DPI Partnership
ND Department of Public Instruction Computer Science and Cybersecurity Credential Offerings
Bismarck State College has partnered with North Dakota Department of Public Instruction to offer Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Computer Science (CS) and Cybersecurity Credentials.
Why Enroll at BSC?
- Courses offered online
- Instructor led courses by industry experts
- Curriculum offered in partnership with Palo Alto Networks
- Opportunity to earn an industry recognized PCCET certification
- Access to Palo Alto Networks Virtual Lab
Scholarship Opportunities
Please contact BSC Continuing Education & TrainND SW to inquire about scholarship opportunities for North Dakota educators interested in cybersecurity training. Bismarck State College is once again able to award up to 26 scholarships to North Dakota educators providing them with financial support to upskill in cybersecurity fundamentals with the goal to enhance retention of educators and improve transference of vital cybersecurity skills to North Dakota students, preparing them for the future. Educators are eligible for up to two $500 scholarships.
Apply Now!
Offering Options
| |
College Credit Courses |
Non-College Credit Course |
| Instruction: |
Instructor led |
Instructor supported |
| Schedule: |
Offered up to 3 times a year |
Classes begin 2nd Monday of each month |
| Course Access: |
8 -16 weeks |
12 Weeks / Self-Paced |
| Course Availability: |
Anytime, anywhere Internet is available |
Anytime, anywhere Internet is available |
| Testing: |
Completed Online |
Completed Online |
Investment:
Industry Certification
Degree Availability: |
$602.53 - $803.38 per course
PCCET Certification Exam available
Certificate in Cybersecurity Fundamentals |
$600 per course
PCCET Certification Exam available
Prior learning credits towards a Certificate in
Cybersecurity Fundamentals available |
COLLEGE CREDIT Course Outline
CIS 140 - Cybersecurity Foundation/Fundamentals – 48 hours
CIS 141 - Network Security Foundation/Fundamentals – 48 hours
CIS 142 - Cloud Security Fundamentals –48 hours
CIS 143 - Security Operations Fundamentals – 48 hours
CIS 164 - Networking Fundamentals – 64 hours or CIS 197/297 - Cooperative or Internship – 4 credits
Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate (16 Credits) would be earned if all courses above are completed.
The Apprentice Certification Exam is available after CIS 140, 141, 142, and 143 are completed.
Non- College Credit Course Options
These courses are approved through VCSU for graduate credit
Cybersecurity Foundation/Fundamentals – 48 hours
Network Security Fundamentals – 48 hours
Cloud Security Fundamentals – 48 hours
Security Operations Fundamentals – 48 hours
Networking Fundamentals – 64 hours
Principles of Information Security – 48 hours
The Apprentice Certification Exam is available after the first four classes are completed
Course Descriptions
Cybersecurity Foundation/Fundamentals: Apprentice
This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the modern cybersecurity landscape and today’s cyberthreats. You’ll learn about current attack methods, defense strategies, public Wi-Fi risks, and protection measures. You will also learn about modern security models, focusing on perimeter-based and Zero Trust models. The course concludes with an overview of Palo Alto Networks' prevention architecture and the key capabilities required for preventing successful cyberattacks.
Network Security Fundamentals: Apprentice
These courses cover network security fundamentals, including connected devices, routing, area networks, and protocols. They also introduce IP addressing, subnetting, TCP/IP and OSI models, packet lifecycle, and encapsulation. The courses teach endpoint security prevention for threats like malware, viruses, ransomware, and phishing attacks. They delve into network security fundamentals for home networks and critical infrastructure, and present Palo Alto Networks network-security solutions.
Cloud Security Fundamentals
These courses cover the core technologies used in cloud computing, such as virtual machines and containers, development operations teams, and the CI/CD pipeline. They provide an overview of cloud computing models, shared responsibility, best practices, and hybrid cloud computing. The courses discuss the models and processes organizations use for cloud technologies, common software development models, and the supporting teams. They explain how cloud-native application protection platforms (CNAPP) offer comprehensive protection with integrated security and compliance capabilities for cloud-native applications in development and production. Lastly, the courses provide insights into how the Prisma Cloud platform prevents and detects security risks using a cloud-native application protection platform.
Security Operations Fundamentals
These courses cover the daily life of a SecOps analyst, the six elements of security operations, and how SOAR technology simplifies cybersecurity response and prevention. They introduce endpoint protection with the Cortex XDR agent, which combines behavioral protection and AI-based analysis to stop advanced attacks. The courses provide a high-level overview of Cortex XSOAR Threat Intelligence Management (TIM), a security solution for automating and streamlining threat intelligence processes, including native threat intelligence, data sources, incident enrichment, and threat intel reports. Finally, the courses introduce the products in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex platform: Cortex XSOAR, Cortex XDR, Cortex XSOAR TIM, and Cortex XSIAM.
