Course Name: Cybersecurity, Technology, and Society
Overview
The course, Cybersecurity, Technology and Society or CYSE 200T, provides an introduction to cybersecurity and explores how technology-related security issues connect with business, engineering, criminal justice, philosophy, and to society overall. Throughout the semester, both technical cybersecurity concepts were taught, and the importance and effects of cyber technology, including cybercrime, privacy, critical infrastructure, and ethical dilemmas. The course is heavily participation-based and emphasizes professional writing, with the focus on applying cybersecurity topics to real-world societal challenges.
Course Assignments
Throughout the course, there were many assignments, ranging from perusall discussions to write-ups, quizzes, exams, in-class participation exercises, group presentations, and the development of an electronic portfolio.
Some examples of these assignments included:
SCADA Systems Write-Up
Link to the full document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1biILw7XHc_1PpQAORB3csFgZZGDDVUjIo2THok5NgU0/edit?tab=t.0
Reflection: This write-up assignment deepened my understanding of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and showed me how important they are in protecting critical infrastructure such as power, water, and gas systems from vulnerabilities. Through researching and explaining the topic, I learned that SCADA systems play a major role in maintaining operational stability by providing real-time monitoring, redundancy, and centralized control during potential failures or attacks. Also, completing this paper strengthened my use of APA citations and writing skills, which is a transferable academic skill that will continue to benefit me in future classes as well as in professional environments.
Perusall Discussion on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework
Reflection: This Perusall discussion helped me better understand the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and how organizations could structure their cybersecurity environment, and how they measure their preparedness and identify security gaps. By asking questions and getting responses from classmates, I was able to deepen my understanding of how risk management is not just technical, but also strategic in guiding an organization’s overall security posture. In addition, these perusall assignments strengthened my ability to participate in academic discussions and gave me more experience in a collaborative setting.
Final Project: Cyber Presentation
Link to Fully Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vGsiUp9C6Sqh7PMbpJKKuFfVLiqhJejttGIY7lYbJHI/edit?slide=id.g3d860762ce0_0_493#slide=id.g3d860762ce0_0_493
Reflection: This final presentation, worked on with three other classmates, was a great collaboration project that tied in topics learned in class to the real world. The theme of the presentation is on the evolution and future of cybersecurity. It strengthened my knowledge of what cybersecurity looked like before the internet, during the rise of the internet, how it is today, and its future. The assignment also required a philosophical connection, allowing us to explore how adequately we understand emerging technology such as AI. Overall, this assignment improved my collaboration and research skills, but most importantly, it gave me more experience presenting to an audience, a skill that is crucial in the workforce.