Joseph Black.

This course is the culminating experience of the doctoral research experience. The purpose of the course is to successfully prepare the written dissertation based on previous original applied research and to present its oral defense.

During this course the doctoral student will collect and analyze data to further the dissertation research developed in previous courses. The purpose of this course is to complete an original piece of applied research which will contribute to the development of the cybersecurity field. At the end of the course, the doctoral student must have completed the analysis phase of the dissertation and be ready to complete the writing process.

In this course, doctoral students will develop the documentation for approval of their research topic and overall research plan, obtain approval from their advisor, and submit their dissertation proposal for approval by the Faculty Dissertation Committee. Students will evaluate which type of IRB submission is appropriate and prepare the material for its timely submission. The student will also be guided in a professional literature review on their chosen topic and develop a clear understanding of past work in their field.

In this course, doctoral students will be exposed to the overall research design process through the analysis of knowledge claims, strategies of inquiry, and the development phases of the research project. The course examines how to consider external factors and how they are applied to the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methodologies. In addition, this course will provide the student with an introduction to questionnaire design.

In this course, doctoral students will begin to develop the applied research concept in the cybersecurity field. Students examine the state of cybersecurity research and the roadmaps established at the national and international levels. It is designed to provide an increased understanding of the philosophy of science and the nature of scientific thinking. The doctoral students identify researchable topics, the use of existing knowledge to act as a basis for the research project, and the use of information systems to support the identification of known information and data. The course prepares students to be cybersecurity leaders who are able to use applied research to refine and improve cybersecurity practices through evidence-based techniques.

This course prepares doctoral students for the applied research process in the cybersecurity field. Students review APA guidelines and look at the special requirements for academic writing. They start thinking of issues in the field that could benefit from additional research, and they begin to examine the literature research and writing process to develop these ideas into potential dissertation topics. Students also analyze past work and consider ethical issues that might occur during the conduct of cybersecurity research.

This doctoral-level course covers the cyber threat intelligence landscape, including tactical, operational, and strategic dimensions. It includes open source intelligence techniques and social media intelligence techniques as well as mobile app intelligence-gathering techniques. Investigational strategies, such as counter intelligence methods and attribution, are also discussed.

This doctoral course explores global and national cybersecurity policy, examining the laws, regulations, and policies that have the potential to enhance national security and foster innovation in cybersecurity and technology. Featured guest lecturers will discuss current topics, with attention to national and international efforts. Students will have the opportunity to submit (and potentially publish) in the Journal of National Science Policy and Governance.

This doctoral-level course integrates cybersecurity concepts, principles, tools, and techniques into the system life cycle, including acquisition and purchasing of technology, security requirements definition during requirements analysis, secure software coding practices, auditing processes for production systems, cyber insurance considerations, and communication security issues with upper management and the board.

This doctoral course explores machine learning models and algorithms for today's business world and in cybersecurity in particular. The course focuses on both understanding the theory of machine learning approaches, and their reliance on trustworthy and unbiased data. Doctoral students will be expected to research the emerging role of machine learning and artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, predict its impact in cybersecurity globally, and develop an application. Topics include supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning, fundamental algorithms such as linear regression, decision tree learning, classification and support vector machines, and researching applications for these techniques. Students research and discuss how machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) are used in cybersecurity, both for attack by adversaries and defense by government and industry.

This doctoral-level course examines the cybersecurity challenges of the constantly changing computing infrastructure with its increasing reliance on the Internet and the rise of additional threats posed by cloud computing, mobile computing, integration of the Internet of Things, automated industrial control systems, use of hardware built in other countries, and the risk of other critical infrastructures. This course examines the cybersecurity challenges of interrelated systems across the global landscape and the different techniques used to protect computers and data, with particular emphasis on sectors such as transportation, utilities, health care, financial services, and manufacturing.

This doctoral-level course covers all aspects of the management of the risk of cyber attack and covers the foundations for the thoughtful and purposeful development of cyber defense strategies in any organization. In general, there are too many threats and potential vulnerabilities but not enough money and resources to protect all the digital assets in organizations, particularly those connected to the Internet. This courses covers the strategic decision-making process, including formal methodologies, as to which assets to defend and why.

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A comprehensive evaluation of issues in cybersecurity technology. Topics include enterprise risk management, vulnerability assessment, threat analysis, crisis management, security architecture, security models, security policy development and implementation, security compliance, information privacy, identity management, incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning, particularly in the health, banking, and finance sectors.

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Topics include buffer overflows, SQL injection, and session hijacking. Focus is on developing defensive methodologies, including the use of advanced testing and program analysis techniques, to prevent or mitigate these attacks.

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Topics include procedures for securing and validating evidence, including digital media and physical memory, and for recovering artifacts and analyzing, reporting, and presenting results in both criminal and civil situations. Experience with mobile forensic analysis is provided.

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A detailed exploration of the tools and technologies commonly used in forensic examinations best practices. Topics include procedures for securing and validating evidence, including digital media and physical memory, and for recovering artifacts and analyzing, reporting, and presenting results in both criminal and civil situations. Experience with mobile forensic analysis is provided.

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A comprehensive study of the cyber exploitation methodologies. The objective is to identify the latest tools, techniques, and ethical hacking practices. Emphasis is on applying state-of-the-art tools and technologies in a lab-intensive environment that provides hands-on, real-world experience.

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A hands-on, practical study of the computing and mathematical concepts that support the technical aspects of cybersecurity. The objective is to demonstrate the practical skills and abilities needed to solve difficult problems in cybersecurity and systems programming, address advanced cybersecurity challenges, and contribute to the secure development and maintenance of complex computing environments. Topics include low-level programming languages, operating system theory, discrete math, and algorithms, and applied cryptography.

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A comprehensive study of targeted cyberattacks, including advanced persistent threats. The aim is to plan and prepare for, respond to, and recover from targeted cyberattacks. Focus is on the phases of targeted cyberattacks and methods used by attackers during each phase. Topics include cyberattack prevention, mitigation, and response.

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A study of key security issues and procedures in systems and networks. The objective is to identify security issues within LANs, WANs, and network operating systems; identify system threats and network infrastructure design weaknesses; determine security flaws in the network infrastructure protocols; and explain the security of data at rest in systems. Topics include modern systems and network hardening tools, techniques, and practices.

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An introduction to tools and tactics to manage cybersecurity threats, identify various types of common threats, analyze organizational exposure to threats, and collect and analyze cybersecurity intelligence. The goal is to analyze common security failures and identify specific design principles that have been violated. Emphasis is on the interaction between security and system usability and the importance of minimizing the potential for harm by modern threats, attacks, and usability challenges.

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A study of the basics of cybersecurity and the application of cyber methodologies to cyber architectures, services, protocols, algorithms, software components, and programming languages. Focus is on becoming familiar with the important roles that security management, security architecture, operations security, and physical security play in cybersecurity. Discussion covers the impact of cyber terrorism and national security on cybersecurity. Activities include hands-on, real-world experience with state-of-the-art tools and technologies in a lab-intensive environment.

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A comprehensive project-driven study of network design and security, with an emphasis on the integration of knowledge, practical applications, and critical thinking. The objective is to implement a secure and scalable network to meet organizational needs. Topics include advanced concepts in network and security design.

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A comprehensive study of information systems security to enhance organizational security. The goal is to manage risks by identifying and mitigating them.

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An introduction to the concepts and skills necessary to perform penetration testing and red teaming. The goal is to use penetration testing techniques focused on the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) including pre-engagement interactions, intelligence gathering, threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting to perform a penetration test and present findings to management. Topics include tools, such as KALI Linux and the Metasploit Framework, that can be used for penetration testing and strategies for red teaming.

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A hands-on study of basic cloud technologies. The aim is to apply the techniques and tools used in cloud environments, especially the AWS (Amazon Web Services) cloud. Topics include the global infrastructure of the cloud, deployment and operation in various cloud environments, high availability, scalability, elasticity, security, and troubleshooting. AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are compared.

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Development of the structured knowledge base needed to discover vulnerabilities and recommend solutions for tightening network security and protecting data from potential attackers. Focus is on penetration-testing tools and techniques to protect computer networks.

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A study of the Linux operating system. The goal is to configure and manage processes, user interfaces, device files, print facilities, file systems, task automation, the boot-up/shutdown sequence, disk storage, network connectivity, system security, and users and groups.

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A hands-on introduction to Cisco internetworking devices. Focus is on switching technologies and router operations that support small-to- medium business networks, including wireless local area networks (WLAN) and security concepts. The goal is to perform basic network configuration and troubleshooting, identify and mitigate LAN security threats, and configure and secure a basic WLAN.

A study of the analysis of data in threat and vulnerability management. The goal is to properly utilize various cybersecurity tools and technologies. Discussion covers the analysis of threats and the impact on incident response, as well as the tools and equipment used in a forensic investigation. Various industry and government frameworks and regulatory compliance are highlighted.

A study of the fundamental concepts of computer security and its implementation. The aim is to assess and mitigate risk, evaluate, and select appropriate technologies, and apply proper security safeguards.

An introduction to networking technologies for local area networks, wide area networks, and wireless networks. The aim is to recognize the type of network design appropriate for a given scenario. Topics include the OSI (open system interconnection) model, security, and networking protocols.

A thorough review of computer hardware and software, with emphasis on the application of current and appropriate computing safety and environmental practices. The goal is to evaluate, install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot computer hardware components and operating systems.

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A study of user-defined data structures and object-oriented design in computer science. The aim is to develop secure Java programs. Topics include linked lists, stacks, queues, arrays, maps, vectors, and trees. Algorithms that perform sorting, searching, and recursion are discussed and analyzed.

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A study of the fundamental concepts of computer architecture and factors that influence the performance of a system. The aim is to apply practical skills to computer systems architecture. Topics include data representation, assembly language, central processing unit architecture, memory architecture, and input/output (I/O) architecture.

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Further study of the Java programming language. The objective is to design, implement, test, debug, and document Java programs, using appropriate development tools. Topics include object-oriented design, event driven programming, exceptions, recursion, arrays, and data structures.

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A study of structured and object-oriented programming using the Java language. The goal is to design, implement, test, debug, and document Java programs, using appropriate development tools. Projects require the use of algorithms, simple data structures, and object-oriented concepts.

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A study of techniques for finding solutions to problems through structured programming and stepwise refinement. The objective is to design programs using pseudocode and implement them in an appropriate programming language. Hands-on practice in debugging, testing, and documenting is provided. Topics include principles of programming, the logic of constructing a computer program, and the practical aspects of integrating program modules into a cohesive application. Algorithms are used to demonstrate programming as an approach to problem-solving.

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Capstone seminar integrated with student teaching. Included reflective practice, professional collaboration, and completion of a Teacher Candidate Work Sample portfolio. Explored real-world classroom challenges through discussion and structured reflection.

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American school organizational patterns interpreted sociologically; role of power and bureaucracy, social and cultural change, stratification and social mobility, and values; analysis of school rituals and ceremonies.

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Overview of middle-level education. Examined the philosophy, organization, and curriculum models of the middle school concept, including adolescent development and instructional practices.

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Introduction to educational research methodologies. Explored qualitative and quantitative data analysis, literature review, and ethical considerations in educational inquiry.

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Examination of lifespan development theories. Emphasized developmental characteristics impacting teaching and learning at various age levels.

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A study of the fundamental skills needed to evaluate educational progress at the individual, classroom, program, and school levels.

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Behavioral characteristics of children with exceptional development, dynamics of family-community interaction, and attitudes toward exceptional conditions. Implications for amelioration and educational planning. Covered legal and ethical foundations of special education.

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Strategies for enhancing reading comprehension and literacy across secondary content areas. Emphasized vocabulary, text structure, and assessment-informed instruction.

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Offers hands-on experience using applications software (databases, multimedia, spreadsheets, word processing) and explores a range of related topics for schools, including state/national standards, current trends/issues, Internet/communications technologies, and hardware accessories.

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Explored effective lesson planning, instructional delivery, and assessment strategies for secondary students. Included peer teaching and curriculum alignment activities.

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General secondary/middle school course with emphasis on instructional standards and objectives, methods, and materials of the disciplines. A clinical experience provides observation and teaching.