Compass Prep

Taught by a cyber security professional with 30 plus years of experience working in the Department of Defense, Federal government, banking, and health insurance industries. The course will help students develop a sound understanding of cybersecurity principles. The course covers fundamental computing principles and cybersecurity, from hardware to network security. It includes practical labs using virtual machines, scripting/coding in Bash, PowerShell, and Python, and explores offensive and defensive cybersecurity strategies and IR (incident response). Students will learn through lectures, self-study, and hands-on exercises culminating in a Capture the Flag (CTF) exercise for the final exam. A "CTF" stands for "Capture the Flag," which in cybersecurity refers to a competitive exercise where participants try to find and exploit vulnerabilities in a simulated system to "capture" a hidden piece of information called a "flag, "essentially testing their cybersecurity skills in a controlled environment; it's like a cyber war game where the goal is to retrieve the flag.

Coursestorm Online Enrollment is Free—Course Fee: $440. A $50 non-refundable course enrollment deposit will be billed immediately upon registration and applies toward your overall tuition.  The balance must be paid by July 1, or select a payment plan of $195 payable by July 1 and November 1. 

Accepted Payment Methods: PayPal, Apple Pay, cash or check

 Course Meets: Thursdays 8:30 - 9:25

Recommended Credits: 1.0

Required materials: Students must have a modern computer that can use virtualization (usually a BIOS setting that needs to be enabled) and an external USB-connected solid-state drive (SSD) to hold their lab environment.

Prerequisites: Students should understand basic computer literacy, such as how to use a browser, and basic productivity applications, such as Word and Excel, skills covered in Compass Prep’s Computer Science course.