Information Security
The Information Security major provides students with the knowledge required to understand and manage patterns of international cooperation and conflict and places the study of information security in its economic, social and security context. Lying at the heart of the larger data protection enterprise called cybersecurity, the study of information security addresses broad issues relating to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and data. For those who wish to pursue a career in cybersecurity, it is designed to provide a solid conceptual and technical foundation for the acquisition of the advanced computer skills that they will need.
In addition to the course requirements below, International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English. To learn more about the language requirement, visit the World Language Requirement page.
To learn more about major requirements, check out the links below. Requirements and course offerings do change, so if you have any questions please reach out to internationalstudies@osu.edu or contact your academic advisor.
Information Security Major Requirements
Bachelor of Arts
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2023, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH) as part of the major.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Methods & Analysis: Choose one course (3 hours)
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis (DA)
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data (DA)
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (DA)
- Sociology 5650 - Presenting & Communicating Quantitative Data (DA)
Primary Specialization: any 5 courses from list below (15 hours)
Secondary Specialization: any 3 courses from list below (9 hours)
- COMM 3332 Risk Communication
- COMM 3554 Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- CSE 4471 Information Security
- CSE 5351 Introduction to Cryptography
- CSE 5473 Network Security
- INTSTDS 3700 Introduction to Intelligence
- INTSTDS 3701 Introduction to Homeland Security
- INTSTDS 3702 Herding Cyber Cats: Information Security Management
- INTSTDS 3703 Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4701 Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4702 Case Studies in Information Security
- INTSTDS 5191 Internship Program
- LING 3801 Code Making & Code Breaking
- LING 3802 Language & Computers
- PUBAFRS 4000 Public Policy Evaluation
- SOCIOL 3302 Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 5525 Global Criminology
Bachelor of Science
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2025, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
These courses are part of the major - one course in Advanced Writing (AW); one in Technology (TECH); and complete a 3-course sequence in Data Analysis (DA).
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours)
Choose one 3-course Series, and complete the 3 courses from that one Series
- Series 1
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5103 - Intermediate Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5210 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information System
- Series 2
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data or Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization
- Political Science 4781- Data Literacy in Political Science I
- Political Science 4782 - Data Literacy in Political Science II
- Series 3 (check course catalog for prerequisites for 3301 and 3302)
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I:
- Prerequisites: MATH 2568 and STAT 3202 and 3201
- Statistics 3302 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery II
Specialization: Choose 6 courses (18 hours)
- COMM 3332 - Risk Communication
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- CSE 4471 - Information Security
- CSE 5351 - Introduction to Cryptography
- CSE 5473 - Network Security
- INTSTDS/GEOG 3650 - A World Divided? Place, Space, and Regions in World Affairs
- INTSTDS 3700 - Introduction to Intelligence
- INTSTDS 3701 - Introduction to Homeland Security
- INTSTDS 3702 - Herding Cyber Cats: Information Security Management
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4702 - Case Studies in Information Security
- INTSTDS 5191 - Internship Program
- LING 3801 - Code Making & Code Breaking
- LING 3802/3802H - Language & Computers
- PUBAFRS 4000 - Public Policy Evaluation
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 5525 - Global Criminology