Teaching Generative AI for Cybersecurity: A Project-Based Learning Approach

In the Spring 2024 semester, we introduced an elective course titled “Generative AI and Cybersecurity” for MS and upper-division BS students specializing in cybersecurity at our university. The course was designed to equip students with a foundational understanding of Generative AI, particularly large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4, and explore their applications within the field of cybersecurity. Through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on projects, and industry guest lectures, students engaged with the technical, ethical, and legal dimensions of AI in cybersecurity. The course emphasized practical learning, with students gaining experience in AI tools such as ChatGPT, as well as developing skills in prompt engineering and API usage. While some students were eager for even more technical AI content, they appreciated the hands-on learning, insights from industry guest speakers, and the chance to see how the more powerful models like GPT-4 could be usefully applied to cybersecurity problems.