Developing and implementing an institution-wide introductory cyber-security course in record time
Christopher W. Brown, Frederick L. Crabbe, Rita Doerr, Raymond Greenlaw, Chris Hoffmeister, Justin Monroe, Donald M. Needham, Andrew T. Phillips, Stephen Schall, John Schultz, Steven Simon, David Stahl, Sarah Standard · 2012
In spring 2011, the United States Naval Academy decided that, beginning in fall 2011, all first-year students would be required to take an introductory core course in the technical foundations of cyber security. This decision triggered our attempt to set an "academic world-record" for the development and implementation of a unique core course in six months time for all 1,200 incoming Midshipmen. The concern was that many graduates lacked an understanding of the risks and threats pertaining to cyber security, as cyber attacks and cyber crime become greater threats to the health and preservation of the nation. Such instruction simply could not wait; it had to be done, and done immediately. Throughout this paper we present the lessons we learned to provide guidance to others faced with the similar challenge of implementing a university-wide course while under a tight deadline. The insights we gained will prove useful to those thinking of implementing a technical core course, particularly one in cyber security.