Spring 2026
Fundamentals of Information Security
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY (ITSY 1300 2A1) CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture, 0 hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: Completed the Online Orientation and answered Yes to 7+ questions on the Online Learner Self-Evaluation: https://www.lit.edu/online-learning/online-orientation. COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to information security including vocabulary and terminology, ethics, the legal environment, and risk management. Identification of exposures and vulnerabilities and appropriate countermeasures are addressed. The importance of appropriate planning, policies and controls is also discussed. This course is time-bound, structured, and completed online. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: • Outline best practices for the information security goals of confidentiality, integrity and availability. • Explain ethical practices. • Define vocabulary/terminology related to information security. • Explain the importance of planning and administrative controls. • Identify security threats, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures. • Identify procedures for security risk management. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Susan Joiner Email: sljoiner@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-247-5326 Office Location: TA 4 Room 103B Office Hours: MWF 7:30-10:00am; MW 12:00-1:00pm TR 7:30-8:00am; 1:30-2:00pm REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS Kim, D., & Solomon, M. (2023). Fundamentals of Information Systems Security. Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 9781284220735 (Print) 9781284222951 (eBook) PARTICIPATION POLICY This is a fully online class. You are expected to log into BlackBoard 3 to 4 times a week to check for updates and announcements. DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified drop date as listed on the Academic Calendar. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. Important Drop Dates Last Day to Drop with Refund 02/04/2026 Last Day to Pay Tuition to Avoid Drop 02/16/2026 Last Day to Drop without Academic Penalty 02/20/2026 Last Day to Drop with Academic Penalty 04/13/2026 STUDENT EXPECTED TIME REQUIREMENT For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16- week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as in the traditional, face-to-face class. COURSE CALENDAR (Subject to Change) DATE TOPIC READINGS ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) Week 1 1/18-1/25 Class Introduction Introduce Yourself Syllabus 1/28/2026 Week 2 1/25-2/1 Information System Security Chapter 1 Pages 1-45 Chapter 1 Assignment Chapter 1 Quiz 2/2/2026 Week 3 2/1-2/8 Emerging Technologies Chapter 2 Pages 46-71 Chapter 2 Assignment Chapter 2 Quiz 2/9/2026 Week 4 2/8-2/15 Risks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities Test 1 Chapter 3 Pages 72-113 Chapter 3 Assignment Test 1 2/16/2026 Week 5 2/15-2/22 Business Drivers of Information Security Chapter 4 Pages 114-139 Chapter 4 Assignment Chapter 4 Quiz 2/23/2026 Week 6 2/22-3/1 Networks and Telecommunication Chapter 5 Pages 140-168 Chapter 5 Assignment Chapter 5 Quiz 3/2/2026 Week 7 3/1-3/8 Access Control Chapter 6 Pages 169-213 Chapter 6 Assignment Chapter 6 Quiz 3/9/2026 Spring Break 3/8-3/15 Spring Break Spring Break Spring Break Week 8 3/15-3/22 Test 2 BlackBoard Test 2 3/23/2026 Week 9 3/22-3/29 Cryptography Chapter 7 Pages 214-254 Chapter 7 Assignment Chapter 7 Quiz 3/30/2026 Week 10 3/29-4/5 Malicious Software and Attack Vectors Chapter 8 Pages 255-296 Chapter 8 Assignment Chapter 8 Quiz 4/6/2026 Week 11 4/5-4/12 Security Operations and Administration Chapter 9 Pages 297-331 Chapter 9 Assignment Chapter 9 Quiz 4/13/2026 Week 12 4/12-4/19 Compliance Laws Chapter 15 Pages 454-490 Chapter 15 Assignment 4/20/2026 Week 13 4/19-4/26 Test 3 BlackBoard Test 3 4/27/2026 Week 14 4/26-5/3 How secure are you? BlackBoard 5/4/2026 Week 15 5/3-5/10 Cybersecurity Final Project BlackBoard 5/6/2026 Week 16 5/10-5/13 Final Exam BlackBoard 5/11/2026 COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Quizzes 10% • Assignments 25% • Final Project 20% • Tests 20% • Final Exam 25% GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F LIT does not use +/- grading scales A grade of ‘C’ or better must be earned in this course for credit toward degree requirement. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Students found to be committing academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, or collusion) may receive disciplinary action. Students need to familiarize themselves with the institution’s Academic Dishonesty Policy available in the Student Catalog & Handbook at http://catalog.lit.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=80#academic-dishonesty. Technical Requirements For the latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc., review the Minimum Computer and Equipment Requirements on the LIT Online Experience page. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand, and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION EAGLE LEARNING ESSENTIALS Eagle Learning Essentials (ELE) https://lit.edu/student-success/eagle-learning-essentials is an affordable textbook rental program through the Barnes and Noble Bookstore. Through this program, students can receive required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and electronic books conveniently before the first day of class. The ELE bundle will provide the needed learning materials at $14 per credit hour (added to your student account), saving students up to 35-50% on the cost of course materials. The cost can be paid by financial aid or by the student. If a student enrolls in a payment plan, this charge will be included in the payment plan calculations. Supplies are not included in this program and will need to be purchased separately. LIT students are automatically enrolled in the program at the time of registration and will begin receiving emails about selecting their preferred delivery method. Course Policies 1. Email is the preferred method of communication (sljoiner@lit.edu). I cannot respond to Blackboard Messages, I can see them but I have no way to respond. I will respond within 48 hours except for weekends and holidays. 2. All assignment due dates are indicated in the Blackboard course for this class and the course calendar above. Any work submitted after the assigned due date will receive a 10- point deduction the first 2 days and 15 points after 2 days. There is a one-week limit for late work, after one week it will be a 0. 3. Tests are assigned a due date and must be completed by that date to receive full credit. Tests will be open for 5 days total, 3 days for full credit and 2 days for 15- points off. There will be no makeup exams. 4. All tests will require lockdown browser. Please see “Test Browser” in the introduction section of the Blackboard course. 5. All written assignments should be submitted in APA format. Refer to the “APA Format Assistance” section in the introduction section of the Blackboard course. 6. Use of AI is strictly prohibited. If caught you will receive a “0” for that assignment. 7. All assignments must be submitted via Blackboard unless specified by your instructor. Assignments submitted through any other method will receive a “0”. 8. Grades for assignments may be accessed through Gradebook in Blackboard. Each assignment shows your grade and any grading comments made on your assignment. 9. All assignments must be turned in before the final exam. Nothing will be graded after the final exam.