Cybersecurity | CodePath

Pathway: Cybersecurity

Cost: No-cost

Timeline: 10 weeks (Spring 2023)

Commitment: 2-5 hours per week depending on level

Skill Level: Intro (CYB 101) or Intermediate (CYB 102)

Explore the complex field of digital security with the Cybersecurity pathway! Learn about real-world tools and attacks, empowering you to confidently discuss the basics of different areas of cybersecurity. Next, deep-dive into the world of web application security, with hands-on practice in both exploitation techniques and strategies for protecting and hardening web applications. Students who apply will be placed into the introductory-level or the intermediate-level, based on eligibility.

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Course Details

Program Dates & Times

The courses will be offered during the following dates/times. Please note that the Intro course has two sections for students to choose.

Intro (CYB 101 Section 1): 2/21-4/25 (every Tues at 5-7 PM PT)
Intro (CYB 101 Section 2): 2/25-4/29 (every Sat at 10 AM-12 PM PT)
Intermediate (CYB 102): The Intermediate-level course is currently only offered at a few select universities. To see if your university is running the course and its course schedule, check out the course details page or email admissions@codepath.org.

Application Deadline

February 5, 2023 at 11:59 pm PT

Location

Intro (CYB 101): The introductory course will run as a remote course.

Intermediate (CYB 102): The Intermediate level course will be offered at a few select universities . For more information and to see if your university is running the course, check out the course details page or email admissions@codepath.org.

Black male student sitting on bleachers with laptop

Group of diverse students standing in front of white board

About the Course

Pathway: Cybersecurity is a course series for students interested in understanding the role of security professionals through interactive hands-on practice, reading, and lectures. With a focus on web applications security, students will learn to think like a hacker and exploit vulnerabilities, while also exploring how to build offensive capabilities into applications. Students will gain broad foundational knowledge of cybersecurity concepts while also applying these concepts with fun simulations replicating real-world cyber threats.

This course was originally developed in collaboration with Meta.

You Should Take this Course If...

You are curious if cybersecurity may be a possible career, and would like to try hands-on experiences to see what it is like.

Icon of person wearing hat and sunglasses coding on a laptop

You would like to gain some hacking experience by challenging yourself to learn about cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how to protect against them.

You feel that adding knowledge of cybersecurity will help you in your programming, IT, or other computer-related major—everyone needs to understand how to recognize and defend against attacks!

What You'll Learn

Introductory level

Real-world tools: Linux command line, ssh, Kali OS
Pen-testing: Cracking passwords, IP & DNS exploits, metasploit
Context: Learn to identify and discuss attacks and their mitigations
Multiple topic areas: Malware, Social Engineering, Data, Networking

Intermediate level

Focuses on web app security, which is important for both cybersecurity professionals and web developers.
Learn actively through hands-on exercises, pen-tests, and by solving CTF challenges
Get practical experience with real-world tools: Kali OS, Burp, hashcat, metasploit, set, and more.
Relevant: Course built off the OWASP Top 10 exploits

NOTE: Offered as for-credit on select campuses only. Stay tuned for updates.

Tech Excellence for All

At CodePath, we believe access to relevant, hands-on technical training, career guidance, mentors, and community—created by engineers, for engineers—can help give tomorrow’s technology leaders the edge they need to launch successful, life-changing careers. As a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, we strive to increase diversity in tech by making successful, meaningful careers in software engineering accessible to all, and by transforming college Computer Science education to make students career-ready.

Our programming centers the needs and success of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and low-income Computer Science students.

Did You Know?

2,244

Hackers attack internet-connected computers constantly, an average of every 39 seconds, or 2,244 times a day (University of Maryland).

$121,502

Cybersecurity Engineers in the U.S. make an average of $121,502 annually (Glassdoor).

31%

Demand for information security professionals is very high, with job openings expected to increase by a whopping 31% between 2019-2029 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Eligibility

Students who are 18 years or older
Students who will be enrolled in US (Puerto Rico included) college or university within the calendar year
For the introductory class: Open to students from any major or students who have not yet declared a major. No prior coding experience required.
For the intermediate class: Majoring in CS, Software Engineering, or related subject
- Must have completed an introductory programming course
- Helpful to have:
  - Web applications and web development
  - Middleware such as web servers and databases

Students who have 2 hours to devote to virtual classes
Students who have webcam and microphone for active course participation

Those who identify as Black, Latinx, Indigenous, from a low-income household, or are the first in their family to attend college are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

The application is a 3-step process:

Fill out a 10-15 minute application about your interest in a career in tech and general information about you as a person.
Once the application is completed, CodePath will send the pre-work task for completion. The task involves answering three (3) exploratory questions related to Cybersecurity.

Note: Applicants who do not complete this step will not be admitted to the course.
Await admissions decision. Once we receive Steps 1-2, we will process your application.

Note: Admission is determined on a rolling basis, with decisions released every week, starting the week of January 4th.

ANDRES HARO

DevOps Engineer at DATASHIELD

CHRIS MCMAHON

Freelance Software Architect and Full-Stack Engineer

SUSHMA MARYADA

Security Technologist, Incident Response at Uber

Hear from Our Alums

DAVID AWOGBEMILA

Software Engineering Intern, Google
Howard University

"The focus on hands-on activities and real-life scenarios made for an awesome learning experience. I appreciated how the course was structured in a way that reflected the nature of Cybersecurity."

ANGELA MEI LI

Engineer, LG Electronics
CUNY Baruch College

"I’ve always been fascinated with the hackers' world. It was lucky of me, against many other applicants, to be accepted into this course. Although it could be a bit challenging without prior basic knowledge, the lectures are quite informative. Every week we get to explore new topics and hacking concepts with practice. I believe some problems are close simulations of real-world scenarios. To anyone pursuing a career path in Cybersecurity, this course truly aligns with your passion."

ZAVIER BEROLO

Software Engineer Program Intern, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co
CUNY Baruch College

"For my cohort specifically, I am very happy that I am learning essentially first-hand what "hacking" really is including cybersecurity fundamentals. Also, the teachers have been amazing and have gone the extra-mile to help me and the other classmates countless amounts of times already."

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FAQs

What is this course about?

CodePath's Cybersecurity course is a 10-week course offered to students interested in and pursuingCS, IT/IS, and computer-related majors at no-cost. Students will learn the fundamentals of web application security while exploring vulnerabilities in hands-on labs. It is a rigorous, challenging, and experiential class that gives students the opportunity to think like a hacker, simulate exploits, and better understand how to protect computer applications and systems from intrusion. The course is intended to supplement the coursework for students in computing majors, and is valuable both for students considering a career in cybersecurity and those who will use this knowledge in other engineering or management roles.
How do I apply to take this course?
1. First, you must fill out an application.
2. Secondly, you will need to complete and submit a short questionnaire for the course (this takes approximately 30 minutes).
Applicants who do not complete both steps will not be admitted to the course.
Who can apply for the course?

Students who are enrolled in universities and colleges in the United States, including Puerto Rico.
What computer experience and knowledge do I need to have to take the class?

This is an introductory level course and is open for beginners.
How much time will I need to complete the assignments?

Introductory level: students should expect minimal out-of-class work.

Intermediate level: student expect to spend approximately 5 hours/week outside of class completing assignments to get the most value from the class.
Who will the instructors be?

The course instructors will be professionals from major technology companies who volunteer their time to share their knowledge. The labs will be taught by CodePath instructors who have completed the course.
What if I need additional help during the class?

CodePath teaching assistants will be available to help with assignments. You will be in a Slack channel where you can ask questions at any time and someone will get back to you within 24 hours or less.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion of the course?

Yes, you will receive a certificate of completion upon completion of the course with a 60% or higher. Many of our students will post and share their certificates on LinkedIn, and we encourage you to do so!
Is this class really offered for free? How are you able to do that?

Yes, CodePath is a nonprofit with backing from major tech companies like Comcast, Walmart, Cognizant, and Meta. In fact, this course was originally developed in collaboration with Facebook. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we can offer our classes to any eligible student for free.
How can I get more information about this course?

Please email admissions@codepath.org with any questions.