Example coursework · Independent teaching demonstrations
← All learning pathwaysCOMPTIA a+ SERIES / BEGINNER FOUNDATION COURSE
Build the foundations for CompTIA Security+ training.
One eight-week hybrid block.
Independent college-style example by JustinFreres, based on CompTIA's public foundation topic map. Not an official vendor course or claim of sponsorship. Trademark attribution.
Build beginner security-support, Windows, network, access-control, Linux, scripting and recovery skills before undertaking Security+ training.
The lowercase a+ foundation series is distinct from the two-exam CompTIA A+ certification and from the separate Network+ and Security+ preparation courses. This course is a beginner bridge into later training, not a claim that students have passed a certification exam.
CompTIA a+ Cyber is one eight-week beginner foundation block. Plan 6–9 hours of independent reading, lesson review, handouts, practice questions, lab evidence and remediation weekly, plus the three-hour meeting (9–12 total). This college-style example expands the vendor's core topics with supervised practice and professional documentation; the estimate is not a vendor duration or a college credit-hour determination. No prior networking or cybersecurity job experience is assumed, but basic computer use and reliable access to the authorized lab environment are needed. Read before class, spread practice across the week and reserve weekend lab time. Taking both foundation examples at once would mean 18–24 total hours weekly and requires a conflict-free schedule arranged by the instructor.
This is an alternative sample offering using the same Monday calendar as other examples. It is not a conflict-free timetable for enrolling in all listed courses. Portal reference 204 is internal and is not an assigned college course number. Credit, enrollment and holiday/make-up arrangements require institutional approval.
Based on the CompTIA academic catalog's a+ Cyber v1.0 topic map, reviewed October 22, 2026. CompTIA describes this as foundation learning before CompTIA Security+ training. No separate latest-edition print textbook or chapter ISBN is assumed. The instructor must confirm the exact digital lesson revision, access product and lesson IDs in the licensed account before assigning provider material.
Before each meeting, read the corresponding licensed digital lessons, review assigned demonstrations/slides and complete the original handout with lesson or instructor-reading references. The module reading assignment names the public topic areas; it does not reproduce paid vendor text. Upload authorized .pptx files through administration when available to extract slide reading. No publisher slide files or proprietary course lessons have been imported.
Complete at least 45 beginner review questions across the assigned lesson checks and an instructor-approved practice set. Record source, count, results and corrections for three weak concepts. Remediation reattempts must be labeled; the requirement does not mean 45 unseen vendor questions. A dedicated MeasureUp product for these foundation titles has not been verified, so the more advanced Network+/Security+ tests are not automatically required.
Complete one or more instructor-approved basic NETLAB+ or licensed course labs and submit a graded portfolio with a separate section for each exact title. Beginner topic candidates are shown in the weekly modules. Instructor approval must confirm installed access, difficulty and relevance; suggestions alone are not assignments. Vendor access, lab permissions and licensed question sets remain separate from this portal.
Week 8 is one comprehensive lab day with two integrated stations. The instructor final is scheduled separately afterward.
Finish the weekly question practice and three-concept remediation, all approved remote labs and a professional reflection. Reserve weekend lab time, spread study over several days and allow time for unsuccessful attempts. All are graded assignments.
Hybrid work is due the following Sunday at midnight, end of day, America/Chicago. This means 12:00 AM at the start of Monday. The later hybrid deadline does not extend preparation or in-class requirements.
EIGHT-WEEK LEARNING PATH
Public topics grouped for this college-style example.
Exact licensed lesson IDs require instructor setup.
Jan 11 / TOPICS 1–2
Explain security-support responsibilities and demonstrate safe basic Windows administration.
Cybersecurity support roles and Windows administration
Jan 18 / TOPICS 3
Recognize common endpoint risks and verify beginner client-security settings.
Secure network client fundamentals
Jan 25 / TOPICS 4
Identify basic enterprise network roles and explain how segmentation and access affect users.
Enterprise campus-network fundamentals
Feb 1 / TOPICS 5
Explain common network applications and evaluate basic identity, transport and data-handling choices.
Enterprise network application fundamentals
Feb 8 / TOPICS 6
Select basic preventive, detective and recovery controls and demonstrate their intended effect.
Cybersecurity controls
Feb 15 / TOPICS 7
Use basic Linux evidence to explain account, permission and application-service protection.
Linux application-server fundamentals
Feb 22 / TOPICS 8–9
Review simple automation safely and validate protective handling of disposable data.
Automation scripting and data-management fundamentals
Mar 1 / TOPICS 1–9 review
Demonstrate safe client protection, basic evidence review and a documented recovery handoff.
Integrated review of the published foundation topics
| Component | Weight | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Opening quizzes | 7.5% | Eight equally weighted reading checks. |
| Weekly practice | 7.5% | Eight practices, at least 45 questions each, with results and remediation. |
| Handouts and reflections | 5% | Eight preparation handouts and eight professional reflections, equally weighted. |
| Classroom and remote labs | 20% | Weeks 1–7 classroom activities and eight graded remote-lab portfolios share this category equally. |
| Comprehensive lab | 30% | Week 8 supervised practical, shared equally across two stations. |
| Instructor final assessment | 30% | Separate foundation assessment, scored 0–100 by the instructor; not a certification exam. |
A 90–100 · B 80–89.99 · C 70–79.99 · D 60–69.99 · F below 60. Missing/ungraded work counts zero in provisional totals. At least 70% pre-final coursework, normalized over its 70% weight, and at least 70% on the instructor final guarantees a final grade of at least C, or the higher weighted result.
Classroom/remote labs: result 40%, reasoning/evidence 30%, safety/permissions/data handling 20%, documentation 10%. Handouts: accuracy 50%, completeness/references 30%, explanations/questions 20%. Weekly practice: verified count 50%, results 25%, remediation 25%. Reflections: justified decision 50%, evidence 30%, professional handoff 20%. Quiz prompts share credit equally.
College policy governs accommodations, absence, supervised make-ups, late work, integrity, withdrawal and final grading approval. Use authorized environments and your own explanations. Do not submit passwords, private user records or certification exam questions.
FOUNDATION COURSE FINALE / TWO SEPARATE ASSESSMENTS
Monday, March 1, 2027, 5:45–8:45 PM America/Chicago, is one comprehensive lab day. After the opening readiness quiz, complete the two assigned integrated stations independently under supervision; each station contributes half of the 30% practical category.
Demonstrate the course's beginner client, network, system, automation and data-handling skills. Record baseline observations, authorized scope, hypotheses, procedure, verification and a professional handoff. Preserve disposable or supplied evidence and explain when to escalate. The assigned station prompts define the course-specific tasks.
Practical rubric: correct procedure/result 40%; reasoning/evidence 30%; safety, permissions and data handling 20%; documentation 10%.
Complete a separate instructor-scheduled final after the practical and by Sunday, March 7, 2027 at midnight, end of day. The instructor announces the supervised session and access arrangements. This example does not administer or require a separate CompTIA certification exam for the foundation course.
The final assesses terminology in context, interpretation of supplied settings or logs, selection of a safe support/control action, verification and escalation. It is scored 0–100 by the instructor. Submit the assigned responses and evidence privately as FinalAssessment; no scaled certification score or vendor pass claim is used.
Final rubric: technical accuracy 40%; evidence interpretation and reasoning 30%; appropriate safe action and escalation 20%; clear documentation 10%. Review your lesson checks, handouts, lab corrections and remediation log before the scheduled session. Exact final prompts are supplied by the instructor for the assessment.
At least 70% in pre-final coursework, including the comprehensive lab and normalized over the combined 70% non-final weight, plus at least 70% on the instructor final guarantees a final course grade of at least 70% (C), or the higher weighted result. Missing/ungraded work counts zero in provisional totals. A portal course grade is not a CompTIA credential or a vendor-issued completion award.
Next step: CompTIA Security+ training when ready. Foundation completion does not replace the requirements or official exam of that separate certification pathway.