About the Beginner Course
If you’re new to cybersecurity, this is where your journey begins. The Beginner Cybersecurity Certificate is designed for students with zero prior experience – no tech background required.
Four Modules, One Solid Cybersecurity Foundation
Over the span of four modules, you’ll get a strong foundation in the most important areas of cybersecurity:
- Policies, Laws, and Society – Learn what cybersecurity really means, why it matters, and how cyber laws and global events shape the online world.
- Programming Basics – Get hands-on with Python and discover how simple coding skills can help you understand how technology works (don’t worry, we start at the absolute basics).
- Cloud & Networking – Explore the world of virtual machines, cloud platforms, and how everyday systems connect across the internet.
- Applied Security – Try out practical security tools like authentication methods, endpoint protection, and strategies for keeping data safe.
From Basics To Safe Habits
Each course is broken into 4 modules that each house 10 bite-sized video micromodules, with activities that help you practice what you’ve just learned. By the end, you’ll understand core cybersecurity concepts, have a taste of coding, and know how to recognize and prevent common online threats.
The Beginner course is all about making cybersecurity accessible — giving you the confidence to say, “I can do this.” Whether you want to protect your own digital life, explore career options, or build toward the Intermediate course, this is your first step.
Module 1
This module introduces Python for cybersecurity. You’ll learn key programming concepts and how Python powers automation, web development, data analysis, and security tools—gaining the skills to write, run, and build your own programs.
Micromodule 1: What is Programming
This micromodule introduces the fundamentals of programming and explains why coding skills matter in cybersecurity. You’ll explore popular languages with a focus on Python – valued for its simplicity, readability, and powerful uses in automation, data analysis, and security tool development. By the end, you’ll understand how Python supports core cybersecurity tasks and be ready to set up your environment to start coding.
Micromodule 2: Lifecycle of a Program
This micromodule introduces the six stages of the program lifecycle – planning, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance – and shows you how to embed security at every step. You’ll see how secure coding, robust design, thorough testing, and ongoing maintenance reduce vulnerabilities and keep software resilient. By the end, you’ll understand how integrating security throughout development leads to more secure, reliable programs.
Micromodule 3: Python Syntax & Variables
This micromodule covers the foundations of Python syntax—indentation, comments, and variable usage. You’ll explore dynamic typing, core data types, and best practices for naming variables, plus learn how to format output with print statements and f-strings. By the end, you’ll confidently create and manipulate variables, setting the stage for more advanced programming concepts.
Micromodule 4: Python Data Types & Operations
This micromodule explores Python’s core data types – integers, floats, strings, and booleans – and the operations you can perform with each. You’ll practice arithmetic and string operations, logical comparisons, and type conversions to understand how data is stored, manipulated, and evaluated in Python. By the end, you’ll confidently apply these operations to solve basic programming problems.
Micromodule 5: Python Lists & Dictionaries
This micromodule introduces two essential Python data structures: lists and dictionaries. You’ll learn how lists store ordered, editable collections (including slicing and basic analysis) and how dictionaries organize data into fast, updatable key-value pairs. By the end, you’ll create, modify, and use these structures effectively to manage and organize data in your programs.
Micromodule 6: Python Conditionals
This micromodule introduces control flow in Python, showing you how conditionals enable programs to make decisions. You’ll practice using if, elif, and else statements, along with comparison and logical operators, to build flexible decision-making structures – including nested conditionals and ternary expressions. By the end, you’ll write Python programs that respond dynamically to different inputs and conditions.
Micromodule 7: Python Loops
This micromodule explores how loops enable repetition and efficient execution in Python. You’ll work with for loops to iterate over sequences, while loops for condition-based repetition, and control statements like break and continue to fine-tune loop behavior. By the end, you’ll have a better grasp on loops and control flow.
Micromodule 8: Python Functions
This micromodule introduces functions as reusable blocks of code that make your programs more organized, readable, and efficient. You’ll define and call functions, work with parameters and return values, use default arguments, and understand variable scope – plus get a quick intro to lambda functions. By the end, you’ll use functions flexibly to build more powerful, modular programs.
Micromodule 9: Algorithms
This micro-module explains what algorithms are and why they are essential for programming and problem-solving. Learners will explore the key characteristics of effective algorithms, the steps for designing them, and how to implement examples, such as finding maximum values, in Python. By the end, participants will understand how algorithms break down complex challenges into clear, logical steps that can be optimized for efficiency.
Micromodule 10: Python Deployment Locations
This micro-module broadens learners’ perspective on Python’s versatility and real-world applications. It highlights uses in web development, data science, automation, cybersecurity, and even game design. Learners are introduced to deployment options – from local machines to servers and cloud platforms – as well as mobile frameworks. The lesson also points to learning resources, coding challenge sites, and version control practices to help participants continue developing their Python skills.