CS429 Cybersecurity Essentials
CS429 Cybersecurity Essentials
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
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Computer Sciences and Engineering
Amal Mersni
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is intended for students who plan to continue their education in the field of cybersecurity. This introductory course provides an overview of the area of cybersecurity. It aims to provide a fundamental understanding of all cyber security domains, how to defend an organization and obtain useful skills to start your cyber career. By the end of the course, students who successfully completed all requirements will earn Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials Badge and Certificate
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Cisco Networking Academy Platform and CompTIA Security+ SY0-401 materials
Additional Literature
Graham, James, Ryan Olson, and Rick Howard, eds. Cyber security essentials . CRC Press, 2016.Teaching Methods
The course employs a range of teaching and learning methods, such as lectures with presentations , in-class examples and discussions
It contains engaging multimedia content, such as interactive activities , videos, games, and module quizzes, to assist students in understanding the key ideas
It also focuses on practical skills and hands-on experience tasks for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the subject and the Cisco Packet Tracer tool. | Slides and online resources |
| 2 | Cybersecurity – A World of Experts and Criminals. | Slides and online resources |
| 3 | Cybersecurity Principles, Practices, and Processes. | Slides and online resources |
| 4 | Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks. | Slides and online resources |
| 5 | The Art of Protecting Secrets. | Slides and online resources |
| 6 | The Art of Ensuring Integrity. | Slides and online resources |
| 7 | CyberSecurity Month Awareness. | Slides and online resources |
| 8 | Midterm | |
| 9 | Workshop - Communicating in a Cyber World: Cybersecurity Solutions and Threat Mitigation | Slides and online resources |
| 10 | The Five Nines Concept. | Slides and online resources |
| 11 | Protocols and Technologies: Monotoring Common Protocols, Security Technologies. | Slides and online resources |
| 12 | Workshop - Server Firewalls and Router ACLs. | Slides and online resources |
| 13 | Threat Intelligence and Lab: Evaluating Cybersecurity Reports. | Slides and online resources |
| 14 | Vulnearbility Assessment and Risk Management. | Slides and online resources |
| 15 | Presentations on Cybersecurity Topics. | Slides and online resources |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS429.1 | Course | Wednesday 15:00 - 17:50 | B F1.25 Computer Lab | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Hands-on labs
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Practical Skills activities
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Home study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
In-term exam study
36 hours ⏳ (2 week × 18 h)
Final exam study
19 hours ⏳ (1 week × 19 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [CS429] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| CS429 | Cybersecurity Essentials | 3 | 2 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Amal Mersni | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| amersni@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is intended for students who plan to continue their education in the field of cybersecurity. This introductory course provides an overview of the area of cybersecurity. It aims to provide a fundamental understanding of all cyber security domains, how to defend an organization and obtain useful skills to start your cyber career. By the end of the course, students who successfully completed all requirements will earn Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials Badge and Certificate | |||||||||
| Textbook | Cisco Networking Academy Platform and CompTIA Security+ SY0-401 materials | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The course employs a range of teaching and learning methods, such as lectures with presentations , in-class examples and discussions. It contains engaging multimedia content, such as interactive activities , videos, games, and module quizzes, to assist students in understanding the key ideas. It also focuses on practical skills and hands-on experience tasks for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the subject and the Cisco Packet Tracer tool. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Cybersecurity – A World of Experts and Criminals. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Cybersecurity Principles, Practices, and Processes. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 5 | The Art of Protecting Secrets. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 6 | The Art of Ensuring Integrity. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 7 | CyberSecurity Month Awareness. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Workshop - Communicating in a Cyber World: Cybersecurity Solutions and Threat Mitigation | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 10 | The Five Nines Concept. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Protocols and Technologies: Monotoring Common Protocols, Security Technologies. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Workshop - Server Firewalls and Router ACLs. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Threat Intelligence and Lab: Evaluating Cybersecurity Reports. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Vulnearbility Assessment and Risk Management. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Presentations on Cybersecurity Topics. | Slides and online resources | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 5 | 15 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Hands-on labs | 5 | 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm | 1 | 25 | 1, 2, 3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 13 | 39 | Practical Skills activities | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Home study | 2 | 14 | 28 | In-term exam study | 18 | 2 | 36 | |||
| Final exam study | 19 | 1 | 19 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 21/09/2025 | |||||||||