University Core
- 28 credits minimum
INT350 - Internship
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): sponsor approval and Junior standing
An internship is considered a supervised, practical experience that is the application of previously learned theory. Employers/sponsors work with the student to meet specific objectives and/or learning goals and provide special mentoring or networking opportunities. In exchange, the intern helps the employer/sponsor in meeting overall work goals for the agency/company. Students completing 3.0 credit internships must work a total of 150 hours, or 10 hours per week for 15 weeks.
LAW370 - Legal Issues in Technology
Credits: 3.00
Pre-Requisite(s): ENG101
This course addresses typical legal and business issues in the multimedia field. Rights granted under copyright, principles of fair use, trademarks, intellectual property law, trade secrets, unfair competition, disclosure and privacy laws are covered. Students explore these legal topics with focus on electronic media.
MGT112 - Project Management in a Technology Environment
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
This course covers every aspect of managing a project in a technology environment, from assembling the right team to figuring out a schedule, estimating needed resources and monitoring its progress. This course will cover determination, examination and critiques of current practices in project management with an emphasis on the use of technology to support project development. Also included are real-life project management problems such as the following: how to get results when there is no direct authority over participants, what to do when team members don't follow through, how to handle differing departmental agendas and how to balance regular work with additional responsibilities. Communication skills will also be emphasized.
PRO102 - Professional Skills Development
Credits: 2.00
Prerequisite(s): none
This course is designed to develop life-long learning strategies and provides the basic skills for success in the educational, professional and personal environment. Specific topics explored are personality profile analysis, developmental styles,conflict resolution skills, group problem solving and learning style analysis. Collaboration and group skills development will be emphasized.
PRO211 - Senior Innovation Project I
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
The purpose of this course is to develop students as technologists. Students will explore and critically analyze a potential and emerging topic for a thesis and shape their ideas into a form that represents a clear set of thinking to be used as the basis for developing their innovation. In creating a topic document based upon these investigations, students will demonstrate the ability to communicate technology ideas to others and increase the likelihood that the idea will take form and find a relevant application in society. The course will culminate with the composition and approval of the student’s topic paper. The topic paper will include an abbreviated introduction of the innovation, short prior art identification and general methodology.
PRO250 - Senior Innovation Project II
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): PRO211
This course presents the student with the opportunity to work on their selected innovation and share their progress through a series of activities, teachbacks, and workshop sessions. The focus will be placed on the process of innovation and how to overcome the hurdles that can arise in such endeavors.
PRO300 - Senior Innovation Project III: Analysis & Patent
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): PRO211 and PRO250
This course continues the journey towards the completion of the student thesis and should be taken after the actual innovation or hypothesis has been tested, and students are ready to compose analysis/results and the conclusion to the work. This course will culminate in the composition and approval of thesis chapters including Results (Chapter 4) and Conclusions (Chapter 5).
PRO481 - Senior Innovation Project and Portfolio Presentation
Credits: 2.00
Prerequisite(s): PRO300/PRO301 or instructor approval.
This course completes undergraduate thesis and portfolio process providing guidance and structure for the formal presentation of the student’s work. Students will passionately and clearly articulate their innovation, technology concepts and application in a formal defense. Students entering this class are expected to have completed all works included in their portfolio and have their thesis chapters approved through the completion of prior thesis course work prior to enrolling.
TCH110 - Foresight Development
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
Foresight is the act of looking to the future. This course teaches better global, business and personal foresight to better enjoy and manage your own future. This course will explore the big picture history of accelerating change from universal, historical and technological perspectives, as well as identifying global trends that are affecting individuals, society, businesses and governments. Additionally, the course will examine how organizations make bets on the future and gives the student a chance to explore career prospects in a variety of fields. Finally, discussion of how biology, psychology, community and culture help and hinder personal thinking about the future will be discussed. We will articulate and explain the four fundamental foresight processes: innovating the future (creative development of products and services); planning the future (developing shared goals and processes); profiting in the future (achieving measurable positive results, including environmental, social, and economic benefits); and predicting the future (trend identification and analysis). Assignments will be fun, personalized to foresight goals, and will include brief readings, brief writing, discussions, debates, visuals, film, podcasts and games.
TCH301 - Ethics in Technology
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): ENG101
TCH301 is designed to introduce students to essential concepts necessary to evaluate the ethical implications and potential impacts of the use of new technology within human society and culture. Students will explore modern ethical dilemmas in technology, looking at multiple aspects of how the introduction of technology redefines law and values.
General Studies
- 36 credits minimum
COM226 - Communication in Technology
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
Through the exploration of technology concepts, students will introduce, demonstrate, inform and/or persuade the audience. Effective use of voice, nonverbal skills and visuals will be applied to topics such as robotics, virtual reality, internet speech and privacy, and/or technology ethics. Presentations will be followed by student-led discussions and brainstorming sessions about each technology topic. The art of seeing pros and cons pertaining to controversial concepts will be explored through group discussions. And, students will have the opportunity to create a resume and be formally interviewed for a technology position.
ENG101 - Composition I
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): ENG055 or equivalent
This course is designed to present effective techniques in organizing, developing and revising academic essays that reflect collegiate-level critical and logical thinking skills. Students will write a minimum of four essays, directed toward audiences with specific rhetorical situations, that stress descriptive, analytical, evaluative and persuasive/ argumentative writing. Students will also develop their critical reading skills: analyzing, evaluating and critiquing the claims and evidence used by various authors.
ENG102 - Composition II
Credits: 3.00
(GE, Humanities)
Prerequisite(s): ENG101
ENG102 is designed to introduce students to the essential language, theories and strategies of argumentation and research. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the tools necessary to develop arguments for specific audiences within specific rhetorical situations. Students will also develop their critical reading skills: analyzing, evaluating and critiquing the claims and evidence used by various authors. Finally, students will learn proper research skills and write an in-depth research essay/project.
PSY150 - Psychology of Thinking
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
PSY150 will examine the writings of Pythagoras, the father of formal mathematical thinking; Aristotle’s major works, including his 100-plus tests for the truth of any proposition; and other major thinkers from the classical period to modern times, including Francis Bacon, Galileo and other progenitors
of the natural and behavioral sciences. The course will close with a survey of living thinkers, including “system thinkers” and a study of the major books by Edward de Bono.
SOC150 - Technology and Society
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
SOC150 is designed to introduce students to the essential understanding, development, theories, strategies and historical interrelation of technology and society. The purpose of the course is to provide students with the tools necessary to understand the role technology has played in society and to prepare students for interaction in a technology driven world with a comprehensive look at the relationship between technology and culture. Technology will be recognized as a driving force in cultural revolutions and as a foundational concept of human development. The course will consider rapidly changing technologies in modern society, the problems associated with these changes and the affects of these technologies on the societies and cultures around the world.
Conceptual/Foundational Courses
- 12 credits minimum
CFR101 - Computer Forensic Essentials
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
This course covers the history of forensics, the essentials of computer forensic investigations and the evolution of computer forensics. It will include a mixture on modes of attack, examples of cyber crimes and the reasons for cyber attacks. It will also explain the role of computer forensics in tracking cyber criminals and computer forensics methodologies.
CFR105 - Understanding File Systems and Structures
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR101
A firm grasp of basic file systems and structures is a key to the success of a forensic investigator. This course provides an overview of fundamental file structure concepts. This is the foundation of knowledge for file systems and structures that will be the cornerstone for understanding future forensics courses. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
CIS204 - LINUX I
Credits: 2.00
Pre-Requisite(s): None
This course provides an overview of the commands, utilities, and supporting architecture used in the UNIX operating system. This course provides the student with skills needed to navigate the UNIX aspects of the Internet and perform file/system operations on graphics workstations. Topics include common utilities, making files, the VI and EMAC editors, and C, Bourne and Korne shells.
MGT102 - Management in a Technology Environment
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): None
This course provides an introduction to management principles that specifically apply in contemporary technology environments, applications of management in technology organizations that include the management functions and processes of controlling, decision making, leading, motivating, organizing and communicating. This course will examine working in groups and teams, effective communication and adapting to change.
NTS201 - Security Essentials
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTW102
The goal of this course is to provide network administrators with the knowledge to design and implement an effective security strategy in a competitive corporate networking environment. This course will explore security-bydesign utilizing anti-virus tools, security policies and practices, password management, risk analysis and assessments, network vulnerabilities, enhancing security through cabling and network hardware, understanding different types of firewalls, packet filtering and NAT, setting up and securing a VPN, and understanding contemporary hacker exploits. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
NTW100 - Network and Telecommunication Essentials
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
A firm grasp of basic networking concepts is essential for success in the network engineering field. This course builds the foundation of knowledge for a networking infrastructure that will enable students to engage and understand future networking courses. This course provides an overview of contemporary fundamental networking concepts to connect with an established knowledge base.
NTW101 - Wireless and Personal Network Technologies
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
This course will provide a broad knowledge base of current Wireless and Personal Area Network technology (WPAN) standards, trends, issues and technologies. Topics will expand on the basic concepts of RF and Wireless techniques, with the addition of Bluetooth, 802.11x, 802.15 WPAN, WWAN, WIMAX and other contemporary wireless communication technologies. Students will learn to evaluate a wireless technology, design infrastructures and study the deployment of wireless technologies in a typical corporate environment.
NTW212 - Client and Server Hardware Components
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): none
Computing hardware utilized for clients and servers are unique in their roles within a stand-alone or networked environment, each requiring specialized hardware components. Topics introduced in this course comprise component safety, ESD, processors, motherboards, computer memory and refresh rates, CMOS, typical IO ports, interrupts, DMA, bus size, cycle time, hard drive interfaces, system assembly, OS installation and troubleshooting. Applied concepts include hardware redundancy and failover, networking issues related to the NIC, server planning, RAID arrays and diagnostic tools for troubleshooting and problem resolution. Students will develop skills necessary to assemble a functional computer using common hardware elements.
NTW322 - Internet Protocols and Techniques
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTW215
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the historical suite of communications protocols used to connect the Internet and intranet systems. In this course, students will study in-depth the current Internet protocol suite to understand concepts such as link layers, subnetting, logical addressing (IP), physical Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), logical address routing and Domain Name System (DNS). Future Internet protocols and technologies will be examined relating to the topics of transition, implementation, impact, security, mobility and routing.
Skills Development Courses
- 12 credits minimum
CFR210 - Forensic Tools and Incident Response
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR105, NTW102
This course covers the analysis of computer incidents from an investigative standpoint. Applied topics include how to isolate systems, recover key files without causing damage or accidental boot-ups, conduct a live analysis, address operating system specific issues and the logistics of recovery from data catastrophes or malware infection. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
CFR225 - Operating System Forensics
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR105, NTW216
This course will provide the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to choose the proper tool in order to examine various operating systems. It will explore operating systems from a forensics point of view. Topics covered in this course include examining Windows, UNIX, Linux and Mac operating systems. The course will guide students through the popular forensic tools used with each operating system and case examples. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
CFR230 - Investigative Techniques
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR101
Forensic sleuthing can involve using some highly creative methods to find the evidence in a case. This course will explore the methods that can be used to solve digital forensic mysteries. It will also train students to use sound methods so all evidence collected during an investigation will be admissible and reliable in court.
CFR310 - Internet Forensics
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR230, NTW215
This course will explore how to determine and investigate Internet and e-mail crimes. It examines Internet protocols, indications of a web attack, spamming and identity fraud. The forensic subjects presented include viewing e-mail headers from a variety of mail formats, investigative tools for locating IP addresses, web page defacement and DNS compromises.
CFR320 - Handheld Forensics
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR230
Evidence can be found on handheld devices such as cell phones and iPods. This course will provide the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to seize, image, examine and build cases for handheld devices. It will explore the latest mobile phone technologies, flash memory and personal digital assistants (PDAs) along with the tools that can be used to extract information from these devices. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
CIS214 - UNIX/LINUX II
Credits: 2.00
Pre-Requisite(s): CIS204
This course builds upon the concepts presented in CIS204, providing students with skills and knowledge of more advanced commands and concepts relating to the UNIX operating systems. Topics include compounding commands, processes, using system documentation and regular expressions.
MGT322 - Financial Management in a Technology Environment
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): MAT174, MGT102
Students will examine the role of risk in financial decision making. Various methods of corporate financing will also be discussed. The student will understand financial markets, interest rates, risk and rates of return. This course discusses the concepts of basic accounting and financial reporting and forecasting germane to a manager.
NTS330 - Applied Exploits and Hacking
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTS201, TCH301
When discussing practical network security, we must acknowledge that all systems have vulnerabilities. This course combines the fundamental and historical perspective of hacking methodologies and applied hands-on skills. Hacking topics are explored in order to examine the current systems associated with these vulnerable points. This is an applied hands-on course requiring the use of a variety of modern operating systems. Typical walkthroughs explore the standard hacking methodologies such as discovery, footprinting, targeting, attacks, penetration, escalation of privileges and maintaining access. Technical feedback is provided on appropriate means for countering each step of this common methodology.
NTS350 - Network Security Monitoring
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTW370
Explore the world of Network Security Monitoring (NSM) and packet analysis. Network security monitoring takes a step past standard intrusion detection models and collects the full spectrum of data types (event, session, full content, and statistical) needed to identify and validate intrusions on contemporary network infrastructures. This course will examine typical network security monitoring hardware, tools, design and deployment. Standard vulnerability packet analysis scenarios will provide an in-depth appreciation of monitoring corporate-level networking environments.
NTS450 - Security Assessment Methodology
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTS330
This course is based on the National Security Agency's (NSA) Information Security (INFOSEC) Assessment Methodology (IAM). This course is an overview of the NSA's recommended methods for conducting an organizational security assessment, including coordination with the customer; defining critical information within the organization; and compiling findings based on regulations, legislation and policies for which the organization is liable to comply. The students that attend this course will be required to participate in an actual IAM-based assessment. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
NTW215 - System Administration I
Credits: 4.00
Prerequisite(s): NTW100, NTW212
This course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to install, configure and administer a client and server utilizing contemporary operating systems in a stand-alone and networked environment. This course is a mixture of theoretical and applied knowledge used to develop the system administration skills necessary for the successful completion and understanding of the higher level network engineering and information security courses.
NTW250 - Scripting for Networks
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CIS204, NTW215
This how-to script course is designed to construct, implement and document a script or program used to automate an administrative process or other task such as installation, administration, network management, mapping resources, logon scripts, patch management and updates. The techniques and instructions include shells as a user interface, basic scripting, script editing and debugging, graphing data and simplifying administrative tasks utilizing contemporary computing platforms and examples. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
Synthesis Courses
- 12 credits minimum
CFR312 - Fraud Forensics
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): MGT322
As more and more crime occurs during financial transactions, a digital forensic investigator needs to know how to detect fraud. This course covers how to perform an in-depth fraud investigation, including organizing and categorizing evidence, and how to conduct an assessment of the internal control environment. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
CFR410 - Network Forensics
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR101, NTW216
Today’s enterprises implement a variety of equipment within their infrastructures. A successful computer forensic candidate must have the skills necessary to understand topologies and protocols. This course will provide the skills, tools and knowledge necessary to identify and gather evidence on a network. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
CFR412 - DoD Digital Forensics Challenge
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): Instructor Approval
The DC3 Challenge is a call to the digital forensics community to pioneer new investigative tools, techniques and methodologies. This course is a study of solving challenges faced in processing digital evidence. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio. Due to the changing nature of the challenges, this course can be taken twice and credits received both times toward the appropriate degree.
CFR420 - Advanced Forensics
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR410
This course covers advanced forensic topics such as router, application and database attacks. Everything needed to complete complex investigations will be explored, as well as advanced data recovery methods. Advanced Forensics will provide the necessary skills to become one of the top computer forensic investigators on the market today.
CFR430 - Expert Testimony
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): CFR101, LAW480
Who is an expert? If a student plans to testify in court, the examiner must qualify as an "expert" witness. This course focuses on maintaining objectivity and independence as a responsible IT expert witness. It covers how to explain, interpret and draw conclusions on any evidence that is discovered and how to convey it in plain, simple terms. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
LAW480 - Forensic Law
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): LAW370
This law course provides the foundation of legal knowledge required to enter the world of technology based forensics investigation. Case studies are geared at illustrating the legal implications of working in the forensics field. The legal topics include e-discovery best practices, discerning what is acceptable in a court of law, how to appropriately store and handle the evidence and how to communicate with a nontechnical audience. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
MAT220 - Statistics
Credits: 3.00
(GE, Mathematics)
Prerequisite(s): MAT174
MAT220 presents the student with basic statistical concepts and methods. This course introduces descriptive and inferential statistics including elementary probability, linear regression and hypothesis testing.
NTS355 - Information Security and Organizational Management
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTS201
Information security is a rapidly changing discipline in a vast information society. Corporations need to protect their information resources from theft. Developing comprehensive risk assessment plans will prevent the loss of sensitive data. This course will address both the managerial and technical aspects of information security. Topics include the need for security in the enterprise; legal, ethical and professional issues in information security; risk management; best practices for security; logical and physical design of security; implementing security; employee training and awareness; and security maintenance. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.
NTS412 - Securing a Network
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTS201, NTW216
A comprehensive, vendor neutral exposure to network storage systems to satisfy the growing needs of Internet services is explored in this course. Advantages of the network storage model over direct-attached storage include scalability, improved utilization and sharing of distributed storage resources. Topics include establishing business continuity concepts and principles, configuration, deployment, administration, capacity planning, backup and disaster recovery, storage-specific protocols, DAS, SAN, NAS, CAS, and emerging technologies such as IP-SAN, storage virtualization and security. Protection of sensitive corporate data transferred over the network requires stronger security and safety guarantees than standard system I/O buses and
is the cornerstone of this course.
NTS415 - Network Defense and Countermeasures
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTS330, NTW216
The Network Defense and Countermeasures course is the art of fencing for network protection. This course covers designing a network defense; security policies; choosing and designing firewalls; configuring firewalls (demos and research); setting up VPNs; Intrusion Detection System overview and design; honey pots; and behavior-blocking software. Additionally, this course will provide solutions for identifying, assessing and preventing external and internal threats to your network in a multi-vendor environment.
NTS435 - International and Federal INFOSEC Standards and Regulations
Credits: 3.00
Prerequisite(s): NTS201
This course is an overview of the world of federal and international information security standards that guide the way organizations are doing business today. Research and analysis are conducted on how US security regulations vary from industry to industry, including healthcare, education, military, federal organizations, utilities and financial organizations. International security standards will also be reviewed in order to understand the impact of implementing appropriate information security mechanisms in a global organization. The documentation created during this course can be added to the student's portfolio.