@cyberstudentnewbie The class I took they covered many different topics. We covered different vendor firewalls and we also covered base Linux topics like iptables all the way to Windows Server firewall settings, as well as pfSense all the way to PaloAlto major releases. Or school had student versions that PaloAlto had for us. After that we used pen testing software within the ethical hacking class to break into the equipment (I took both classes at the same time). Those classes will really help you get your foundational knowledge built. After I purchased an official pfSense firewall just to learn more with it is a puzzle. I am sure you know not many firewall tools are available for cyber security students to learn and work with like this. pfSense fits that need as it's opensource and it comes with an enterprise class web cache proxy if you really want to push yourself. Again, its proxy configuration is really complex, it's no joke with the need for certificate use and everything that needs to be configured for it to work. I purchased my official Netgate appliance while taking the ethical hacking class so I could really learn with it we even we used pfSense in the finals the instructor had it all set up for us to configure with. I was really happy that I got a grant that paid for my 2100-MAX, I thought it's what's needed for me to advance my knowledge. Keep in mind, because it is open source, I am still learning stuff with it, I am a computer science student, so I am now playing with the code on it. I cannot wait until I get my C+ class done, I have only learned Python, Java and Assembly code so far. I really need to take that C+ class so I can really get into the code for it. The tools really advance the direction of cyber security.
When I was younger, back in the 2000's taking classes Cisco Mars and Cisco Pix products where the major player in cyber security. Again, not many tools were available to study with, you could never take an appliance home with to research and study on with unless you had thousands and thousands of dollars. So Netgate really fits the need today, it was my cyber security go to tool.
This community also is so helpful if you get stuck.
I recommend you start off with ports and access control lists on it and after start learning about packages as you gain more knowledge. The TPC/UDP ports IP Classes and address with access control lists were what firewalls were back in the 2000s. We didn't even have a GUI back then just Cisco's global config mode command line.
Don't give up and do not be afraid to use office hours, the professors want to help you they are paid to help you, so use the office hours they set aside when you get stuck also.