Course Syllabus
Syllabus: CIS 1035 Foundations of Information Security
Course Description
In this course, students examine the issues of online threats, which have risen dramatically in the last decade, and explore personal and professional strategies to reduce vulnerabilities.
Essential Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Define and discuss the history of information security, including key security concepts and components of information systems.
2. Describe the types of threats and attacks on information that impact quality of services, including trespass, malware, forces of nature, sabotage, activism, hardware failures, obsolesces, human error, social engineering, and theft.
3. Analyze legal, ethical, and professional issues in information security including national and professional organizational standards and policies.
4. Describe risk management and identify behaviors, categorize assets, and prioritize threats and vulnerabilities in personal and professional life.
5. Create and present a personal information security and maintenance plan.
Textbooks & Technology
Required Textbooks:
There are no required textbooks.
Technology Requirements:
Reliable internet
Module Topics
- Module 1: Information Security: History & Concepts
- Module 2: Cyberthreats in Today's World
- Module 3: The Not-so-private Privacy Policies
- Module 4: Protecting Information
- Module 5: Personal Information Security Plan
Suggested Progression
Grading
Your final grade will be based on the following assessments:
| Assignment Category | Grade Weight Percentage |
|---|---|
| Discussion Forums | 20% |
| Quizzes | 20% |
| Module Assignments | 40% |
| Personal Information Security and Maintenance Plan | 20% |
Assignments Overview
The first four modules include a short quiz for you to check your comprehension of the assigned readings and lectures. Each module contains a Demonstrate Your Learning forum where you will practice identifying and analyzing components of cybersecurity. Finally, there are several short papers that allow you to explore past breaches, to assess your own security practices, and to create a personal security protection plan.
Demonstrate Your Learning forums are a part of every learning module and are post-first discussions, which means that you will post your reply before seeing the replies of others. Discussions will be graded based on the following rubric:
| Exceeds Expectations | Meets Expectations | Approaching Expectations | Does Not Meet Expectations | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | Comprehensive, in-depth and wide-ranging (5 points) |
Up to date and relevant (4 points) |
Relevant but not comprehensive (3 points) |
Limited superficial knowledge/response (2 points) |
5 points |
| Understanding | Outstanding ability to grasp concepts and relate theory to practice (5 points) |
High level of ability to conceptualize essential ideas and relate theory to practice (4 points) |
Some ability to conceptualize essential ideas and relate theory to practice (3 points) |
Limited ability to draw out concepts and relate theory to practice (2 points) |
5 points |
| Writing Skills | Excellent mechanics, sentence structure, and organization (5 points) |
Significant mechanics, structure and organization (4 points) |
Some grammatical lapses, uses emotional response in lieu of relevant points (3 points) |
Poor grammar, weak communication (2 points) |
5 points |
| Application & Analysis | Grasps inner relationship of concepts. Excellent use of a wide range of supporting material (5 points) |
Demonstrates the ability to analyze and synthesize, independent analysis, good use of a range of supportive material (4 points) |
Informed commentary with some evidence of genuine analysis; some supportive materials used (3 points) |
Lacks evidence of critical analysis, poor use of supportive evidence (2 points) |
5 points |
| Total Points: | 20 points |
Assessment
Rubrics are attached to each of your discussions and assignments. It’s important to review the grading rubrics before starting your work so that you will know exactly how your work will be assessed. Please review the instructions for viewing assignment rubrics and for viewing discussion rubrics.
Feedback
It is important to review feedback for your assignments and discussions to see where you are meeting expectations and where additional work may be needed. You can review rubric results from the instructor for your assignments and discussions. Your instructor may also leave general comments or annotation feedback within the assignment link.
Student Support & Policies
Please review the following policies and support services:
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|