Cryptology

[HondaCBR]

Hey all,

I have A.S. degrees in both Computer Science and Admin. of Justice that I'll be finishing in the spring. I want to continue my Bachelor's. I'm really interested in the Cryptology field. Has anyone here made this their subject of study? What colleges that you know of offer really good training in this field? I can't find too much about it online, and I can't join the military. But, I have found some interesting job offerings around. Thanks for the assist.

-CBR

PS: Society's great in the fact that I can search for Bachelor's Degrees and find nothing but info for an ABC sitcom.

[jmur5074]

What the hell is "cryptology"???

[AndrewTx]

What the hell is "cryptology"???

cryp·tol·o·gy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (krp-tl-j)
n.
The study of cryptanalysis or cryptography.

[Mike Romeo]

I can't join the military.

Then how in the hell can you honestly get into the field of crypto without being afiliated with the military? There is a degree of crypto in the private sector, but nothing like what you are aspiring to get into.

Why can't you get into the military?

[jmur5074]

What the hell is cryptanalysis or cryptography????

Just kidding....I'll look it up myself! :D

[Mike Romeo]

What the hell is cryptanalysis or cryptography????

Just kidding....I'll look it up myself! :D

No big secret really. It's just communication encryption.

However, in the military sector, the degree of difficulty to decrypt is very difficult. The level of theoretical math involved in what he is talking about doesn't really have a bearing here in a law enforcement forum.

[jmur5074]

I feel like such a doorknob now, but I was originally thinking it had something to do with dead people ("Crypt")....I was like "How is that going to help you get a job in law enforcement"???

[HondaCBR]

No big secret really. It's just communication encryption.

However, in the military sector, the degree of difficulty to decrypt is very difficult. The level of theoretical math involved in what he is talking about doesn't really have a bearing here in a law enforcement forum.

Well, the only reason I figured maybe law enforcement might help is that I've seen listings for jobs on the FBI and CIA website. I didn't know if anyone near these areas might be able to help, but maybe not. Thanks anyway!

-CBR

[HondaCBR]

Why can't you get into the military?

Medical. I tried to join at one time, but no luck. I was bummed for a while, but then I got over it.

[Valor55]

You're not going to find anything in LE along the lines you are studying. If you get your 4 year degree and have good grades and enjoy it I would sugest looking into the NSA.

The closest we come to computer stuff is really computer forensics. That's going to involve evedentiary collection of data off computers, even if it's hidden or deleted. That's generally going to be done by detectives who have been cops for a while and worked their way into the position. If you can't get in the military you probably can't be a cop.

If you want do be involved with cryptology I'd recommend NSA first then CIA.

[HondaCBR]

The closest we come to computer stuff is really computer forensics. That's going to involve evedentiary collection of data off computers, even if it's hidden or deleted. That's generally going to be done by detectives who have been cops for a while and worked their way into the position.

Computer forensics is one of the fields I was interested in. I know Baltimore, MD has a civilian CSI unit. I was hoping there were other agencies that have the same. The medical is kind of a shame. LE is the one thing I've always had a passion to do since I was young. But I can't always get what I want. Thanks again for the advice.

-CBR

[Rhinoceros]

Hey all,

I have A.S. degrees in both Computer Science and Admin. of Justice that I'll be finishing in the spring. I want to continue my Bachelor's. I'm really interested in the Cryptology field. Has anyone here made this their subject of study? What colleges that you know of offer really good training in this field?

The Admin of Justice will do nothing. Computer science and a degree in math, specializing in discrete algorithms, is probably your best bet. The NSA will hire you right out of college if your background is clean - and your background will be investigated like you wouldn't believe. Crypto is pretty much the highest level of secret. If you like working with supercomputers it would be a good job.

From the NSA's website: http://www.nsa.gov/careers/

Qualifications:

Cryptanalysts utilize Mathematics, Computer Programming, Engineering, and language skills in addition to new technologies and creativity to solve tomorrow's problems today. NSA is looking for people who are intelligent and imaginative, and who can contribute original ideas toward the solution of complex challenges. Cryptanalysts must communicate clearly, concentrate long and hard on difficult problems, and avoid discouragement if success is elusive. And although skills such as computer programming proficiency are helpful, no specific major is targeted for Cryptanalysis. NSA hires people with both technical and non-technical degrees, ranging from Mathematics to Music, Engineering to History, and Computer Science to Chemistry.

[Kimble]

The Admin of Justice will do nothing. Computer science and a degree in math, specializing in discrete algorithms, is probably your best bet. The NSA will hire you right out of college if your background is clean - and your background will be investigated like you wouldn't believe. Crypto is pretty much the highest level of secret. If you like working with supercomputers it would be a good job.

The advice given above, particularly from Rhinoceros, is spot on. One of my colleagues at work used to work in crypto for Naval Intel (which included working with NSA). I will say that without prior experience in the field, an associate's degree is likely not going to be enough to get you an entry-level position within the crypto field with an intelligence agency (even a bachelor's degree may not be enough). If you have more specific questions about the crypto field (intelligence or military), I can see what insight my colleague can offer.

[HondaCBR]

I never thought about the NSA. I never hear about it too much, so they never come to my mind. That's a good idea. I guess my tough problem was trying to find a college that offers classes in it. They only thing I know about the subject is the formulas that I've learned of in books. Thanks again for the help.

-CBR

[Swat1]

ROS beat me to it, but that is what I was gonna say. The NSA sounds like the place you want to be. Look at their website for hiring etc and see what they are looking at.

Swat1*