PLTW Cybersecurity is a full-year course implemented in 10th grade or above. The course design exposes high school students to the ever-growing and far-reaching field of cybersecurity. Students accomplish this through problem-based learning, where they role-play and train as cybersecurity experts.
PLTW Cybersecurity strongly connects to the National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (also known as the NICE Framework or NCWF). Created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), this framework identifies standards developed by numerous academic, industry, and government organizations. The framework objectives address topics that span K-12 education and guide learning progressions. The objectives also incorporate many of the big ideas outlined by the College Board and addressed in AP CSP. In addition, the course integrates Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) standards.
PLTW Cybersecurity gives students a broad exposure to the many aspects of digital and information security, while encouraging socially responsible choices and ethical behavior. It inspires algorithmic thinking, computational thinking, and especially, “outside-the-box” thinking. Students explore the many educational and career paths available to cybersecurity experts, as well as other careers that comprise the field of information security. The course contains the following units of study.