Online Cyber Security Certificate Curriculum

An overview of the techniques to detect and assess the level of penetration of a security breach. Topics include forensic science in the cyber domain, laws and ethics of forensic activities, digital evidence, methods of forensic investigation, and forensic procedures in a variety of operating systems and network configurations.

This course provides an in-depth examination and analysis of what is referred to as insider threat. Insider threat is when a current or former employee or other person who has “insider access” such as contractors, outsources and even cloud-computing vendors compromises the security of a cyber system or application either intentionally or unintentionally. Insider threats are often considered the greatest cyber security risks.

With the increasing number of cyber-attacks, intrusion detection systems become crucial tools for detecting anomalies and enhancing computers and networks security. This course exposes students to the existing intrusion detection techniques and algorithms, including signature-based and anomaly-based approaches.

The ability to assess potential threats is a critical prerequisite to creating a secure system. This course will cover the following topics: cyber threats, security requirements, data collection and analysis, and dissemination of results.

Cyber-attacks are a serious economic and security threat. To combat both immediate and future dangers, businesses and governments are investing in cyber security. Understanding trends in cyber-security and how machine-learning techniques defenses can respond to threats is a critical component of protecting networks, infrastructure, and users. This course explores the growing challenges of securing sensitive data and networks to defend against malicious acts.

This course examines the critical role human behavior plays in maintaining or conversely endangering cyber security. The science of human attention, perception, learning, and cognition is applied to the problem of maintaining secure cyber systems.

Provides theoretical and practical aspects of Network Penetration Testing.  The course includes in-depth details and hands on labs for each of the five distinct phases of an ethical hack including reconnaissance, scanning and vulnerability assessment, gaining access and exploitation, maintaining access, and covering tracks. An applied approach with a focus on current tools and methodologies will be stressed.

This course covers software engineering principles and techniques used in the development lifecycle of cyber secure systems. Topics covered include the characteristics of secure software, the role of security in the development lifecycle, designing secure software, and best-practices in secure programming and testing. Study includes review of industrial standards for secure software system engineering. Prerequisites: EE 601 and EE 602.

Introduction to hacking techniques with an ethical framework. Topics include planning and scoping of penetration tests, rules of engagement, reconnaissance, port scanning, OS finger printing and version scanning, vulnerability scans, exploitation, post-exploitation strategies and pivoting, and password attacks. Legal and ethical frameworks will be introduced and guidance on appropriate application of hacking techniques will be emphasized.

This course introduces techniques for achieving security in multi-user standalone computer systems and distributed computer systems. Coverage includes secure operating systems, worms, firewalls, ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, risk assessment and security policies.

Modern cryptography algorithms are necessary for protection of data storage and communication streams from disclosure and manipulation of information to distrusted or malicious parties. This course explains the inner workings of cryptographic primitives and how to implement them. Assignments will be both theoretical and application based. Experience with a high-level programming language is required.

Communication between computers and networks uses protocols. This course introduces students to the OSI model and TCP/IP protocol stack. Functions of each layer in the network are explained and their security analyzed.

This course provides a solid mathematical foundation for further study in cyber security. Topics include Set Theory, Discrete Functions and Relations, Permutations and Combinations, Logic and Boolean Algebra, Systems of Linear Equations, Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces, Linear Transformations, Determinants, Matrices, Eigenvalues, Eigenvectors, and Diagonalizability.

Can be waived if student has a computer science/cyber security background; however, they will have to take 2 additional courses to meet 36-credit degree requirement.

This course provides a solid programming foundation for further study in cyber security. An introduction to the Python programming language; data structures, analysis of algorithms, and software design topics will be discussed.

Can be waived if student has a computer science/cyber security background; however, they will have to take 2 additional courses to meet 36-credit degree requirement.