I am currently a student at Northampton Community College studying Information Security. My expected graduation date is May 2026.
This page is dedicated to elaborating on the courses I have taken at Northampton Community College. I firmly believe you get out what you put in. Therefore, a course is only as good as the effort that was put toward completing it.
CISC 100 is an introductory course taught through the TestOut platform. It consists of lab environments, videos, and readings. Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of the course was the interactive lab environment relating to identifying, building, and modifying PC hardware components. I performed tasks related to inserting RAM into the correct slots, identifying correct SATA cables for hard drives, and installing processors. The physical aspect was coupled with verifying that these components were installed correctly using the Windows 10 virtual machine. Aside from hardware components, we configured IP addresses, set up office spaces to include end and peripheral devices, and even wrote HTML code. The entire course was a surface level peek into EVERYTHING related to technology. Some of the other topics covered were:
Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Networking
Data Analytics
Troubleshooting
Cloud Computing
Programming
CISC 105 is a comprehensive course on desktop operating systems including: Linux, Windows, and macOS.The course was taught through the Cengage Learning platform through the CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support book. The course takes an in-depth approach to understanding the intricacies of operating systems, file systems, security, and troubleshooting. Each module offered challenging opportunities to apply the concepts from the chapter on your own. Some of the tasks included:
Creating a Virtual Machine
Using Windows Utilities
Applying Troubleshooting Strategies
Scripting
CISC 131 is an introductory networking course taught through Cisco's Netacad platform. The course takes a detailed approach on the OSI Model, utilizing Packet Tracer and Wireshark as supplementary tools. The utilization of Packet Tracer is what made this course such a valuable and important first step in my Cyber Security career. Each module offers Packet Tracer projects to apply the concepts taught. Below is a list of tasks I've completed throughout this course:
Navigating the CISCO Command Line
Configuring a Switch
Configuring a Router
Subnetting/VLSM
Testing connectivity through ping and tracert
Identifying and fixing network issues
Applying security to intermediary devices
Setting up my own Network: Cisco Packet Tracer Project (click the Red button below)
CISC 180 is NCC's prerequisite course for the CompTIA Security+ exam. The course provides an in-depth overview of all the domains covered on the Security+ exam to include: General Security Concepts, Threats, Vulnerabilities, Mitigations, Security Architecture, Security Operations, Security Program Management and Oversight. The course includes conversations with industry professionals who provide real-world examples of cyber security. Each chapter allows students to gain hands on experience through detailed labs and quizzes. Below are some examples of hands on experience I gained throughout the course:
Creating, modifying, and resetting passwords for user accounts in Active Directory
Creating Group Policy Objects for organizational units in Active Directory
Creating firewall rules through Pfsense
Managing Group Policies on the Windows operating system
Modifying local security policies such as password requirements, disabling guest accounts, and changing default administrator credentials
Running vulnerability scans and mitigating risks in an office setting
CISC 286 provides an extensive overview of the Linux operating system. The course is taught through TestOut and relies on a mix of hands-on labs, video lectures, industry conversations, and virtual machines to get through the material. I learned about installing software through YUM, dpkg, and RPM, managing the file system through Bash, and monitoring system processes and services. The course itself covered the domains of:
Administration and Configuration
File System Management
Networking
Security and Access Control
Automation and Scripting