Information Technology 545

ITEC 545
Cyber Security Education

1. Catalog Entry

ITEC 545
Cyber Security Education

Credit hours (1 or 3)

Enables educators to incorporate cyber security into K-12 and community curriculum.

2. Detailed Description of Course

    1) Basic elements of a computational infrastructure and the backbone of the Internet: Basics networking; operating system usage
        (Linux and Windows), HTML and Javascript.
    2) Curriculum resources on cyber security education (examples: Radford’s K-12 material, iKeepSafe, SEED, Citadel)
    3) Setting up a lab to conduct cyber security experiments
    4) Basics concepts of cyber security
        a. Security goals
        b. Vulnerabilities, threats and exploits
        c. Anatomy of an attack (hacking)
        d. Security analysis
        e. Security mechanisms: cryptography, application and network security
    5) Incorporating security concepts into existing IT/CS curriculum (examples: programming and networking courses)
    6) Coaching for success in cyber defense contests

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course is online or classroom-based.  Projects will include setting up a basic security lab with an isolated network, using a public security lab, and/or hands on exercises in securing components of a computational network.  Students are expected to plan and present incorporation of cyber security into their curriculum.

4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

Students who complete this course will be able to:
    1) Establish the pre-requisites for a basic cyber security course
    2) Develop a basic security lab
    3) Perform security analysis of a computer network
    4) Describe some of the most common and dangerous exploits
    5) Describe how security can be incorporated into a STEM curriculum

5. Assessment Measures

The minimum assessment measures for all students are: project that involves security analysis of a computer network, project that requires setting up a basic security lab, and presentation of research into a specific curriculum resource.  Students who take the course for 3 credits will in addition to the minimum assessment measures, be required to work on a hands-on project involving hardening a computer network; write a survey or report on curriculum resources, and present their plan or ideas to incorporate security into their STEM curriculum.

6. Other Course Information

None

Review and Approval

November 20, 2015