Cybersecurity

Grades 9-12 (URI college credit available for students)

Cyber Technology and Issues in a Global Society is a URI general education course intended for all students (not just those interested in computer science or cybersecurity as a career). This course provides an overview of the technology, threats, and social impact of cybersecurity in our everyday lives.

Students will gain a broad understanding of what cybersecurity is and why it’s important in their everyday lives. Topics include security breaches, cyber professions, basic cyber concepts, social engineering, cryptography, cyber threats, global impact, and incident response.

College Credit
This course can earn students 4 URI college credits through the URI CS Concurrent Enrollment Program.

URI supports several Cybersecurity options that are eligible for concurrent enrollment:

Use the comparison chart to decide Which Option is Best for your School!

PD is required for all concurrent enrollment offerings. Contact us to determine which PD is approved for each cybersecurity offering.

All offerings are great, but they take different approaches.
Which offering is best for your school?

Cyber.org URI PLTW
Course Offering Intro to Cybersecurity Cybersecurity Technology & Issues in a Global Society Cybersecurity
Course Description Designed for cybersecurity career exploration, the focus of instruction includes the implementation and monitoring of security on network and computer systems. Students investigate strategies to identify and protect against security threats such as hackers and network attacks. Each unit integrates current events and related cyber ethics and law. Overview of the technology, threats, and social impact of cybersecurity. Students will gain a broad understanding of what cybersecurity is and why it’s important in their everyday lives. Topics include security breaches, cyber professions, basic cyber concepts, social engineering, cryptography, cyber threats, global impact, and incident response. Introduces tools and concepts of cybersecurity and encourages students to create solutions that allow people to share computing resources while protecting privacy. Raises students’ knowledge of and commitment to ethical computing behavior. Aims to develop students’ cybersecurity skills as consumers, friends, citizens, and employees.
Grade Level Introductory 9-12 Introductory 9-12 Advanced 11-12
Prerequisite None None CS Principles (or similar)
Curriculum Cost Free Free Annual fee (calculate total cost)
Curriculum Resources/Support Provides extensive teacher lesson plans including videos, readings, discussion question, activities, assessments, teachers notes and slides. Nationally community of practice. Basic lessons include videos, readings, assignments, grading rubrics, discussion questions, and quizzes. Local support from URI and RI teacher community of practice. Provides extensive teacher lesson plans including videos, readings, reflective question, activities, projects, and assessments (developed for high school students). Nationally supported curriculum.
PD Cost Free (CISA funded) Free (scholarship funding from CS4RI) Cost per teacher may vary (see details - scholarship funding may be available)
PD Format Virtual summer workshops (see all offerings) Asynch online summer course (~16 hrs/wk for 5 weeks) Various offerings (view options)
Device Requirement Works on all devices (including Chromebook) Works on all devices (including Chromebook) Windows/Mac
Textbook None Cyber Security for Beginners text book (~$20 each on Amazon) None
Objective Introduce students to basic cybersecurity concepts and inspire interest in cybersecurity careers Prepares students to decide if they may wish to pursue higher education or a career in cybersecurity Prepares students for cyber challenges by providing technical skills required to solve problems