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Schedule

Note that assignments are due based on the Eastern Time zone (ET). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live.

  • Course begins:
  • Course ends:
  • Course length: 16 weeks
Lesson 00: Course Orientation
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:
  • None
Assignments:
  • Review Academic Integrity Policy in the Syllabus
Lesson 01: Post 9/11 Legal Basis for Critical Infrastructure Protection
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

Read the following required designated sections of the following federal statutes for inferences to the protection of the Nation's CIKR.
  • "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001" (USA PATRIOT Act of 2001)

Title VII - Increased Information Sharing for Critical Infrastructure Protection 
Title X - Miscellaneous, Section 1016 (a-c): Critical infrastructures protection

  • Homeland Security Act of 2002"

Title II - Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, Subtitle B - Critical Infrastructure Information, Sections 211-215

  • "Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004"

Sec. 7306. Critical infrastructure and readiness assessments
Sec 1016. Information Sharing (Title I—Reform of the Intelligence Community)

  • "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007"

Title I - Homeland Security Grants
Title X - Improving Critical Infrastructure Security, Sections 1001-1002

Assignments:
  • Participate in the Post 9/11 Statutes Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts.  Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening. Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 02: Presidential Decision Directives and Executive Orders
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7  - Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection
  • Executive Order 13231 - Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Information Age
  • Presidential Policy Directive 21 - Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience 
  • Executive Order 13636 - Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity 
  • 2014 Executive Order 13636 Privacy and Civil Liberties Assessment Report
  • The Privacy and Civil Liberties Assessment Report: What Does It Really Tell Us? A Chief Privacy Officer's Perspective 
Assignments:
  • Participate in the Vision and Policies Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts.  Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening. Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 03: National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • The National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets.
Assignments:
  • Participate in the National Strategies Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts. Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening. Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 04: National Infrastructure Protection Plan (Part 1)
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • National Infrastructure Protection Plan, 2006
  • National Infrastructure Protection Plan Partnering to enhance protection and resiliency 2009
  • National Infrastructure Protection Plan 2013, Partnering for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
  • DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection
  • Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007
  • Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
  • DHS Sector Specific Plans
  • A Review of Power Outages and Restoration 
Assignments:
  • Participate in the CIKR Partners and Stakeholders Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts.  Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening. Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 05: National Infrastructure Protection Plan (Part 2)
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • National Infrastructure Protection Plan, 2006
  • National Infrastructure Protection Plan Partnering to enhance protection and resiliency 2009
  • National Infrastructure Protection Plan 2013, Partnering for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
  • Government Shutdown Defied, Grand Canyon Reopens For a Week
  • Secretary Jewell, NPS Director Release New Report Showing National Parks Remain Strong Economic Engines, Support 243,000 Jobs Nationwide
Assignments:
  • Participate in the Private Sector Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts. Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening. Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 06: National Protection and Programs Directorate 
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • Students are required to read: 

    • National Protection and Programs Directorate
    • Office of Infrastructure Protection
    • Sector Outreach and Programs Division
  • In addition to the required readings, the following is a list of resources that provide additional background information. While you are not required to read them, I encourage you to glance through them.
    • Federal Protective Services
    • Office of Biometric Identity Management
    • Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis
    • Office of Cybersecurity and Communications
    • Infrastructure Information Collection Division
    • Infrastructure Security Compliance Division
    • National Infrastructure Coordinating Center
    • Protection Security Coordination Division
Assignments:
  • Complete Lesson 06: Protecting Critical Infrastructure - Mid-Term Paper 
Lesson 07: Grants
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • Homeland Security Grant Program 
  • Transit Security Grant Program 
  • Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program 
Assignments:
  • Participate in the Transit Security Grant Program Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts.  Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening.  Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 08: Information Sharing
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • 9/11 Commission Report, Chapter 13, How to Do It?  A Different Way of Organizing the Goverment
  • Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
  • Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007
  • Fusion Centers
  • 2012 National Strategy for Information Sharing and Safeguarding
  • 2011 DHS IG Report Relationships Between Fusion Centers and Emergency Operations Centers
Assignments:
  • Participate in the Information Sharing Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts.  Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening.  Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 09: Cyber Security
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • Students are required to read:

    • DHS Cybersecurity
    • National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center
    • Executive Order 13636, Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology, Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
  • In addition to the required readings, the following is a list of resources that provide additional background information. While you are not required to read them, I encourage you to glance through them.

    • Officials Warned 500 Million Financial Records Hacked
    • Memos Justifying Bush-era Justifying Warrantless Wiretapping Released
    • Twitter Sues U.S. Justice Department for right to reveal surveillance requests
    • Let's Pass Cybersecurity Legislation
    • Protecting Cyber Networks Act
Assignments:
  • Participate in Cyber Security Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts.  Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening.  Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 10: Government Accountability
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • Students are required to read: 

    • Government Accountability Office
    • Critical Infrastructure Protection: More Comprehensive Planning Would Enhance the Cybersecurity of Public Safety Entities' Emerging Technology
    • Critical Infrastructure Protection, Observations on Key Factors in DHS's Implementation of Its Partnership Approach
Assignments:
  • Participate in the GAO Investigation Discussion Forum. You are responsible for posting one entry in the discussion forum and responding to at least two of your classmate's posts. Your original post should be posted by Thursday evening.  Please note that your responses should include references to information you are citing.
Lesson 11: Case Study
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • Students are required to read: 

    • National Infrastructure Protection Plan
    • Additional Readings will be assigned related to the specific case scenario topic area
Assignments:
  • Participate in the Changing Terrorist Tactics Discussion Forum. Note: this is a two week discussion forum. Your initial post is due by the end of the first week and your two responses to your peers are due by end of the second.
Lesson 12: Term Paper
Lesson X
Time frame: 
Readings:

Readings

  • Foreign Powers Steal Data on Critical U.S. Infrastructure, NSA Chief Says 
Assignments:
  • Complete the Protecting Critical Infrastructure Term Paper

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