Computer and Network Security — Florida Course Repo

Course Description

CET 4663 Computer and Network Security is an upper-division course in the "fundamentals of computer security technology, including cryptography, authentication, digital signatures and network security tools and applications" (statewide description). It is taught inside bachelor's programs in electrical and computer engineering technology at two Florida state colleges, so it approaches security from the hardware and network side rather than the policy side.

Two state colleges, two packagings

	Valencia College	Miami Dade College
Number	`CET 4663` (this page)	⚠ `CET 4663C`, with an integrated lab
Title	Computer and Network Security	⚠ Electronic Security
Credits / hours	3; 3 lecture hours a week, no lab	3
Emphasis	Hands-on network defence: "secure communications, secure operating systems, and network protection technologies such as firewall, intrusion detection systems, and access control policies." Outcomes include building firewalls and implementing a VPN.	Principles: the CIA triad, threat categories, security models, cryptography, public policy and case studies, "for students who are majoring in electronics engineering technologies."
Prerequisite	C or better in `EGN 3046` or `EGN 3428`, and `CET 2123C`	Admission to the upper-division program

⚠ Same number, different centre of gravity. Valencia's version is closer to a network-defence lab course; Miami Dade's to a principles course. Both satisfy the statewide description.

⚠ The state record names this course as the prerequisite for CET 4668 Practice of Information Security. That course is no longer offered, so there is no follow-on under this prefix.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Explain the goals of security, confidentiality, integrity and availability, and the trade-offs between them.
Classify threats (interception, interruption, modification, fabrication) and identify vulnerabilities in hardware, software and data.
Explain symmetric and public-key cryptography, hashing and digital signatures, and where each is used.
Explain authentication methods and access-control policies.
Secure communications and an operating system (Valencia outcome).
Design and configure firewalls and a protected network topology (Valencia outcome).
Explain how intrusion detection systems work (Valencia outcome).
Implement a virtual private network (Valencia outcome).

Optional Outcomes

Analyse security case studies and public policy (Miami Dade).
Describe the motives and methods of attackers (Miami Dade).
Use common security tools: packet capture, port scanning and vulnerability scanning.

Major Topics

Required Topics

Security goals, threats and vulnerabilities
Cryptography: symmetric, public-key, hashing
Digital signatures and certificates
Authentication and access control
Secure operating systems
Firewalls and network architecture
Intrusion detection and prevention
VPNs and secure communications

Optional Topics

Security models
Law, ethics and public policy
Wireless and embedded-device security

Resources & Tools

Stallings, Network Security Essentials, or Pfleeger, Security in Computing, a standard text whose threat taxonomy Miami Dade's outcomes follow closely.
Wireshark, Nmap, and a firewall platform (pfSense or a vendor appliance) in a lab or virtual environment.
NIST publications (the Cybersecurity Framework, SP 800 series), free.
CompTIA Security+ objectives. The course covers much of this certification.

Career Pathways

Information security analysts (SOC 15-1212). See this site's Cybersecurity Analyst career path.
Network and computer systems administrators (SOC 15-1244). See the Network and Systems Administrator path.
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists (SOC 17-3023) working on secure embedded, industrial-control and defence systems, the angle an engineering-technology degree brings to security.

Special Information

Offering Notes

Institution	Number and title	Credits	Note
Valencia College (VC)	CET 4663 Computer and Network Security	3	3 lecture hours a week. C or better required if used for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology B.S.
Miami Dade College (MDC)	CET 4663C Electronic Security	3	Integrated lab; for electronics engineering technology majors.

Both carry it at 3 credits. The guide records 45 contact hours, matching Valencia's 3 weekly lecture hours.

Prerequisites

The statewide record lists none. ⚠ Valencia's are substantial: a C or better in EGN 3046 (engineering technology mathematics) or EGN 3428, plus CET 2123C Microprocessors. This is a course for students already in the bachelor's program.