Cisco Network Fundamentals

The Cisco Network Fundamentals pathway was established to ensure that all students with an interest of entering a Cybersecurity career or academic track would have the information necessary to make informed decisions throughout their educational and career journeys. These students would also have the opportunities to earn industry valued credentials and credits along the pathway to a career in Cybersecurity.  

The Pathway team conducted a full review of the syllabi, curricula, programming, lesson plans, course materials, employment opportunities, and other related information specific to the Cybersecurity technology field.   

Ocean County College (OCC), Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC), Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) and Bergen Community College (BCC) created programs to introduce high school students to various cybersecurity careers. A Quick Start Program was also created for high school graduates to use as a career readiness tool built for retention and student success. Additionally, updates and information regarding Dual Enrollment and Prior Learning Assessments (PLA) were also conducted to ensure that students are introduced to the professions early and include industry-recognized credentials that can help them jumpstart their careers and educational aspirations.  

A toolkit created by RCBC has been leveraged by the Cybersecurity pathway to assist colleges with implementing the noncredit to credit articulation and/or portfolio review options of Prior Learning Assessment was created. The layout for this toolkit is based on the “phases of implementing a project,” planning, developing, implementing and launching. In each stage, there is a brief descriptor of the process, important questions for consideration, and sample documents. 

A formal articulation agreement with Rowan University is in process with all of the colleges in the Cybersecurity center, with the result being either a 2+2 or 3+1 curriculum assessment for Cybersecurity programs.  RCBC’s is already formalized due to a previous agreement between the community college and university. 

The colleges are implementing multiple programs that fall under the umbrella of Experiential Learning.  RVCC is running a 3-week summer course for high school students giving them exposure in the field.  OCC is running GenCyber Safe, a five-day summer camp for middle and high school students. GenCyber Safe introduces students to cyber technology through engaging learning activities that connect the basics of security information and related career pathways.  RCBC has created an Experiential Learning toolkit other colleges can utilize to help create or further develop experiential learning programs and can be used in their current format or adapted for an institution’s unique conditions. 

The colleges have created several courses targeted to Adult Learners that embedded Cisco credentials and a Google IT certificate into non-credit curriculum. Students who successfully earn the certifications can also receive academic credit toward the Cybersecurity degree. 

Lastly, the Pathway team created a “train the trainer” program on the new Cisco CyberOps Associate certificate course. Videos were generated so that other professors can use them to learn the course material.  Similar ‘Train the Trainer” programs have been completed for CyberOps and CCNA certification courses.  There are plans to create a professional development implementation guide to assist educational institutions with implementing their own training programs.