Cybersecurity Technology Courses | 2024-2025 Academic Catalog | SIU

This course introduces students to offensive cybersecurity techniques and tools and corresponding remediation and defensive strategies or system hardening principles to protect information systems. Students will gain hands-on experience in assessing and securing, Microsoft and Linux hosts, networks, and other types of assets. Knowledge of the legal aspects of offensive security, developing plans for effective penetration tests, planning and executing the phases of these assessments, and presentation of results will enhance overall cybersecurity expertise in both blue and red team scenarios. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 216 and ITEC 224 with grades of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will introduce students to cyber defense competitions. Students will gain preparatory skills required for cyber defense competitions while working alongside more advanced students. Students who complete this course will be equipped to advance into CTEC 395 which prepares students for competitions and similar forums. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 209, ITEC 216, ITEC 224, and ITEC 235 each with a grade of C or better or concurrent enrollment in ITEC 235 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course will utilize security analysis tools to examine information systems, and networks. Infrastructure and physical assets will be examined to uncover potential vulnerabilities and security weaknesses. Emphasis will be placed on enterprise and open-source tools and using their results to create remediation plans to harden and fix security deficiencies. Social engineering and human security elements are also examined and the use of policy and training will be presented. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisite: ITEC 216 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

In-depth competency and skill development and exploration of innovative techniques and procedures used in business, industry, professions, and service occupations offered through various workshops, special courses, and seminars. Hours and credit to be individually arranged. Course may be classified as independent study. A grade of C or better is required. Special approval needed from the advisor.

Credit Hours: 1-18

This course will introduce students to security policy, legal, and industry requirements that drive the technologies enterprises require to provide security protection for distributed networks in modern business computing environments. A reliance on partnerships with corporate and IT industry alliances and partnerships for resources and collaboration is a key component of this course. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisite: ITEC 216 with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on building students' skills in a digital investigation with popular forensics tools. Topics include, but are not limited to, data acquisition, preservation, analysis and reporting, incident response, digital forensics process, and laws. Students will learn how to manage a digital forensics investigation in today's business environment. A grade of C or better required. Prerequisites: ITEC 209, ITEC 216, ITEC 224 with grades of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

Intensive study of selected topics relevant to the cybersecurity industry with an emphasis on content, curriculum, and preparation for industry certifications. Offered as need arises and as time and interests permit. Maybe repeated for up to nine hours total. May be transferred in as elective CTEC credit from other programs and institutions. A grade of C or better is required. Special approval needed from the advisor.

Credit Hours: 1-9

Intensive study of selected topics relevant to the cybersecurity environment. Offered as need exists and as time and interests permit. May be repeated for up to nine hours total. A grade of C or better is required. Special approval needed from the advisor.

Credit Hours: 1-9

Students will work with current cybersecurity technology to solve problems and develop projects individually or in a team environment. A grade of C or better is required. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-6

This course provides practical application of cyber defense and penetration testing methodologies in a fully operational corporate network environment. Skills required for cyber defense competition include implementation and evaluation of a network, risk assessment, incident response, and management, as well as performing under time limitations in a team format. Students who successfully complete this course will be equipped to participate in the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) or similar forums. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 209, 216, 224, and 235 all with a grade of C or better and consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Provides student with the opportunity to develop a special program of studies to fit a particular need not met by other offerings. Enrollment provides access to the resources and facilities of the entire institution. Each student will work under the supervision of a sponsoring faculty member. A grade of C or better is required. Special approval needed from the sponsor.

Credit Hours: 1-18

This course focuses on technologies behind web applications and servers, how applications and servers are exploited, and the defense mechanisms which can be used for server and application hardening. Hands-on labs on vulnerability detection and exploitation will be used to provide practical experience. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 216 and ITEC 236 with grades of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a comprehensive overview of wireless communications through an examination of the wireless channel, signal modulation, encoding and transmission techniques, antennae theory, and error control. Uses of wireless technologies in local, personal, and mobile networks will be examined. An emphasis will be placed on security measures and techniques in wireless communications. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 216 and ITEC 224 both with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course focuses on protecting data and applications in cloud-based systems. Topics include, but are not limited to, security management strategies, managing user access, securing networks and applications, and vulnerability management. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 216 and ITEC 235 with grades of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a broad introduction of the theories and tools used for secure software design, threat analysis, secure coding, and vulnerability analysis. Students will be exposed to the techniques needed for the practice of effective software security approaches. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 209 and ITEC 216 each with a grade of C or better or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course provides a broad introduction to cryptography. Students will learn how various cryptographic schemes work and explain how they are used in practice. The course focuses on the classical goals of cryptography such as data confidentiality, authenticity and integrity. Grade of C or better required. Prerequisites: ITEC 209, ITEC 280 each with a grade of C or better or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

This course offers a thorough grounding in machine learning concepts, along with practical advice on applying these tools and techniques in real-world data mining situations. It gives an overview of many concepts, techniques, and algorithms in machine learning such as decision trees, rule based classification, support vector machines, Bayesian networks, and clustering. Students will be introduced to the major applications of each of the topics, with some of the applications drawn from the field of information security. A grade of C or better is required. Prerequisites: ITEC 209 and ITEC 265 each with a grade of C or better.

Credit Hours: 3