19. Cybersecurity Ethics Education: A Curriculum Proposal

Cybersecurity ethics has emerged as a new and increasingly significant area for research and education. New and complex ethical dilemmas and conflicts in values and judgments arise as new cybersecurity technologies and policies are constantly explored and implemented to defend our cyberspace for a safe and secure living and work environment. As various cyber threats, attacks, and risks pose increasing challenges to the diverse and interconnected world we live in, there is an increasing demand for quality cybersecurity education to prepare and produce qualified and ethically competent professionals to address the cybersecurity challenges. The national Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) designation by the U.S. National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (NSA/DHS) is a high-quality program that promotes excellence in cybersecurity education for developing qualified cyber talent. Strong curriculum and courses supported by regular mentoring are essential to successful preparation of cybersecurity professionals. This research paper proposes a new credit course in cybersecurity ethics supported by an adopted comprehensive model of mentoring for an undergraduate cybersecurity education program at a CAE-CDE designated university in the United States. The curriculum proposal will present the rationale, course description, mappings of learning outcomes and topics to the CAE-CDE knowledge unit, suggested methods of assessment, and mentoring activities. The goal of this research is to contribute a new course design with ethical mentoring to enrich and enhance national and international cybersecurity curriculum and education.