Developing a Critical Infrastructure and Control Systems Cybersecurity Curriculum

This paper discusses the initial course development, portable living laboratory environment, student achievements and course revisions for an undergraduate and graduate level critical infrastructure and control systems cyber security curriculum. The curriculum developed is based upon DePaul University´s Computer and Network Security (CNS) 366 / 466 delivered during the Spring 2011, Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 quarters and collaborative industry partnerships. The educational methods employed in the curriculum provide the students with hands-on, cognitive experiences associated with production control system equipment. The critical infrastructure test bed projects coupled with the rapid prototyping environment provide faculty and students with real world associations leading to increased risk analysis accuracy and knowledge conveyance. The curriculum may be used at other institutions to cross-educate computer science and security disciplines with traditional engineering programs and become associated within the current partnership of industry and academic institutions leveraging the curriculum.