Frequently Asked Questions
Please check here before asking a question in the discussion forums or emailing the course staff. If you can’t find your answer here, then send us an email. Please mention that your question is about CYBER 501x.
Q. What are the prerequisites for this course?
A. As specified in the syllabus, there are no prerequisites for this course. This course was written for an audience with Bachelor's level education, but learners across all levels may find the course content approachable.
Q. Why can’t I see all of the units?
A. This is an instructor-led course and runs at a set pace. A new unit opens each Tuesday at 14:00 UTC during the eight weeks of the course.
Q. What software/books do I need?
A. You do not need any software or books. As long as you can view the course videos and use the edX platform, you are all set. We may ask you to access or download other materials. Anything required to answer quiz questions are clearly indicated.
Q. Does this course map to the (XYZ) certification?
A. No. This is a fundamentals course. Some of the knowledge in the course may be coincidentally helpful, but this course is not explicitly written to map to any industry certification.
Q. Are there any hands-on labs in this course?
A. The fifth course in the MicroMasters Program, CYBER 525x Cybersecurity Capstone, will have labs to demonstrate proficiency from the previous four courses in the series. This course does include some optional computer-based activities.
Q. What do I do if I don’t understand a quiz question?
A. If you don’t understand a question in one of the graded quizzes, please email the course team, with the course number, CYBER 501x, the Unit number and Question number.
Q. Are there due dates for the quizzes?
A. No. There are no due dates for individual quizzes. However, you must complete them all by the course end on September 19.
Q: May I request an extension to the Verification Deadline?
A: RITx will not provide extensions to the published verification upgrade deadlines. Our course verification upgrade deadlines are scheduled to provide learners with as much time as possible to determine whether to pursue a verified certificate, per the course content. If you miss a verification upgrade deadline, we recommend you enroll as a verified learner in the next scheduled offering of the course. You can always find the upgrade deadline on the course home page and your edX dashboard.
Q. What are the career prospects after completing this course?
A. There is information about career prospects for people who complete the MicroMasters program on the Cybersecurity MicroMasters page.
Q. Is experience necessary to excel in this course?
A. CYBER501x is designed for people without prerequisite knowledge of cybersecurity. However, some familiarity with computers is helpful. Remember, the audit track is free, so you can take the first few Units and see how you do before deciding whether to upgrade to Verified status before the deadline.