What is a Cyber Security Course?
Cybersecurity (Cyber Security) courses are prevalent through degree programs in information technology, cybersecurity, and information security at the associate's, bachelor's, and master's levels, as well as at the certificate level. Through these different programs, students learn how to identify security issues and protect information and track down those who steal that data. Cybersecurity is necessary for homeland security and so many other fields. There are several types of programs available that vary in scope and focus.
Undergraduate degree cybersecurity courses offered include:
- Information Systems
- Security Systems
- Information Technology
- Cyber Defense
- Ethics, Law, and Policy
- Data Communications and Networking
- Digital Forensics
- Discrete Mathematics
- Data Structures
- Programming Languages
Masters degree cybersecurity courses offered include:
- Systems and Industrial Engineering
- Management Information Systems
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Information Warfare
- Advanced Computer Networking
- Cryptography
- Wireless Security
- Cyber Incident Response
- Computer Network Forensics
- A Capstone Project
In addition to these cybersecurity major classes, additional training includes:
- Computer systems
- Information management
- Cyberlaw and ethics
- Investigation techniques
- Risk management
- Technical report writing
Online cybersecurity courses offered include:
- Software Testing
- Cryptography
- Penetration Test
- Buffer Overflow
- SQL Injection
- Number Theory
- Information Security
- Data Mining
- Systems Cybersecurity Engineering
- Business Data Communication and Networking
Certification is also available from some of these programs but the most consistently recognized is CISSP, a Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
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Cyber Security Courses Offered
As can be seen from the lists above, there are multiple courses offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and online levels. Courses needed for cybersecurity prepare an individual for cybersecurity studies and indicate the degree of specialization that one can choose. The specialization will determine what classes are required for cybersecurity.
Differences between undergraduate and graduate courses depend on the university or online provider chosen. One should work on a solid base of understanding at the undergraduate level, obtain some computer and online experience with an organization or business, and network with other professionals in the field. As with any program, some programs have more influence on hiring decisions than others.
Deciding what classes are required for cybersecurity and which courses to take for cybersecurity can be daunting. One of the best methods to make this decision is to gain experience with an organization of choice in Information Systems. Any entry-level position will help individuals decide what they like most about computer systems and provide an opportunity to network with other professionals in the field.
One should also investigate professional references and demonstrated feedback on cybersecurity trainers, faculty, and programs. Education can be demanding and expensive. Choosing a program and instructor that can increase your success in the field is worth the investigative time.
Fundamentals of Cyber Security
A cybersecurity course introduces students to the basics of the field. Students study monitoring and protection procedures about security activities and learn to apply them practically. The hands-on practice involves protecting work with passwords and using multiple security models and systems. This course also dives into the very beginnings of cryptography. Usually, this class is available through both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Cybersecurity course requirements will vary based on the program of study chosen by an individual. It is not always intuitively obvious what courses one takes that can be cyber-related. In general, having a good background in mathematics, rounded out by computer systems and electrical engineering, can provide a good foundation for complex studies in the field.
Computer Security Management
Students in this course learn to protect information about businesses. They analyze case studies and policies to determine planning security projects, protect assets, and create response plans. Students also learn to back up computers and manage security programs in this intermediate-level course designed for undergraduate and graduate programs. Computer security is a broad term that encompasses the hardware itself and software programs resident on personal computers and cloud-based storage. Some courses teach why some firms only use data entry devices without storage to avoid individuals' potential to unknowingly download corrupt or malicious software to their personal computer or tablet. This concern can include cellular phones that have been allowed access to the organization's central systems. Courses can teach how and why an organization may choose to have data entry devices working with a local secure server. The local secure server is then uploaded to a secure cloud-based storage system. This course teaches how this methodology keeps data secure but does not affect response time.
Establishing and Managing Information Assurance
Students study and analyze risk-management strategies. These courses cover the risks associated with computer security and options for reducing and negating them and include an overview of procedures for establishing information security and ways to enforce existing policies. Upon completing this course, students should be able to analyze computer networks to find systemic problems and develop ways to fix them. This type of course also allows students to understand how they need to be able to communicate with their colleagues. Technical report writing and business data communication can make a cybersecurity professional more effective.
Forensics of Cyber Security
Through this course, students learn to track computer security violations. Topics of study include methods for recognizing network signatures and following them back to their origins. Students examine different tracing methods and identify techniques for their practical use. Though this course does have lecture aspects, it is primarily a hands-on course.
Hacker Techniques
Students taking this advanced cybersecurity class assume the hacker's role as they identify weaknesses in computer security setups and find ways to break in. This role reversal trains students to recognize security problems and develop ways to strengthen systems. The course includes an overview of how hackers enter through holes and weaken overall systems, accompanied by step-by-step processes for responding to such breaches. Students also learn to handle the evidence hackers leave behind to catch and prosecute them. This course is typically called a penetration test.
Investigation and Response: Systems Forensics
Systems Forensics is an advanced course that trains students to protect computer systems from the realities of information security problems; hackers can break in and compromise a program in three days or less. Students study multiple computer operating systems and ways to investigate security issues by replicating attacks. They learn successful measures for responding to and stopping these problems. This cybersecurity course uses a hands-on approach with both Windows and Linux systems. Having Linux knowledge improves the ability to work on Android operating system devices.
Salary Expectations
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an Information Security Analyst in May of 2020 was $103,590 per year. The job outlook for 2020-2030 is a 33% growth, much faster than other occupations.
Multiple job titles fit into this Information Security Analyst position category. Some examples are:
- Security Specialist
- Incident Responder
- Security Administrator
- Vulnerability Assessor
- Cryptographer
- Security Manager
- Security Architect
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Security Analyst
- Security Auditor
- Security Director
- Forensic Expert
- Penetration Tester
- Security Consultant
- Security Engineer
- Source Code Auditor
Salaries will vary based on organization and job title. For example, on Payscale.com, a Cybersecurity Analyst median annual salary is $76,960, and a Cybersecurity Engineer has a median yearly salary of $97,805 in 2022.
