Online Computer Networking
Bachelor's Degree Program

This course provides instruction in fundamental object-oriented programming concepts. Topics include problem solving and algorithm development, programming standards, variables, data types, operators, decisions, repetitive statements, modularity, methods, attributes, objects, classes, arrays, file I/O, and software testing and debugging, all within an object-oriented programming framework. Concepts may be introduced with a visual tool. Topics are demonstrated and implemented in a higher-level contemporary language such as Java or C#.

This course provides instruction in network design and technologies using the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model. Topics include network fundamentals, the OSI model, network operating systems, TCP/IP fundamentals and utilities, network installation and upgrades, network remote access configuration and protocols, network administration and security, fault tolerance and disaster recovery considerations and procedures, and network troubleshooting procedures.

This course is designed to introduce the transition or bridge student to the basic concepts related to information technology. Emphasis will be placed on the scope of computer architecture and troubleshooting, basic network concepts, TCPIP, Windows and Linux operating systems, network security fundamentals, routing and switching concepts, and virtualization.

This course provides an introduction to fundamental principles and guidelines for designing, developing, and implementing secure relational databases. Topics include: Database as a Service (DBaaS); entity relationships as foundations of relational database design; ensuring data integrity; the use of standard SQL as a means of developing complex queries; and the use of comparison operators to customize data presentation for reporting.

This course provides instruction in microcomputer software and hardware concepts using the latest technology and troubleshooting techniques. Topics include the function and purpose of hardware and software, system board components and memory management, working with floppy and hard drives, supporting input and output devices, multimedia technology, supporting operating systems, printers, and notebook computers, troubleshooting fundamentals, applying disaster-recovery techniques and developing maintenance plans, and working with networks and the Internet.

This course introduces the capabilities and features of Linux as a multi-user operating system. Topics include planning and installing a Linux system, using and managing desktop interfaces, working with Linux shells and text files, performing system administration and management tasks such as file system management, application, process, and module management, network services installation and configuration, system security evaluation and enhancement, performance tuning, and troubleshooting techniques.

This course introduces basic security principles, such as establishing an effective security policy, and the different types of hacker activities that are most likely to be encountered. It will instruct the student in the latest security industry recommendations and how to properly protect leading OS servers in a variety of settings as well as how to conduct security audits.

This course introduces part one of concepts and procedures required to utilize industry standard switches and routers in multi-protocol internetworks. Topics include exploring router components and their function, configuring routers according to the industry standard operating system (OS), routing fundamentals in a subnetted network infrastructure, and LAN design technologies. The class focuses on the TCP/IP protocol suite and IP addressing in regards to function and importance in a routed environment. Routing protocol basics, such as static and dynamic routing techniques, are covered, with extensive labs and hands-on exercises.

This course is a continuation of the Routers and Switches I course and is based on current industry standards. The focus of the course will cover topics such as switching basics, intermediate routing, introduction to VLSM (variable length subnet masking), scaling IP addresses, route flapping, RIP version 2, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol implementation, switching concepts in regards to LAN design, VLAN configuration, and VLAN trunking techniques. The class also explores the leading industry standards associated with WAN communication technologies and design such as ISDN, PPP, and Frame Relay operations.

This course is a study of intermediate to advanced topics regarding Linux server-based applications. Topics include advanced Linux system administration, using Linux as an e-mail server, FTP server, database server, web server, and news server. Topics will also discuss implementing Linux services including DHCP, DNS, NIS, firewall, and network security.

This course covers the Python programming language. Topics include the basic elements of programming, variables, assignment statements, built-in data types, conditions, loops, arrays, and I/O. This class covers programming skills such as algorithm development, and program design with functions. It also includes an introduction to object-oriented programming and GUI programming concepts and topics.

This course is designed to help students develop skills that will enable them to produce clear and effective scientific and technical documents. Focus will be on basic principles of good writing-which scientific and technical writing shares with other forms of writing-and on types of documents common in scientific and technical fields and organizations. While the emphasis will be on writing, oral communication of scientific and technical information will form an important component of the course, as well. The processes and techniques used to produce manuals and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily will be explored.

This course develops knowledge and skills in data storage. Students will learn data storage principles, architectures, and implementations. Topics include: storage system principles, architectures, and implementations; storage networking technologies; datacenter environment, storage backup, archive, and replication; cloud computing; and data storage security and infrastructure management.

This course covers techniques and managerial concepts of information technology project management. It prepares students to manage complex information technology projects. Students are introduced to all five major process groups in project management, namely initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing. Topics include project life cycles, cost benefit analysis, work breakdown structure, staffing, roles, responsibilities, accountability, finance, estimation, budgeting, planning, risk management, scheduling, and tracking. The course also introduces students to computer software for project management. Students will work in teams to design a project plan for a real-world IT project that demonstrates an ability to follow standard project management methodology.

This course develops knowledge and skills in cloud computing. Students will learn cloud computing principles, architectures, and implementations. Topics include cloud computing history, principles, architectures, and implementations, cloud services and solutions, virtualization, network infrastructure and access, data storage, security, end-user access, and standards and compliance.

This course develops knowledge and skills in Microsoft Windows client and server operating systems. Topics include installing the client and server operating systems, planning, installing, managing, and troubleshooting server roles, features, and network services, implementing and conducting administration of resources, implementing, managing, and troubleshooting hardware devices and drivers, monitoring and optimizing performance, reliability and availability, managing, configuring, and troubleshooting storage use, configuring and troubleshooting the desktop environment and network connections, implementing, managing, and troubleshooting network protocols, and implementing, monitoring, and troubleshooting security.

This course is designed to provide instruction in implementing and administering a modern network infrastructure. Topics include installing, configuring, managing, monitoring, and troubleshooting domain name services, network protocols, Windows Internet Name Services (WINS), Internet Protocol Routing, network address translation (NAT), and Certificate Services.

This course provides instruction in computer operating system virtualization concepts and practices. Topics include business and performance benefits of virtualization, local and network storage management, creating and managing stand-alone virtual machines, cloning virtual machines, virtualization in the network operations center, software and network testing using virtualization, virtualization as a disaster recovery tool, and managing and tuning virtual machine and virtual infrastructure performance. Emphasis is placed on learning several virtualization environments and approaches, both proprietary and open-source. Concepts will be illustrated and enforced with a variety of actual installations and practical projects.

This course provides instruction on both general and specific wireless technologies. Topics include wireless theory, including radio frequency and infrared transmissions. It also covers wireless topologies, access points, wireless bridges, antenna theory, wireless security, site surveys, and troubleshooting techniques.

This course provides an introduction to automating administrative tasks using scripts. Students will design and implement scripts of moderate complexity that automate administrative tasks such as the creation of user accounts, the administration of disk drive and printer, and the management of system services and event logs. Scripts may be written using languages such as Bourne and C, and Korn shells and JScript, VBScript, and Perl. Topics include tools and utilities, interactive command line programs, shell programming using constructs, variables, commands, functions, and debugging processes.

This course provides instruction in the implementation, administration, and troubleshooting of e-mail messaging systems. Topics include the architecture and communication abilities of mail servers, installation of mail servers, backward integration and compatibility, client support and configuration, real-time collaboration, foreign mail system connectors, SMTP and Internet-based client access, security techniques, performance monitoring, maintenance procedures, and troubleshooting issues.

This class will immerse the student into an interactive environment where they will be shown how to scan, test, hack, and secure their own systems. The lab-intensive environment gives each student in-depth knowledge and practical experience with the current essential security systems. Students will begin by understanding how perimeter defenses work and then be led into scanning and attacking their own networks; no real network is harmed. Students then learn how intruders escalate privileges and what steps can be taken to secure a system. Students will also learn about intrusion detection, policy creation, social engineering, open-source intelligence, incident handling, and log interpretation.

Voice-over IP is an emerging technology which allows the transmission of voice signals over a data network. This course teaches the student how to install and configure the voice-over IP telephony technology. Topics include installing and configuring voice and data network routers, configuring voice-over frame relay, ATM and IP, configuring voice ports and dial peers, voice traffic analysis, and QoS.

This course provides instruction in IT infrastructure-related topics that include personal computer elements, portable devices, network operating systems, printers and imaging devices, networks and network security, safety and environmental issues, and professionalism. It covers the material required to pass the CompTIA IT technician A+ certification exam.

This course continues instruction in designing, developing, and implementing secure relational databases. Topics include: advanced techniques for queries, forms, and reports in an event-driven environment; in-depth coverage of structuring databases using object oriented concepts of properties and methods of classes and objects; techniques for debugging, error handling, and optimizing database applications, client and server strategies, transaction processing, multi-user applications, replication; Internet integration, and security.

This course reinforces academic knowledge and advanced routing and switching concepts and emphasizes the importance of the critical nature of self-assessment, giving students hands-on experience. The course introduces students to advanced concepts in router and switch design and configurations. Topics include supernetting, VLSM, subnetting, VLANs, interVLAN routing, access lists, technical drawing, troubleshooting networks with routers and switches, and integrating Cisco routers and switches into a Windows networking environment.

This course provides the study of the analysis and design of information systems for business applications. The course concentrates on the systems development process-the analysis. The analysis process provides a strong basis for understanding and modeling the user needs in an information system solution with a business-driven conception. Topics include requirements elicitation, initial proposal, project management, data flow diagramming, agile modeling, data dictionaries, structured decision tables/trees, effective input/output designs, database designs, quality data-entry procedures, and object-oriented concepts. The course does not include any programming of the system or actual layout of the network. Emphasis is placed on the tools and analytical skills required of the systems analyst. The final project of the class aims at producing a professional systems document using most of the analyst's tools.

This course provides an introductory overview to information technology (IT) and software development (SD). Topics include PC hardware, computer networking, OSI model, client and server operating systems, basic virtualization, programming and logic, databases, and basic web authoring.

This course is intended to provide students the opportunity to develop a foundation upon which to create a portfolio that documents the knowledge, skills and abilities learned during their program of study. The various types of learning artifacts that are commonly used in portfolios, including presentations, diagrams, papers and project summaries will be reviewed. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have built an ePortfolio which they may continue to build upon.

This course provides a CompTIA A+ competency review of CompTIA A+ certification textbook exercises and lab exercises, and it prepares the student for completion of CompTIA A+ exams 220-801 and 220-802.

This course provides a Microsoft MCSA competency review of the Microsoft MCSA certification textbook exercises, lab exercises, and exam objectives. This course also includes the preparation and completion of the Microsoft exams 70-646, 70-642, and 70-640.

This course provides a CCNA competency review of CCNA certification textbook exercises, lab exercises, and exam objectives. This course also includes the preparation and completion of the CCNA exam 640-802.

This course equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to design and support network security in a typical routing and switching topology. The course aims to develop an in-depth understanding of network security principles as well as tools and configurations such as protocol sniffers/analyzers, TCP/IP and common desktop utilities, IOS software, and VPN client software. Topics include access control lists, intrusion prevention systems, IPSec, and virtual private networks.

This course develops knowledge and skills in Information Assurance and Security. Students will learn Information Assurance and Security principles; legal and ethical considerations; incident handling and reporting; risk identification and mitigation; security and operations management; security policies; security audits; and information security standards.

The threat to systems is one that is continuously changing and evolving. The goal of the ethical hacker is to help organizations take pre-emptive measures against malicious attacks by attacking the system themselves while staying within legal limits. This course will explore the various means that an intruder has available to gain access to the security of a network and various resources. Students will be introduced to penetration testing with the ethics and responsibilities of testing in mind as well as various security attacks to the advanced level. The course will have an intense laboratory component which will be limited to student networks. Foundations in security policy, perimeter defenses, intrusion detection, security monitoring, liability issues, and ethics will be covered. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, penetration testing, enumerating, footprinting, scanning, hacking techniques, firewall, IDS, procedural documentation, host reconnaissance Trojans, backdoors, and system attacks such as WLAN, database servers, web servers, and e-mail servers. It must be noted that hacking is a felony in the United States and most other countries. When it is done by request and under a contract between an Ethical Hacker and an organization, it is legal.

This course offers an in-depth look at TCP/IP, performing volumes of packet captures and analysis, and auditing and generating documentation for hardening procedures. Topics include implementation of IPSec in several different scenarios including a detailed and extensive lesson on securing Linux and Windows network infrastructures. The course will focus on best practices for network design to avoid security breaches and hardening network services such as DNS, DHCP, Directory Services, Operating System Routing, and NAT. Students will also be introduced to securing routers and switches in an infrastructure design as well as professional documentation of network infrastructures. Students will work in teams on a project to demonstrate concepts of hardening a network infrastructure.

This course offers an in-depth look at web application security for students who have some prior understanding of web technologies. There is an in-depth treatment of several significant topics such as user authentication, browser security, business logic, data handling, and distributed threats. The course also covers motivating attacks, defense mechanisms, and security tools and techniques. Emphasis is placed on the skills and abilities for analyzing and documenting web security as a security specialist in order to protect web-related services. Topics include client security, cookies and web beacons, phishing, transaction security-certificates and secure connections, spyware and viruses, man-in-the-middle attacks, server security, denial-of-service attacks, attacks via clients (e.g., zombies and DOS), and DNS poisoning.

This course provides a cloud computing virtualization competency review of the EMC Cloud Infrastructure Associate-VMWare Certified Professional Certification textbook exercises, lab exercises, and exam objectives. This course also includes the preparation and completion of the EMC E20-002 and VMWare VCP5DT exams.

This course examines and explains the technologies required to design, build, and audit a trusted network. Topics include detailed discussions of corporate security culture, the reasons for building and components of a trusted network, and an in-depth look into cryptography, computer forensics law, and legislation, looking at the legalities surrounding networks and network security. Additional topics include a detailed look at biometrics and its applications, strong authentication, and a discussion of two of the cornerstones of trusted networks: digital certificates and digital signatures.

This course begins with a discussion of the following: the needs and requirements for building a trusted network, an examination of Certificate Policies and Certificate Practice Statements key to the planning and design of a trusted network, procedures for configuring certificate authorities (CA), both stand-alone and as the root, and the creation and configuration of Certification Authority. Additional topics include management of digital certificates, including their use and configuration on Smart Cards, the procedures available for securing local resources, including documentation of problems and solutions, encryption and biometrics, securing a wireless network in the enterprise, securing e-mail, including the use of S/MIME and PGP, and building a trusted network.

This course develops introductory knowledge and skills needed to configure, manage, and support network security in routing and switching technologies. Topics include network security principles, security threats, routers and switches security configuration, monitoring, management, authentication, authorization, and accounting implementation, access control list configuration, and intrusion prevention operation.

This course is a continuation of Routing and Switching Security I and will develop the knowledge and skills needed to configure, manage, and support network security in routing and switching technologies. Topics include securing the local area network (LAN), including endpoint, Layer 2, wireless, VoIP, and network storage devices, defining and using cryptographic systems, implementing and configuring virtual private networks (VPNs), managing a secure network, listing network security policy elements, and describing a Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA).

This course develops knowledge and skills in advanced network infrastructure in an enterprise environment. Students will learn advanced network infrastructure principles and architectures to deploy, manage, and maintain a network server operating system infrastructure. Topics include advanced network infrastructure architectures, solutions, and implementations, high availability, file and storage solutions, business continuity and disaster recovery, advanced active directory infrastructure, and identity and access solutions.

This course provides instruction in the analysis of business requirements for resource security and the designing of security solutions that meet business requirements in a network system. Topics include analyzing security requirements and designing network security solutions for access between networks and communication channels.

This course provides an in-depth study of the knowledge and skills required to install and administer web servers that support Internet based application, data, and information services. Topics include web server technology, selecting a web server platform, establishing server services such as HTTP, FTP, SMTP, and NNTP, supporting server-side technologies (CGI, servlets, server-side includes, ASP, and JSP),supporting web client technologies (Java applets, ActiveX, and plug-ins), client configuration and browser support, indexing and index servers, virtual directories and content, web server security and host access, SSL and certificate authorities, supporting intranets with web servers, web server performance and troubleshooting, integrating proxy and web servers, handling of different protocols by proxies, proxy caching, filtering, monitoring, access control, and proxy security, performance, capacity planning, and load balancing.

This course is a study of intermediate to advanced topics regarding switching concepts. Topics include switching roles, configuration and troubleshooting of switches, VLAN technology, spanning tree protocol, multilayer switching, multicasting, IP telephony, layer 2 and 3 configuration, and SANs.

This course is intended to provide students with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills needed to plan, monitor and implement scalable routed enterprise networks. Routing protocols focused upon may include OSPF, BGP and EIGRP. Other topics may include route redistribution, path selection, policy based routing, layer 3 path control and securing communications hardware in an enterprise network.

This course is a study of intermediate to advanced topics regarding network troubleshooting. It is focused on providing real-world application, skill enhancement, and troubleshooting methodologies. Topics include the OSI model, IOS troubleshooting commands, trouble tickets, and troubleshooting IP and IPX, switches, VLANs, frame relay, and WAN interfaces.

Voice-over IP is an emerging technology which allows the transmission of voice signals over a data network. This course teaches the student how to install and configure the voice-over IP telephony technology. Topics include installing and configuring voice and data network routers, configuring voice-over frame relay, ATM and IP, configuring voice ports and dial peers, voice traffic analysis, and QoS.

Students work individually or in project teams on an industry-sponsored or instructor-approved project. They will identify a problem, develop design specifications based on stakeholder needs, consider alternative designs, develop a schedule and/or budget, and design, develop, and test the proposed process or product. Interim reports to the sponsor or to the class, a final project report, and a final presentation will be required.

This is an elective course in bachelor's programs that students may take in their final semester. The career internship course is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the computer science and information technology fields. The outcome of the internship is an informed student fully apprised of the opportunities their program offers for professional growth. During the internship, the student will experience various aspects of working in the actual field in which the student has been educated. The internship is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to experience and participate in duties typical of a contemporary workplace setting. Student learning centers on observing experienced personnel as well as participating in actual hands-on procedures under close supervision of trained professionals.

This course is designed to introduce students to methodologies that will prepare them for academic and professional success.  Topics include but are not limited to Canvas support, student support services, e-books, university policies, resumes, self-reflection, time management, goal setting, and strategies for anxiety reduction.

This course provides an opportunity for students to critically examine their skills and develop a plan to further their career and own financial literacy. Topics include research, job searching, developing career documents, refining interview and communication skills, and creating a personal budget.