{"id":642,"date":"2025-02-04T16:04:30","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T16:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/?page_id=642"},"modified":"2026-05-18T20:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T20:41:13","slug":"goals-future-plans","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/home\/goals-future-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Goals &amp; Future Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">ODU Cybersecurity Degree &amp; Certification Plan<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><em>Undergraduate Goals<\/em> (<strong><em>Spring 2027<\/em><\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), &amp; Cloud Networking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><em>Graduate Goals <\/em>(<strong><em>start 2027<\/em><\/strong>)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Pursue part\/full-time employment and a MS in Cybersecurity with a Concentration in AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Summer 2026 Course Load<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">IDS 300W: <\/span>Interdisciplinary Theory and Concepts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">MATH 211: <\/span>PreCalculus II (prerequisite for most AI\/ML graduate-level programs &amp; courses)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">COVA Research Paper Expansion Project<\/span>:\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Second paper<\/strong><\/em> completion and submission for publishing <strong><em>before <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>end of Summer 2026<\/strong><\/em> <strong><em>semester<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Start third paper <\/em><\/strong>research and development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>As time permits.<\/em>..\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CompTIA Linux+<\/span> Certification preparation (light filler; active push in Fall Session 2, exam target late 2026)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Fall 2026 Course Load<\/span> <\/strong>(<em>ODU changes to 8-week acceleration sessions)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">MATH 212:<\/span> Calculus I (16 weeks, prerequisite for most AI\/ML graduate-level programs &amp; courses)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>First Session<\/strong><\/span> (<em>Fall 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CYSE 425w:<\/span> Cyber Strategy and Policy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CYSE 420:<\/span> Applied Machine Learning in Cybersecurity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">COVA Research Paper Expansion Project<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Continuing <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>third paper<\/strong><\/em> research and development<strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>In-person presentation<\/em><\/strong> at a conference for the first paper findings (still pending review, acceptance, and publishing, <strong><em>ETA July 31st, 2026<\/em><\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>As time permits&#8230;<\/em>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CompTIA Linux+<\/span> Certification preparation continued&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Second Session<\/strong><\/span> (<em>Fall 2026<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CS 464<\/span>: Networked Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">COVA Research Paper Expansion Project<\/span>:\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Finish <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>third paper<\/strong><\/em> to submit for publishing <strong><em>before end of 2026 calendar year<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>As time permits&#8230;<\/em>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CompTIA Linux+ <\/span>Certification exam taken (during winter break)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Optional, as time permits.<\/em>..\n<ul>\n<li>CS 463 Cryptography for Cybersecurity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Spring 2027 Course Load<\/span><\/strong> (<em>ODU changes to 8-week acceleration sessions)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">MATH 316<\/span>: Calculus II (16 weeks, prerequisite for most AI\/ML graduate-level programs &amp; courses)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>First Session<\/strong><\/span> (<em>Spring 2027<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CYSE 368: <\/span>Cybersecurity Internship (or CYSE 469: Entrepreneurship in Cybersecurity)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CS 465<\/span>: Information Assurance for Cybersecurity, or&#8230;\n<ul>\n<li>CYSE 418: Enterprise Information Assurance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CRJS 310, Cybercriminology: Foundations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">COVA <\/span>Research Paper Expansion Project:\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Start fourth<\/em><\/strong> <strong><em>paper <\/em><\/strong>research and development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Optional, as time permits.<\/em>..\n<ul>\n<li>CYSE 450: Ethical Penetration Testing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Second Session<\/strong><\/span> (<em>Spring 2027<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">CYSE 368: <\/span>Cybersecurity Internship (or CYSE 469\/494: Entrepreneurship in Cybersecurity)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">IDS 493:<\/span> IDS Electronic Portfolio Project<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">COVA Research Paper Expansion Project:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Finish <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>fourth<\/strong> <\/em><strong><em>paper <\/em><\/strong>research and development <strong><em>before end of Spring 2027 semester<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Optional, as time permits.<\/em>..\n<ul>\n<li>CS 469 Data Analytics for Cybersecurity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Summ<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>er 2027 Workload <\/strong><\/span><em>(Post May 2027 Undergraduate Graduation)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">MATH 316: <\/span>Linear Algebra (prerequisite for most AI\/ML graduate-level programs &amp; courses)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">COVA Research Paper Expansion Project:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Finish <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>fourth<\/strong> <\/em><strong><em>paper <\/em><\/strong>to submit for publishing <strong><em>before end of Summer 2027 semester.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><em>Start fifth paper <\/em><\/strong>research and development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Stretch Goals \u2014 Next 12-18 Months<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Pursued only when ahead of committed coursework and research priorities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Optional Coursework:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>STAT 330 (Probability &amp; Statistics for AI\/ML graduate programs)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Optional Certifications:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>CompTIA CySA+ <em>(post-graduation target)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CompTIA PenTest+ <em>(post-graduation target)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>CompTIA SecAI+<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microsoft AZ-900, AI-900, SC-900 <em>(starter Azure certs; suitable for short windows)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Self-Directed Projects &amp; Skill-Building:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Home Lab build-out (software framework on existing hardware\/NAS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ethical penetration testing labs (Hack Smarter \/ Cyber Range \/ Tyler Ramsbey content)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Udemy AI\/LLM coursework<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coding projects (Python, JS via WDS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Personal growth (debate tutorials, content creation)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ODU Cybersecurity Degree &amp; Certification Plan Undergraduate Goals (Spring 2027) Focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), &amp; Cloud Networking. Graduate Goals (start 2027) Pursue part\/full-time employment and a MS in Cybersecurity with a Concentration in AI. Summer 2026 Course Load Fall 2026 Course Load (ODU changes to 8-week acceleration sessions) First Session (Fall&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/home\/goals-future-plans\/\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":30379,"featured_media":0,"parent":120,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/642"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30379"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=642"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2607,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/642\/revisions\/2607"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/locky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}