Course Descriptions
CORE 100 Secure Design and Computational Thinking
An introduction to secure design and computational thinking for cyber operations and resilience major. The fundamentals of resilience system and computation solutions reside in secure design and ability to think critically. Implementations will be carried out with selected language.
CORE 101 Blue Team U
An introduction to cybersecurity operations. The fundamentals of blue team operations, applied network monitoring, log management, applications patch management, human aspect of cybersecurity, and controls.
*Recommended for students new to Boise State University and Cyber Operations and Resilience
CORE 200 Operating Systems and Cloud Operations
An introduction to software, operating systems, databases, and cloud computing in cyber operations. A language will be used as the learning tools with varieties of operating systems and cloud platforms. How to harden operating systems and databases.
PREREQ: CORE 100 and CORE 101.
CORE 201 Cyber Operations Networking
An applied introduction to network and how to design a resilient network. Different techniques will be introduced on designing secure and resilient networks.
PREREQ: CORE 100 and CORE 101.
CORE 400 Cyber Systems Thinking
An introduction to systems thinking, lateral thinking, and resilience thinking as they relate to cybersecurity. Topics include understanding the complexity/interconnectedness of cybersecurity, applying lateral thinking in solving cyber problems, interacting among people, processes, and technologies, and managing disturbances/surprises/uncertainty to be more resilient.
COREQ: CPS 301.
CORE 405 Cyber Project Management and Design
Develop cybersecurity project management skills and provide a roadmap for implementing cybersecurity technologies and process changes into organizations and projects. Principles and applied techniques to be discussed include risk assessment, project coordination, threat intelligence, communication, schedule, and cost management.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 470 Cyber Risk Management
An overview of cybersecurity risk management frameworks and practices. Students will model cybersecurity risks and apply both qualitative and quantitative risk assessment methods.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CPS 301 Information Assurance and Critical Thinking
Topics related to business needs and requirements, information assurance, information security, risk management, logic, communication and critical thinking in cyber-security or cyber-physical systems security. The course also examines the components of a comprehensive information assurance plan, day-to-day operation enterprise risk management, NIST cybersecurity framework, and NIST risk management framework.
PREREQ: Foundation of Mathematics course.Â
CPS 401 Defense Security
Provides a baseline of fundamental knowledge of defensive security. Includes systems engineering, scripting, cyber-informed engineering, cyber-kill chain, cloud security, MITRE ATT&CK human elements, logging, detection, prevention, monitoring, policies, programs, and procedures at different levels of an information system. Discusses creating and assessing security architectures, including DoDAF, SABSA, and MORDA.
PREREQ: CPS 301.
CPS 402 Offensive Security
Discusses the tools and techniques used to look for weaknesses and vulnerabilities in a lawful and legitimate manner, along with the tools and techniques to strengthen security of systems. Discusses network mapping, cloud security, scripting, basic IETF protocols and analyze how they work and how they have been exploited.
PREREQ: CPS 301.
CPS 403 Recovery and Forensics
Introduces the techniques and skills needed in computer forensics and data recovery. From the use of enterprise computer forensics tools to analyze trace evidence left behind by unauthorized access.
PREREQ: CPS 301.Â
CPS 411 Foundational Essentials for IT Network Practitioners
A guided course with the goal of obtaining network industry-relevant certification. The objective is to obtain networking credential by covering troubleshooting, configuring, and managing networks. Students will gain knowledge and skills necessary to manage, maintain, troubleshoot, install, operate and configure basic network infrastructure, describe networking technologies, basic design principles, and adhere to wiring standards and use testing tools.
PREREQ: Permission from the instructor.
CPS 412 Foundational Essentials for IT Cybersecurity Practitioners
A guided course with the goal of obtaining industry-relevant certification. The objective is to obtain cybersecurity certification with the core knowledge required of any cybersecurity role and provides a springboard to intermediate-level cybersecurity jobs. Students will gain knowledge and skills necessary to identify and address potential threats, attacks and vulnerabilities and establish techniques in risk management, risk mitigation, threat management and intrusion detection.
PREREQ: CPS 301 or permission from the instructor.
CORE 401 Cyber Risk Assessment
A study of risk assessment and management techniques, methods, and models used in industry to minimize, control and communicate risks, including NIST and OWASP.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 410 Applied Cybersecurity Programming
An introduction to Python and PowerShell, and how these can be used to simplify cyber-related tasks.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 411 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
An overview of how machine learning and artificial learning can be applied to cybersecurity.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 413 Internet of Things Architecture
Introduction to embedded systems, basic concepts of IoT, and making smart things. Covers IoT architecture including sensor, hardware, firmware, internet connection, and data mining.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 420 Cyber Security Operations Center
An overview of centralized security function where people, processes, and technology are employed to continuously monitor and improve an organization’s security posture while preventing, detecting, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity incidents.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 421 Cyber Business and Regulatory Operations
Introduction to existing regulations that companies and organizations must follow to safeguard information and systems.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 422 Cyber Red and Blue Teams
A study of how to think like a blue team and how to think like a red team.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 430 Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity
An introduction to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity to support critical infrastructure and maintain national security. Understanding secure ICS architecture principles; risks and considerations for integrating Information Technology (IT), Operational Technology (OT), and Internet of Things (IOT); and ICS specific threats, vulnerabilities, and attack patterns.
PREREQ: CORE 400 and CPS301.
CORE 431 Introduction to Incident Response
An introduction to incident response to prepare for, detect, contain, and recover from a cybersecurity breach. Understanding how incident response supports an organization’s broader mission, approaches to incident response, phases of incident response, roles and responsibilities of an incident response team, and legal considerations.
PREREQ: CORE 400 and CPS301.
CORE 450 Cyber Threat Intelligence
Study and experimentation of platforms, open-source tools, and techniques for cyber threat intelligence. Connection between cyber threat intelligence and risk assessment. Advanced practicum in artificial intelligence applications in cyber threat intelligence.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 460 Cyber Resilience Systems Design
A study of resilient systems, networks and infrastructure design on the ability to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse conditions, stresses, attacks, or compromises.
COREQ: CORE 400.
CORE 484 CORe Experiential Learning
Variable credit hour course based on activities such as cyber competitions. Records will be provided to show evidence of learning. (Pass/Fail.)
PREREQ: Permission from the instructor.
CORE 485 CORe Credit for Prior Learning
Variable credit hour course based on activities such as cyber competitions. Records will be provided to show evidence of learning. (Pass/Fail.)
PREREQ: Permission from the instructor.
CORE 486 CORe Certification
Variable credit hour course based on cybersecurity industry certification. Records will be provided to show evidence of learning and completion of certification. (Pass/Fail.)
PREREQ: Permission from the instructor.
For the most recent version of these course descriptions, please view the undergraduate catalog.