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.
Students pursuing both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or Bachelors of Science (BS) degree are required to complete a minimum of two years of foreign language study in a language appropriate to the chosen specialization. Ohio State currently offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek.
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
Foreign Language Requirement
This major requires completion of a minimum of two years of language study. Coursework completed at OSU or abroad and/or appropriate placement test results can document this.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement students have three options:
- Complete two years (4 semesters) of a single language
- Complete a foreign language minor
- Complete a second major in a language
For those opting to complete two years in a single language, OSU offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek. After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, you must complete one advanced language course at the 2000 level.
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)
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 & Secondary Specialization
If Information Security is your Primary Specialization, choose five courses (15 hours). You will choose an additional 3 courses (9 hours) for your Secondary Specialization.
If Information Security is your Secondary Specialization, choose three courses (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