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

Major in Cybersecurity and Global Policy (Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Global Policy)

Students on Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027 requirements CYGLPOLBS

The B.S. in Cybersecurity and Global Policy 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 57 credit hours (69 with the addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Introductory Courses.
    • Introduction to Informatics. One (1) course:
      • INFO-H 101 Introduction to Informatics, Honors
      • INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics
    • Introduction to International Studies. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 100 Introduction to International Studies
  2. Technical Foundations.
    1. 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
    2. Informational Infrastructure I. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 200 Introduction to Computers and Programming
      • INFO-I 210 Information Infrastructure I
    3. Informational Infrastructure II. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 212 Introduction to Software Systems
      • INFO-I 211 Information Infrastructure II
    4. Analytical Foundations of Security. One (1) course:
      • INFO-I 230 Analytical Foundations of Security
    5. Systems Programming with C and Unix. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-C 291 System Programming With C and Unix
  3. Policy, Legal, and Social Foundations.
    1. Introduction to International Law and Legal Institutions. One (1) course:
      • INTL-L 250 Introduction to International Law and Legal Institutions
    2. Diplomacy, Security, Governance. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 210 Diplomacy, Security, Governance
    3. Advanced Diplomacy, Security and Governance. One (1) course:
      • INTL-I 310 Advanced Topics in Diplomacy, Security, Governance when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • INTL-I 424 War and Peace when taken Fall 2026 or later
    4. Ethics, Law, and Decision-Making in International Politics. One (1) course from the following list:
      • 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
    5. Social and Political Research Perspectives on Technology. Two (2) courses from the following list:
      • CEUS-R 323 Eurasian Firewalls, Borders and National Security when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • INFO-I 202 Social Informatics
      • SGIS-S 202 Artificial Intelligence and the Race to Rule the World
      • INFO-I 453 Computer and Information Ethics
      • INFO-I 454 Applied Information Ethics - Technology Ethics and Popular Culture when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • INFO-T 100 Topics in Informatics Technology when taken prior to Fall 2026
      • INTL-I 305 Advanced Topics in Culture and Politics (Approved topics: "CULTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE" (TPC 5); "DISINFORMATION & THE STATE IN EASTERN EUROPE" (TPC 23); "THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF HACKING" (TPC 21))
    6. Intelligence. Two (2) courses:
      • ILS-Z 331 Strategic Intelligence when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • ILS-Z 351 Moles, Deception, and Counterintelligence when taken Fall 2026 or later
  4. Cybersecurity Core.
    1. 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
    2. Security for Networked Systems. One (1) course:
      • CSCI-B 430 Security for Networked Systems
      • INFO-I 430 Security for Networked Systems
    3. 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
    4. Cybersecurity, Policy, and Governance. One (1) course:
      • SGIS-S 401 Cybersecurity, Policy, and Governance
  5. Addenda Requirement*.
    1. Experiential Learning and Professional Practice. Six (6) credit hours:
      • INFO-I 389 Serve It Internship in Informatics when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • INFO-I 489 Serve It Capstone Internship Informatics when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • INFO-I 491 Capstone Project Internship when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • INFO-I 492 Senior Thesis when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • SGIS-S 339 Innovation for Impact: Solving Critical Global Issues through Iterative Discovery and Design when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • SGIS-S 350 Diplomacy Lab when taken Fall 2026 or later
      • SGIS-S 417 when taken Fall 2026 or later
    2. Area Studies. Two (2) non-language area studies courses, focused on the same region, at the 100–400 level from one of the following departments or subjects:
      • 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
    3. 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.
  6. Major 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. A grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.

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.