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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Cybersecurity and Global Policy Program

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Global Policy

Students on Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 requirements CYGLPOLBS

The B.S. provides students with both technical and policy expertise in a rapidly expanding field, one in which there is high demand for skilled professionals. Through pursuing this degree, students will gain a sophisticated understanding of programming, data structures, networked systems, and security protocols. They will also learn about the wide range of privacy, cultural, economic, legal, and security issues surrounding the field of cybersecurity. They will learn to assess risk, explore possible responses to cyber attacks, and examine how cybersecurity crosses national boundaries and thereby challenges traditional, state-oriented understandings and responses. Upon graduation, students should be able to work closely and communicate effectively with a wide range of both technical and policy experts in the public, nonprofit, and private realms.

Requirements

The major requires at least 63 credit hours (69 with the addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Technical, Policy, and Social Foundations.
    1. Introduction to Informatics. One (1) course:
      • INFO-H 101 Introduction to Informatics, Honors
      • INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics
    2. Mathematical Foundations of Informatics. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 241 Discrete Structures for Computer Science
      • INFO-H 201 Mathemetical Foundations of Informatics, Honors
      • INFO-I 201 Mathematical Foundations of Informatics
    3. Introduction to International Studies. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 100 Introduction to International Studies
    4. Culture in the Digital Age. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 305 Advanced Topics in Culture and Politics
    5. Introduction to International Law and Legal Institutions. One (1) course:
      • INTL-L 250 Introduction to International Law and Legal Institutions
    6. Origin and Evolution of International Law. One (1) course:
      • INTL-L 350 Origins and Evolution of International Law
  2. Cybersecurity Core.
    1. Diplomacy, Security, Governance. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 210 Diplomacy, Security, Governance
    2. Analytical Foundations of Security. One (1) course:
      • INFO-I 230 Analytical Foundations of Security
    3. Introduction to the Mathematics of Cybersecurity. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 231 Introduction to the Mathematics of Cybersecurity
      • INFO-I 231 Introduction to the Mathematics of Cybersecurity
    4. Introduction to International Relations. One (1) course:
      • POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations
    5. Informational Infrastructure I. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 200 Introduction to Computers and Programming
      • INFO-I 210 Information Infrastructure I
    6. Informational Infrastructure II. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 212 Introduction to Software Systems
      • INFO-I 211 Information Infrastructure II
    7. Systems Programming with C and Unix. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 291 System Programming With C and Unix
    8. Ethics and Decision-Making in International Politics. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 340 Ethics and Decision-Making in International Politics
      • INTL-L 350 Origins and Evolution of International Law when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • INTL-L 358 Intelligence Collection and International Law
    9. Security for Networked Systems. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-B 430 Security for Networked Systems
      • INFO-I 430 Security for Networked Systems
    10. Systems & Protocol Security & Informational Assurance. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-B 433 Systems & Protocol Security & Information Assurance
      • INFO-I 433 Systems and Protocol Security and Information Assurance
    11. Cybersecurity, Policy, and Governance. One (1) course:
      • SGIS-S 401 Cybersecurity, Policy, and Governance
  3. Other Requirements.
    1. Intelligence. One (1) course:
      • ILS-Z 331 Strategic Intelligence
      • ILS-Z 351 Moles, Deception, and Counterintelligence
    2. International Diplomacy and Security. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 310 Advanced Topics in Diplomacy, Security, Governance
    3. Global Issues. At least three (3) credit hours:
      • SGIS-S 300 Global Issues
  4. Addenda Requirement*.
    1. Area Studies. Two (2) courses:
      • Any CASE Global Civilizations and Cultures course when taken prior to Fall 2026
      • Any AFRI-L 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any CEUS-R 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any EALC-E 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any EURO-W 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any GER-E 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any HISP-S 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any INST-I 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any JSTU-J 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any JSTU-L 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any LTAM-L 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any MELC-M 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any REEI-R 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any SEAS-S 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any SLAV-C 363-366 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any SLAV-P 363-366 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any SLAV-R 223-264 and 328-366 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any SLAV-S 223, 224, and 320-366 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Any SLAV-T 100–499 when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • SLAV-U 223 Introduction to Ukrainian Culture when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • SLAV-U 282 Ukrainian Through Russian II when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Additional courses with program approval when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • Additional courses with program approval when taken prior to Fall 2026
    2. Internship or Overseas Experience.
      • Related internship or overseas experience of at least 6 weeks duration, approved in advance by the unit’s Director of Undergraduate Studies.
  5. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. Major Upper Division Courses. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300-499 level.
    3. Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    4. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major--including those where a grade lower than C- is earned--is required.

Major Area Courses

  • Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

    • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
    • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.