual reality
Interactive simulation
Cognitive psychology
Medical imaging
Multimedia objects
Compression and decompression algorithms

Design

Graphics libraries
Video editors
Scientific visualization
Color models
Web pages
Multimedia applications
Content authoring
Multimedia servers and file systems
Streaming video

Technology

Graphics libraries
Graphics standards
Printer languages (PostScript, PDF)
CAD systems
Medical imaging systems
Multimedia data technologies
Data compression and storage standards (e.g., MP3, PICT, JPEG, GIF)

HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
HCI is concerned with the efficient coordination of action and transfer of information between humans and machines via various human-like sensors and motors, and with information structures that reflect human conceptualizations.

Theory

Cognitive psychology

Abstraction

Modeling the user
Interaction
Analysis of risks to humans
Models of collaborative work
Business processes
Event-driven interface model
Desktop metaphor

Design

Human factors
Window management
Desktop metaphors
Other possible interface metaphors
Help systems
Displays with high interpretation accuracy
Usability engineering
Collaborative work systems

Technology

A/D and D/A converters
Output transducers
WIMMP user interfaces
Pen-based user interfaces
Flight simulators
Distributed interactive simulation (DIS) 

COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

This area deals with explorations in science and engineering that cannot proceed without high-performance computation and communications.

Theory

Number theory
Linear algebra
Symbolic computation
Discipline dependent mathematical models

Abstraction

Discrete approximations
Backward error propagation and stability
Fast Fourier Transform
Poisson Solvers
Finite element models
iterative methods and convergence
Parallel algorithms and architectures
Automatic grid generation and refinement
Scientific visualization
Symbolic integration and differentiation
Hypercubes and grids

Design

Scientific function packages (domain dependent)
Grand challenge problems
Programming for parallel architectures

Technology

Hypercubes
Chem, Web, Linpack, Eispack, Ellpack, Macsyma, Mathematica, Maple, and Reduce
Solutions to grand challenge problems

SYSTEM MEASUREMENT AND CAPACITY PLANNING

This area deals with the performance analysis of systems, especially for throughput and response time; with the calculation of resource capacities needed to meet stated performance objectives; and with forecasts of performance.

Theory

Queueing theory
Operational analysis
Transform analysis
Mean Value analysis
Convolution analysis

Abstraction

Queueing network models
Computational algorithms
Approximation algorithms
Workload models
Customer models
Extracting models from event traces
Benchmarking
Simulation

Design

Capacity planning
Workload characterization

Technology

Best/1, QN solvers

SOCIAL, ETHICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

The human context in which professionals work. Professional responsibility and conduct. (TADT does not work in this case.)

History of computing
Social contexts of computing
Methods and tools of analysis
Professional and ethical responsibilities
Risks and liabilities of safety-critical systems
Intellectual property
Privacy and civil liberties
Social implications of Internet
Computer Crime
Information warfare
Economic issues in computing
Philosophical foundations of ethics

COMPUTER SYSTEMS ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE AREAS (CSE)

Top Level Areas

ELECTRONICS
DIGITAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGY
DIGITAL DESIGN
SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS
COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE (See CS - Architecture)
COMPUTER INTERFACING (See CS - I/O Architecture, HCI)

Matrix Rows

ELECTRONICS
This area deals with the basic elements of electrical circuits including resistors, capacitors, inductors, and active devices such as diodes and transistors. Analog and digital circuits consist of these elements along with appropriate voltage and current power supplies.

Theory

Ohm's law
Kirchoff laws for voltage and current summation
Power laws
Energy conservation laws
Series and parallel laws for components
Time varying currents and impedance
Instrumentation
Frequency domain representation of circuits

Abstraction

Linear circuits model
First order and second order circuits
Nonlinear elements
Frequency response and amplifier gain curves
Idealization of components

Design

Networks of active and passive components
Time varying functions and response

Technology

Laboratory measurements

DIGITAL DEVICE TECHNOLOGY
This area deals with basic physics and technology underlying the fabrication of electronic digital circuits; with physical concepts in semiconductor devices; with design of logic devices; and with different families of logic and their characteristics.

Theory

Semiconductor physics
p-n junctions
Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET)
Complimentary MOSFET (CMOS)
CMOS logic

Abstraction

Transistors as switches
Idealized models of CMOS technology
Threshold devices

Design

Pull-up and pull-down transistor design for logic gates
Common building blocks (e.g., transmission gates)

Technology

Physical level lay out tools (Magic, L-EDIT)

DIGITAL DESIGN
This area deals with designing digital systems for implementing combinational and sequential operations; with arithmetic and logic unit of a computer, shift registers, state machine circuits; with structure and utilization of programmable logic structure; and with use of computer-aided design and optimization tools.

Theory

Logical minimization techniques
Finite state machines
Time dependencies
Gate arrays and programmability
Signal processing functionalities
Karnaugh maps
Turing machines
Race conditions
Arbitration problem

Abstraction

Boolean algebra
State transition diagrams
Synchronous circuits
Asynchronous circuits
Pipelined circuits
VLSI circuits
Wafer-scale circuits  

Design

Register transfer models
Behavioral models
Structural models
Schematic capture
Netlist 

Technology

Gate arrays
CAD tools
Different hardware description languages
Circuit simulators

SIGNALS AND SYSTEMS
This area deals with analog and digital representation of signals; with frequency representation of analog signals; with sampling and quantization; with finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering; with digital signal processing; and with hardware implementation of DSP functional blocks.

Theory

Sinusoidal signals
Linear shift invariant systems
Sampling theorem
Finite word length effects
Fourier and Laplace Transforms
Fast Fourier transform
Digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms
Shannon communication theory
Optimal message encoding
Signal encryption
Random processes and noise
Error detection and correction
Encoding digital signals for analog lines

Abstraction

Logic circuits and Boolean expressions
Discrete processes
Frequency analysis
Encryption methods and models
Algorithms for FFT, error detection, correction
Modems, facsimile systems

Design

Time domain filtering
Frequency domain filtering
Stability analysis
DSP chips

Technology

Special purpose DSP chips
Matlab signal processing software 

COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE (See CS - Architecture)
Stored program paradigm. Evolution of microprocessor architectures - X86 family, RISC versus CISC, very long instruction word designs. Parallel and vector machines. Exploiting parallelism. Memory organization. Shared memory models. Distributed and network computing.

COMPUTER INTERFACING (See CS - I/O Architecture, HCI)
A/D and D/A converters. Sampling and timing circuits. Output transducers. Process monitoring and control. Interrupts. Direct memory access. Networks.

SOFTWARE ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE AREAS (SWE)

Top Level Areas

COMPUTING SYSTEMS
SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS
SOFTWARE DESIGN
SOFTWARE CONSTRUCTION
USER INTERFACE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
TEST, EVALUATION, AND MEASUREMENT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CRITICAL SOFTWARE SYSTEMS

Matrix Topics

COMPUTING SYSTEMS
This area deals with methods of organizing hardware, software mechanism for controlling hardware and software resources, and translations from high-level programming languages into executable versions.

Theory

Acceptors and generators
Language semantics
Data typing
Digital logic and digital series
Boolean algebra
Concurrency theory
Scheduling theory

Abstraction

Language classes
Type systems
Finite-state machine models
Assembly language
Levels of hardware abstraction
Naming and binding
Job, process and memory management
Distributed computation

Design

Declarations and storage
Compiler generators
Machine type
Machine hardware component connections
Time sharing systems
Memory managers

Technology

Programming languages
Assembly language
Current operating systems (Unix, Windows)
Utilities

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS AND SPECIFICATIONS
Software must be developed that satisfies rigorous requirements and follows well defined mathematical principles. This area deals with descriptions of the software's expected behavior, both functional and non-functional, and formal and informal. It covers eliciting functional requirements from users and stating them in forms that are useful for designers. This basis allows software engineers to create formal models of software, leading to higher quality products.

Theory

Logic
Functions, relations and sets
Proof methods
Mathematical structures (lists, trees, graphs)
Countability
Statistical properties
Psychology
Formal descriptions of software
Safety and security

Abstraction

Properties of software: functional behavior , reliability, usability, maintainability, safety, security, availability, conformance to standards, ...
Object-oriented techniques
Algorithms and strategies
Design, specifications, and requirements
User-level versus engineer-level requirements

Design

Usefulness of software requirements
Documentation
Mathematical modeling
Well known algorithms

Technology

Measurements of the mean
Modeling tools
Formal specification languages
Model checking and formal verification 

SOFTWARE DESIGN
Software design produces a solution for software requirements that will solve the software-related aspects of the software in some understandable description. It covers high level, intermediate level, and low level design. This is the major step from functional descriptions of "what" the software must do to process-oriented descriptions of "how" the software does it, and is thus the center of all software engineering activities.

Theory

Problem solving
General design concepts
Key issues in software design 

Abstraction

Function-oriented design
Data structure design
Object-based design
Architectural design

Design

Integration
Quality attributes and analysis

Technology

Languages for expressing design
Language tools
Automatic code writers 

SOFTWARE CONSTRUCTION
Software construction is the most concrete part of software engineering that produces the most recognizable product: the code. This area deals with advanced programming concepts and the ability to produce software that conforms to requirements and design. The emphasis is not just on "getting it to work", but on "producing a high quality product". While satisfying the requirements and design is important, reliability is only one of many quality attributes.

Theory

Notations for invariants
Finite state modeling
Program logic
Quality attributes: reliability, efficiency, maintainability, conformance. safety, security, usability, readability, etc.
Handling complexity

Abstraction

Algorithms and problem-solving
Advanced data structures
Programming abstraction methods: control, recursion, data structures, inheritance, polymorphism, dynamic binding, concurrency
Programming for testability and maintainability

Design

Appropriate use of language features
Version control
Profilers and debuggers

Technology

Programming languages
Program editors and compiling tools
Debuggers
Low-level test tools

USER INTERFACE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
This area deals with the goals and techniques for developing software that interacts directly with the user. Design of GUIs requires careful attention to the interaction model of the software and the user. A variety of important methods and technologies assist in this process.

Theory

Psychology of human computer interaction
Limits of human comprehension
Evaluation and measurement of user interfaces

Abstraction

Models of human comprehension
Models of software execution

Design

Command languages
Menus and forms
Graphical user interfaces
Web-based interfaces

Technology

Parsing and translation
GUI development tools
Programming languages for UI development
Web software development 

TEST, EVALUATION, AND MEASUREMENT
This area deals with evaluating the quality of software products. It includes execution-based testing, inspections and static evaluation, and measurement of various quality aspects. The evaluation should be done on code, requirements, designs, user interfaces, and all documentation. This is by far the most mathematical area in software engineering.

Theory

Definitions of testing
Test criteria, acceptors, generators, and analyzers
Infeasibility and theoretical limitations
Analysis of software
Metrics for software products

Abstraction

Graphical representations of software: control flow, data flow, program dependence, class graphs, inheritance graphs, etc.
Regression testing
Test levels: Unit and module, integration, system, acceptance
Functional and non-functional testing (conformance, usability)

Design

Inspection processes
Test requirements
Test case generation and measurement
Test techniques
Quality assurance

Technology

Work flow tools
Test tools: Generators, coverage analyzers, driver generators, regression test tools, test case database tools. 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
This is the area that most involves people. It addresses how to run a development process, interact with, evaluate, and motivate people. The software process and how to evaluate the software products is discussed. Techniques for integrating software and integrating the various software development activities are important for project managers.

Theory

Psychology of human interaction
Integration and coupling
Hierarchical and flow models of organizations
Cognitive and negotiating strategies
Decision theory

Abstraction

Inter-personal interaction
Leading and management
Management under uncertainty and change
Legal and ethical aspects

Design

Configuration and version control
Staffing and staff organization
Leadership and consensus building

Technology

Software for supporting communication and work organization

CRITICAL SOFTWARE SYSTEMS
This area deals with techniques for creating software that is used in applications where failure can result in loss of property, money, or life. Much of such software is concurrent, real-time, or distributed, and many such systems are extremely large. Critical software discusses the theory behind the applications, techniques for developing such software, and methods for evaluating it. This is one of the most rigorous areas.

Theory

Synchronization, determinacy, deadlocks
Scheduling theory
Communicating processes
Real-time constraints
Design redundancy
Data redundancy
Software safety
Formal methods

Abstraction

Process management
Job scheduling
Communications among processes
Remote procedure calls
Decision trees

Design

Client-server computing
Finite-state modeling
Modeling techniques for real-time systems
Tolerance of software faults
Design for testability
Statistical testing

Technology

Modeling languages
Programming language facilities
Packages for communication and process management

NETWORK ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE AREAS (NE) 

Top Level Areas

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
NETWORK PROTOCOLS AND SOFTWARE
DATA COMMUNICATIONS
ENCRYPTION AND COMPUTER/NETWORK SECURITY
NETWORK SYSTEM SOFTWARE
WIRELESS AND MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
NETWORK MANAGEMENT 

Matrix Rows

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
This area draws on basic technology and concepts from other areas, especially computer science and computer systems design. The principal knowledge areas are:

Electronics (telecommunications systems are composed of these components)
Digital systems (principles of digital components and logic)
Operating systems (network protocols are managed by OSs)

NETWORK PROTOCOLS AND SOFTWARE
Modern networks are built around architectures that are implemented as a set layers called the protocol software stack. These protocols are used not only for data communication but for many aspects of distributed computing and commerce.

Theory

Network flow theory
Spanning trees
Network queueing and congestion theory
Network-based cryptographic protocol proofs

Abstraction

Layered protocols
Internet protocols
Naming
Remote resource usage
Help services
Dynamic routing protocols
Local network routing protocols (e.g., token-passing and shared buses)

Design

Network architectures (e.g., Ethernet, FDDI, token ring, ATM, Frame Relay)
Internet protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, SSL)
Conferencing protocols
Security protocols 

Technology

Specific protocol implementations
GPS

DATA COMMUNICATIONS
This area deals with the encoding of data and information into digital signals, the transmission of those signals through various (noisy) media, and the reconstruction of the data by the receiver.

Theory

Coding theory
Information theory
Error correction and reliability
Signal and file compression
Photonics

Abstraction

Protocol layeringLink layer models
Link layer routing models
Transport layer models
Application layer models
Electrical and optical signaling

Design

Effective link performance
Duplex channels
Repeaters and bridges
Shared medium access alternatives

Technology

Physical layer encodings
Link-layer protocols
MAC sublayer protocols
Bridges 

ENCRYPTION AND COMPUTER/NETWORK SECURITY
This area deals with the cryptographic encoding of signals so that they can be kept secret or authenticated; protocols that use cryptography to achieve coordinated action such as agreement between sender and receiver on a session key; and other methods for controlling access to objects and information within a network.

Theory

Security principles
Public key cryptosystems
Private key cryptosystems
Key distribution principles
Access and flow models
Proof methods for secure systems
Incomputability of most security properties
Types of attacks and risks of compromise

Abstraction

Security architectures
Protocol for agreeing on a session key
Protocol for signing a document
Protocol for authenticating a user or machine
Protocol for key distribution
Notaries and certificates
Viruses

Design

Selecting effective encryption in network design
Building real protocol stacks

Technology

Cryptographic techniques (e.g., secret key, RSA, DES)
Cryptographic chipsets
Cryptographic software (e.g., PGP)
Cyberlocator (GPS-based authentication)
Virus and worm detection and eradication
Kerberos 

NETWORK SYSTEM SOFTWARE
Distributed and networked systems rely on specialized software that is not designed by the same principles as applications software.

Theory

Protocol layering
Functions of network software components
Connectivity models (and routing algorithms)
Naming models (e.g., domains)
Performance and congestion models of networks

Abstraction

Network architectures
Naming services
Client/server architectures

Design

Protocol design
Server software design
Performance versus reliability tradeoffs
Effective combination of network components

Technology

Internet protocol families
Other open protocols (OSI, IEEE)
Proprietary commercial software and protocols (e.g. Cisco, Novell)
Multimedia networking

WIRELESS AND MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
This area deals with the protocols and signaling methods used to provide networking via radio communications to mobile units.

Theory

Wireless transmission theory
Cells and packet radio
Performance and congestion models of networks

Abstraction

Signaling systems for mobile telephony (e.g., CDMA)
Dynamic roaming
Architectures for wireless/mobile access

Design

Integrating wireless/mobile technologies in networks
Selecting wireless technologies to meet network requirements

Technology

Digital satellite links
Cellular network standards
Infrared and microcell techniques
IEEE wireless LAN protocols 

NETWORK MANAGEMENT
This area deals with the methods of managing routing and routers so as to achieve performance and reliability goals.

Theory

Monitoring
Control
Network cost models
Network performance models

Abstraction

Management by exception
Traffic loading and flow

Design

Strategies for optimizing cost
Strategies for optimizing performance
Cost/performance tradeoffs

Technology

OSI CMIP protocols
IETF SNMP protocols
Network status display software

INFORMATION SYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE AREAS (IS)

Top Level Areas

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS 

Matrix Rows

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Deals with basic elements of information technology from the perspective of how they process, store, retrieve, and present information for human uses. These elements are primary knowledge areas of other specialties of IT, notably Computer Science.

Theory

Basic concepts and mathematics associated with the main areas listed under Abstraction

Abstraction

Computer architectures
Algorithms and data structures
Programming languages
Operating systems
Telecommunications
Database
Artificial intelligence
Human computer interaction

Design

Design principles associated with the main areas listed under Abstraction

Technology

Technologies deployed in the marketplace in the main areas listed under Abstraction

ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS
Deals with the theory and practice of organizations considered as networks of commitments supported by information systems.

Theory

Hierarchical and flow models of organizations
Organizational work groups
Organizational span: user, group, team, enterprise, world
Strategic, tactical, operational roles of IS in enterprise
Interaction between IS and organizational structures of centralized, decentralized, matrix
Issues of software use in organizations
Decision theory
Organizational behavior
Job design theory
Cognitive styles
Negotiating styles

Abstraction

Information systems management
Computer operations management
Managing IS as a business
Performance evaluation of IS as service function
Decisions under uncertainty
Cost and value of information, competitive value
Group decision processes
Change management
Legal and ethical aspects of IS
Professionalism

Design

IS planning
Staffing and HR management
CIO and staff functions
Backup, disaster planning, recovery
Managing emerging technologies
Security and control, viruses, system integrity
Group dynamics, teamwork, leadership
Power and politics
Consensus building
Personal and interpersonal skills

Technology

Specific systems for supporting the above

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Deals with the engineering and management issues of designing, building, testing, operating, and maintaining information systems in organziations.

Theory

Systems and information concepts
Information theory
System control (feedback, loops, measurement, quality)
System development lifecycle models

Abstraction

Measures and metrics of lifecycle models
Organizational and software process modeling
Data modeling (entity-relationship, normalization)
Data, process, behavior, object oriented methodologies
Risks and risk management
Projects and project management
Information and business analysis
Strategies for testing and implementation
Systems operation and maintenance
Systems development for standard types of systems (e.g., transaction processing, MIS, group support, decision support, expert systems, executive support, office, collaborative, image, workflow, functional support, interorganizational)

Design

Evaluating and selecting a development approach
Software engineering process
Application planning (infrastructure, architecture, operations, measurement, bottlenecks, complexity
Planning for security, privacy, control of complexity
Information systems design (methods, creativity, cognitive styles, HCI, software development)

Technology

System development tools (CASE, JAD, IDEF, GDSS)
Software tools (data dictionary, repository, application generator, reuse, version tracking, program generators)
Risk assessment tools
Project management tools (PERT, Gantt, etc)

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
This area deals with management and organizational practice in the context of international information systems.

Theory

Economic theory for MIS (transaction and agency costs)
Behavioral theories (sociology, cultural, political)
Electronic markets
Interorganizational systems
Virtual organizations
Implicit and explicit knowledge
Return on investment analysis
Software ergonomics
Predictor variables for user satisfaction
International IT infrastructure
Cultural issues in IT diffusion
Transnational IT systems
Global business drivers and IT strategy
Legal (property rights, liability, accountability, due process)
Ethics (Kant, Descarte, etc)
Net present value
Profitability index
Cost benefit ratio

Abstraction

Information architecture
Change management
Managing dispersed teams
Value chain model
Competitive forces model
Knowledge markets and knowledge transfer
Return on investment models for cable modem, DSL, ISDN, etc
Internet business models
E-commerce models
Information analysis
Assessing value of knowledge assets
Risk assessment models
Software metrics
Data quality audits
System performance audits
User interface models
Role of PTT (domestic, exporter, multinational franchises)
Data mining
Capital (monetary, intellectual, moral, human)
Function point analysis

Design

Project management
Supply chain management
ERP
Knowledge value measurement
Intranets
OSI model
Reverse engineering
IT portfolio evaluation methodologies
Repetitive stress injury and carpal tunnel syndrome
Structured analysis
Structured programming
Total Quality Management (TQM)
Trusted systems
Capital budgeting models

Technology

Internet
Intranet
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Executive support systems
Decision support systems
Group decision support systems
Knowledge management enabling technologies
Expert systems
Intelligent agents
Joint application design (JAD)
O-O tools
CASE
Human factors check sheets
Voice recognition
Virtual private networks

INFORMATION SECURITY KNOWLEDGE AREAS (SEC)  

Top level areas

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CRYPTOGRAPHIC ALGORITHMS AND PROTOCOLS
SECURITY POLICY
INSTRUSION DETECTION
SECURITY ARCHITECTURES
SECURITY ASSURANCE, RISK, AND SAFETY ANALYSIS

Matrix Topics

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Deals with basic elements of information technology from the perspective of how they support security and privacy policies and mechanisms.. These elements are primary knowledge areas of other specialties of IT, notably Computer Science.

Theory

Basic concepts and mathematics associated with the main areas listed under Abstraction

Abstraction

Computer architectures
Algorithms and data structures
Operating systems
Telecommunications
Database
Artificial intelligence
Human computer interaction

Design

Design principles associated with the main areas listed under Abstraction

Technology

Technologies deployed in the marketplace in the main areas listed under Abstraction 

CRYPTOGRAPHIC ALGORITHMS AND PROTOCOLS
This area deals with algorithms for enciphering and deciphering and protocols that enable cooperating processes to achieve a level of trust that enables their ongoing communications.

Theory

Block and stream ciphers
Perfect secrecy
Cryptanalysis
Information theory
Modular arithmetic
Factorization
Discrete logarithms
Field and group theory
Elliptic curves
Proof methods
Zero-knowledge theorems

Abstraction

Service abstractions
Authentication
Integrity
Non-repudiation
Signatures
Confidentiality
Common design flaws
Establishing a communication session
Establishing trust among network servers and clients

Design

Confusion
Diffusion
Use of nonces
    Prevention of common attacks
    Separate keys for separate purposes
    Efficiency of protocols

Technology

DES, 3DES, AES, RC2, RC4, Blowfish, IDEA, IPSEC, SSL, Kerberos, Diffie-Hellman, SET, S/MIME, MD5, SHA

SECURITY POLICY
This area deals with methods of specifying policies, such as access, flow, and privacy policies, as distinct from the system mechanisms that implement them.

Theory

Inference
Non-interference
Formal models: HRU, take-grant, SPM, TAM
Safety analysis: decidability and complexity
Impossibility of sealing covert channels
Impossibility of protecting against all viruses

Abstraction

Access matrix model
Flow models (Bell-Lapadula, Lattice)
Statistical inference models
Covert channels
Mutually suspicious systems

Design

Discretionary access control
Mandatory access control
Role-based access control
OM-AM framework (access review)
Principle of least privilege
Principle of separation of duties
Principle of abstract privileges
Principle of policy-mechanism separation
Anti-virus architectures and strategies

Technology

Unix
Windows NT
Oracle and other DBMS
CORBA 

INSTRUSION DETECTION
This area deals with systems that monitor activities in other systems to detect patterns of activity characteristic of intruders rather than authorized users.

Theory

Fundamental limitations
Statistical methods
Neural nets
Heuristic methods

Abstraction

Misuse detection
Anomaly detection
Survivability
Recovery and response

Design

Signature based design
Learning based design
Protecting the IDS system itself
Usability criteria
Effectiveness criteria

Technology

COPS
Tripwire
SATAN
ISS
Symantec
Packet sniffers
IDES
NIDES
Haystack
Emerald 

SECURITY ARCHITECTURES
Security is fundamental to systems and must be part of their design. This area deals with system design principles to assure security.

Theory

Formal models of secure systems
Trust and topology
Fault tolerance

Abstraction

User-pull
Server-pull
Proxy
Agent-based architectures
Access control lists
Capabilities
Tokens
Digital certificates
Firewalls
Guards

Design

Principle of least privilege
Capability based architectures
Object oriented architectures
Service based architectures
Agent based architectures
Multi-organization architectures

Technology

Schumman SAM
Kerberos
Windows NT
Java Virtual Machine
espeak
DASCOM 

SECURITY ASSURANCE, RISK, AND SAFETY ANALYSIS
This area deals with the process of assuring that a system is secure and of assessing the risks of security failures.

Theory

Errors versus faults
Software versus hardware errors
Verification and testing
Limits of formal models
Risk formalization and analysis
Probabilistic models of failure and decay
Models of software error accumulation with system age

Abstraction

N-version programming
Operational assurance
Design assurance
Development assurance
Classes of security properties
Classes of viruses and worms
Timing and storage covert channels

Design

Reference monitor
Security kernels
Border devices
Shared resource matrices
Fuzzy time

Technology

Gypsy
Ina Joe
Common Criteria
The Pump
Starlight
Checkpoint firewall

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE KNOWLEDGE AREAS (EC)

Top Level Areas

BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES
CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR MODELS
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Matrix Rows

BUSINESS SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES
Deals with the mechanisms by which businesses achieve their goals and filfill promisses to their customers and business partners. 

Theory

Economic principles
Information economy principles
Dynamic pricing
Marketing principles

Abstraction

Electronic market places
Online auction models
Business processes
Workflows
Electronic distribution channels
Desintermediation
Reintermediation
E-commmunities
B2B models
B2C models
C2C models

Design

Order fulfillment systems
Online configurators
Supply-chain management systems
E-advertisement systems
Dynamic customization systems

Technology

W3C's Platform for Privacy Preferences Project (P3P) 

CUSTOMER BEHAVIOR MODELS
Aimed at understanding how users interact wit e-business sites through the analysis of site logs.

Theory

Regression analysis
Clustering techniques
Analysis of variance
Contingency tables
Neural networks
Genetic algorithms
Pattern matching

Abstraction

Data mining
Data warehousing
Online analytical processing (OLAP)
Real-time OLAP
Customer Behavior Models Graphs (CBMGs)
Customer Visit Models (CVMs)

Design

Customer behavior analysis and prediction

Technology

HTTP log analysis tools

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Deals with the analysis and prediction of the performance characteristics of computer systems.

Theory

Queuing theory
Markov chains
Operational laws
Product form queuing networks
Simulation models
Confidence intervals
Mean Value Analysis (MVA)
Approximate MVA
Bounds on performance
Clustering analysis

Abstraction

Queuing models of computer systems
Open, closed, and mixed queuing network models
Client/server Interaction Diagrams
Workload models

Design

Building and solving performance models of computer systems
Scalability analysis of computer systems
Benchmarking computer systems
Workload characterization techniques
Capacity planning methodologies

Technology

Queuing network solvers
Capacity planning tools
Simulation packages
Workload generators
Load testing tools

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY KNOWLEDGE AREAS (ET)

Top Level Areas

DISTANCE LEARNING
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

Matrix Rows

DISTANCE LEARNING
Deals with institutional, technological, pedagogical, evaluation, online support, and resource support of distance learning environments.

Theory

Andragogy (adult learning theory)
Distributed Learning

Abstraction

Learning Environments
Online Learning
Asynchronous Learning Environments
Synchronous Learning Environments
Communities of Practice
Web-Based Learning Features (Hypermedia, Multimedia)

Design

Web-Based Learning Frameworks and Models
Khan Framework
Levels Framework
Methods, Strategies and Activities Framework

Technology

Web-Based Course Management Tools
Web-Based Course Authoring Tools
Bulletin Boards
Discussion Boards
MOOs, MUDs 

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
Deals with the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of instructional and training systems.

Theory

Learning Theory
Systems Theory
Cognitive Information Processing
Situated Learning
Problem-based learning
Cognitive Apprenticehips
Abstraction
Instructional Systems models
Gagne Briggs Model
Kemp's model
Dick and Carey's model
The ADDIE model

Design

Front End Analysis
Performance Objectives
Task Analysis
Instructional Strategies
Learning Strategies

Design Documents

Storyboarding
Assessment
Project Management

Technology

Computer-Based Instruction
Web-Based Instruction
Digital Audio and Video
Tools for Visual Design
Project Management Tools
Scripting and Programming
Animation

Table of Contents - Overview

Appendix A - Catalog & Course Descriptions

Appendix B - Knowledge Areas of the IT Field

Appendix C - Biosketches