Uproar about a 'virus-writing' class at the University of Calgary, Canada has caused speculation regarding its educational value in the computer science and engineering department here at Penn State.

Some professors have different views on whether offering a course that included instruction on how to write virus code could be beneficial to computer security.

"The University of Calgary had the right to do so in interest of academic freedom," John Domico, assistant director of information technology, said.

Some faculty members in the department don't think teaching students how to write viruses is necessary in teaching computer security.

"Literature has shown us that you don't need to teach how to write a computer virus," Raj Acharya, head of the computer science and engineering department, said.

While the purpose of the class offered at the University of Calgary was to help prevent viruses and teach computer security, Don Heller, associate professor of computer science and engineering said he doesn't agree with the course.

"My reaction to a student who signs up for an explicit course on virus software would be to dismiss them," Heller said.

While Heller said he isn't fond of a class simply on writing viruses, he sees a need for computer security courses.

"It would be valuable to have a course in virus protection, to recognize problems," Heller said.

Heller said there would be interest in a course like that at Penn State and it is already a topic in operating systems courses.

"What you see at Penn State is how to write, not malicious code, but secure code," Domico said.

Both professors agree that the key to computer security is not knowing how to write a virus, but rather knowing how to write a code that is secure.

"Money and resources are better spent in securing and prevention," Domico said.

Heller said he wonders about the safety of the University of Calgary course, which used a separate computer lab and network, and students were not permitted to take anything in or out of the classroom.

"The idea that you can confine software in a lab setting and study it without letting it get out to the rest of the world has been proven wrong many times," Heller said.

The security of the isolated setting depends on the human element, which is why he would not attempt to offer a class like this, Acharya said.

"It is very difficult for a bunch of students to remain disciplined," said Acharya.

One issue raised about such a class is whether a student would be employable afterward.

"They would certainly be employable," Domico said.

Acharya said he agrees.

"If I was an employer, I would hire them. I don't think they should have anything against them," he said.

Heller isn't as confident as Domico in whether students would be better able to obtain jobs after taking a virus-writing class for prevention.

"In the context of prevention and analysis, it looks a little better," Heller said.