Curriculum

What Students Learn

A hands-on, project-based curriculum covering the core competencies of modern cybersecurity. This page is still a work in development.As new topics are covered and projects are completed, this page will give a glimpse into the classroom where students are not only learning, but applying their skills in real-world scenarios. Each topic area below includes work samples and detailed descriptions of how it's taught in the classroom.

Jump to a topic area
01 Digital Footprint — Protecting online identities ↓ 02 CIA Triad — The goals of cybersecurity ↓ 03 Data Analysis — Investigating cyber attacks ↓ 04 Threat Management — Mitigating cyber attacks ↓ 05 Security and Compliance — Ensuring Secure Policies ↓ 06 Coding & Programming — Building the digital world ↓
01

Digital Footprint

We begin the year by exploring how our online activity shapes our digital footprint. Students investigate public clues, connect information across sources, and discover how everyday details can be used to build trust—or manipulate it.

A collage of everyday photographs with a magnifying glass and yellow sticky notes Someone Who Knows Us
Introduction

OSINT Investigation

In “Someone Who Knows Us,” students use open-source intelligence (OSINT) to investigate a fictional digital footprint. Starting with a name and a city, they explore a simulated web of profiles, posts, photos, and community pages. Students record evidence in a casebook, corroborate findings across sources, and distinguish supported facts from assumptions while considering what public information reveals about a person.

Open Source Investigation Evidence Analysis Digital Privacy
Launch investigation
Application

Social Engineering

Using three supported details from their investigation, students craft a simulated phishing email to a fictional character. They annotate the sources behind each detail and explain how familiarity, authority, or urgency could make the message seem convincing. The activity concludes with a reflection on warning signs, independent verification, and ways to reduce exposure online. Messages remain classroom drafts and are not sent.

Social Engineering Phishing Critical Thinking
02

CIA Triad

Description Coming Soon

Work sample for topic 2 Work Sample
Introduction

CIA Basics

Description Coming Soon

Tool Name Skill
03

Data Analysis

Data Analysis is at the heart of defensive cybersecurity. Students use the KC7 Cyber platform to investigate various intrusions where they not only learn to use query language to search for clues, but to string these clues together to create actionable reports for various audiences.

Work sample for topic 3 Work Sample
Intrusion Investigation

KC7 Investigations

Description coming soon

Query Language Data Analysis Incident Response
04

Threat Management

After finding issues that allow for intrusions to happen, students learn to scan and harden systems to prevent future attacks. This skill is invaluable to their ability to earn a career in the cybersecurity field.

Work sample for topic 4 Work Sample
Security Hardening

Security Scan & Fix

Description coming soon

Vulnerability Assessment
05

Security & Compliance

After analyzing various enterprise types, students learn how security policies shape the security of a company. From identity types to access management, students should be able to piece together policies that put the company's security first.

Work sample for topic 5 Work Sample
Policy Production

Security Policy Brochure

Description coming soon

Microsoft Learn
06

Coding & Programming

In addition to understanding security tools, coding and programming are foundational pillars to a well-rounded computer science background. From designing websites to programming robots and sensors, students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and apply learned concepts through individual projects.

Work sample for topic 6 Work Sample
Web Development

Local Website Rejuvination

Description coming soon

HTML CSS Javascript