Course Guide/Syllabus

Spring A Term 2025 (25/SP)

Thursday 11-1:30 PM | CSE 1110-SH01A | Introduction to Cybersecurity
Location: Springfield LRC 115

CLARK STATE MISSION: To engage and empower diverse learners by providing high-quality educational programs and
services that emphasize student and community success.

PRE/COREQUISITE(S):
• N/A

COURSE GUIDE (Tentative Schedule):

WEEK TOPIC/MODULE ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE POINTS POSSIBLE

1 Reading Blackboard course (Read everything and --
familiarize yourself with all the information) 1/19
1 Assessments Blackboard Introduction Assessment 10
2 Reading Chapter 1 – Introduction to Cybersecurity --
2 Assignments Hands-On Project 1-1 25
2 Case Project 1-1 1/26 30
2 Assessments Chapter 1 - Assessment 25
3 Reading Chapter 2 – Personal Cybersecurity --
3 Assignments Hands-On Project 2-1 25
3 Hands-On Project 2-3 2/2 15
3 Assessments Chapter 2 - Assessment 25
4 Reading Chapter 3 – Computer Security --
4 Assignments Hands-On Project 3-5 30
4 Case Project 3-3 2/9 40
4 Assessments Chapter 3 – Assessment 25
5 Reading Chapter 4 – Internet Security --
5 20
5
Assignments Hands-On Project 4-1
Hands-On Project 4-2 or 4-3 (pick one, not both) 2/16 20
5 Assessments Chapter 4 – Assessment 25
6 Reading Chapter 5 – Mobile Security --
6 25
6
Assignments Hands-On Project 5-4
Case Project 5-1 2/23 30
6 Assessments Chapter 5 – Assessment 25
7 Reading Chapter 6 - Privacy --
7 25
7
Assignments Hands-On Project 6-1
Case Project 6-5 3/2 25
7 Assessments Chapter 6 – Assessment 25
8 Course Wrap-up Everything is Due: Thursday, 3/6/2025 --
Revised: 1/9/2025 Mr. Klint
 8 Assignments Finish all outstanding assignments (If time was --
allotted by instructor) 3/6
8 Assessments Final Exam 100

COURSE INFORMATION:
Required material: Security Awareness: Applying Practical Cybersecurity in Your World, 6th Ed.
• ISBN#: 978-0-357-88376-1
• Author: Mark Ciampa

Grading Scale:

Letter Grade Percentage

A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
E 0-59%

• See Blackboard for Grading details

COURSE POLICIES AND DETAILS:

• Below are excerpts of important policies and details of how to be successful in this course.
• For full policy details, see Course Policies in Blackboard site.
LOCATION: This is a HYBRID course, which means we meet in-person and online depending on the week. See the
Course Guide/Syllabus in Blackboard for weekly location. The biggest myth about taking an online class is that you can
attend whenever you desire. If you want to be successful, you need to plan time into your weekly schedule for completing
the course assignments, so you don't fall behind. You must be motivated to keep up with course materials and
assignments.

COMMUNICATION & OFFICE HOURS: As a hybrid course, it is designed as an online course with an in-person
component. Students should be able to complete the coursework online via Blackboard. In-person class times are added
to allow for physical labs and personalized instruction. However, it is highly encouraged that students communicate and
meet with the instructor for any issues or instructional clarification. To communicate directly with the instructor or another
student, use the Blackboard Course Message function (this is a directive from the college). Clark State Email is a more
direct way of communicating. All email communication from students and faculty should come from your Clark State
provided account (***@clarkstate.edu or ***@student.clarkstate.edu). Office hours are Monday from 9-11 AM, and by
appointment. See Blackboard for instructor Zoom meeting room details.

ATTENDANCE: To be successful in class, attendance is important. However, attendance is not recorded but your activity
on our online platforms is. You’ll get out of this class what you put into it. As a college student, it’s your responsibility to
come to class or not.

DUE DATES: Due dates are due dates for a reason. All assignments, unless otherwise noted in Blackboard are due at
11:59 PM the Sunday of that week. For example, week 1 of the Summer semester, 2023 starts on June 1st. The campus
is closed that day. The Blackboard class opens Tuesday, June 2nd. All activities and assignments noted in Blackboard
are due that Sunday, June 7th at midnight, regardless. The Blackboard system timestamp for submission will serve as
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indication of meeting that deadline. No late submissions are accepted. Plan your time accordingly to allow for any
uploading and/or computer issues.
Having said that, life happens. It’s understood that things go wrong, events transpire, some things are just out of your
control. In one of these instances, be proactive and communicate with the instructor. However, be prepared to support
your reason for not getting your assignment in on time. Take screenshots of error messages, pictures from your phone,
submit a ticket with the IT Help Desk, etc; to back up your request for assignment acceptance.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY & MISCONDUCT: Clark State College is committed to providing educational opportunities that
promote academic, professional and personal growth in students. Students are expected to behave as responsible
members of the college community and to be honest and ethical in their academic work. Activities of academic
dishonesty corrupt the process of acquiring the knowledge and developing the skills necessary for success in any
profession; such activities are considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and are therefore prohibited.

Students are expected to behave as responsible members of the College community and to be honest and ethical in their
academic work. Activities of academic dishonesty corrupt the process of acquiring the knowledge and developing the
skills necessary for success in any profession; such activities are considered a violation of the student code of conduct
and are therefore prohibited. Students are responsible for understanding and abiding by the College Academic Integrity
Procedures and definition of academic dishonesty as well as course and faculty-specific standards and expectations.

TECHNOLOGY: We use internet technology platforms for both course delivery and learning the content. While technology
is AMAZING, it is not always free of hiccups. Please be patient if any technology issues arise; we can work through them.
All lessons for this course are organized though Clark State's Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS), so you
must be familiar with Blackboard to navigate the course materials. The college has tutorials and assistance for
Blackboard, so having difficulty understanding how to use Blackboard is NOT an excuse for missing due dates. If you
need assistance, contact the IT Help Center for some options. A quality working computer with a good internet connection
is a must for this class. Interaction with different online platforms in the CSE/NTK programs can affect the performance
load on your computer. If for any reason you are unable to meet the computing needs of this course at home, you must
make arrangements to complete the online coursework elsewhere. Of course, the lab classroom (Springfield, LRC 115), in
which the in-person/hybrid section of this course is located, is available via appointment agreed upon by student and
instructor, and also during the instructor’s office hours (See Blackboard).

GENERATIVE AI: Generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT, Midjourney, Co-pilot, etc.): You may use generative AI to complete
assignments unless stated otherwise by the instructor. For those assignments where these tools are permitted, you must
include a statement of what AI tools were used in the completion of the assignment, how they were used, and what
portions of the assignment include material that was developed with the assistance of AI tools. If you have any questions
about whether or not use of a particular tool or technology is allowed, check with your instructor first.

In using AI tools, be aware that every assignment submission will be graded using the criteria provided in the assignment.
Be aware that ChatGPT and other AI tools may not develop accurate or high-quality work that earns a passing grade. You
will always be expected to check and verify AI-generated results for quality and accuracy. You will be graded on the work
you turn in.

INTERACTION: This course is deliberately designed to be engaging and highly interactive with weekly activities because
research has shown students are more successful in that type of learning environment. This course is not an independent
study. Your connection with Blackboard and consistent engagement in it, are paramount to your success in this course.
Manage and plan your time effectively to be successful.

COURTESY: It's important that we treat each other with respect, just as we would in a physical classroom. Be sensitive
and courteous to others when you write your messages. We are social creatures, so remember it's easy to misinterpret
the meaning of a message when you can't see the person face-to-face. Make your communications as clear as possible.
Additionally, commensurate with the collegiate learning environment, there is an expectation to communicate with
professionalism. Crafting complete sentences, using proper punctuation and sentence structure, syntax, and generally not
writing as if you were texting, is of utmost importance and displays respect.

RESPONSE TIME: The Internet has fostered a 24/7 society. The convenience is great, but it can be hard to “step away."
Just because we can be electronically connected 24 hours a day DOES NOT mean we’re available 24 hours a day.

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Though the college's policy is for instructors to respond within 48 hours, I commit to respond to messages that I receive
from Monday through Friday within the 48 hours of receipt. Typically, I will respond more quickly. If 48 hours pass without
a reply, please message me again since digital communication is not foolproof. I reserve the right to take weekends off
answering emails but will monitor communications occasionally in order to respond to any urgent issues. In general, if the
college is closed, I am unavailable and will reply the next business day.

YOUR COMMITMENT: As with almost everything else in life, you will have the most success with this course if you are
committed to work, and to learning; THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. The more effort you put into this class, the more you
can expect to get out of it. As a general rule of thumb, you should plan to log into Blackboard multiple times per week.
When you login to Blackboard, make it a habit to:

• Check Announcements
• Go to the Content Menu area and proceed with your next assignment.
• Look at the Gradebook to see how you’re doing and if there are any upcoming assignments.

COURSE ACTIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS:
This course mode is hybrid. Most of its content will derive from the textbook and Blackboard. This is a Spring 8-week
course. Diligence of time management and consistent Blackboard engagement is essential for success in this class. To
be successful in the course, you can expect to spend an additional 6-9 hours outside of class, per week, working on
assignments and assessments.

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