State-on-state war is no longer the only major threat to personal and national security. Conventional war, terrorism, biological warfare, environmental degradation, economic espionage, trans-national crime and information theft are among the more prominent threats with which individuals and states now have to deal. The Security & Intelligence major focuses on the changing nature of conflict and war both as we enter the 21st century and in the aftermath of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center.
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.
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 Security & Intelligence is your Primary Specialization, choose five courses (15 hours). You will choose an additional 3 courses (9 hours) for your Secondary Specialization.
If Security & Intelligence is your Secondary Specialization, choose three courses (9 hours).
- AEDECON/INTSTDS - 4532 Food Security & Globalization
- ANTHROP 3211 - Introduction to Forensic Science
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- COMM 3597.02 - Media & Terrorism
- EARTHSCI 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- GEOG 3300 - Transportation Security
- HISTORY 3270 - History of World War I
- HISTORY 3540 - Modern Intelligence History
- HISTORY 3552 - War in World History, 1900 – Present
- HISTORY 3561 - American Military History, 1902 to the Present
- HISTORY 3570 - World War II
- HISTORY 3580 - The Vietnam War
- 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 4550 - Bioterrorism
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4703 - Science, Technology & American National Security
- INTSTDS 4704 - A Global War on Terror? America’s Response to the 9/11 Attacks
- INTSTDS 4803 - Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Assessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- INTSTDS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed & Weak States
- INTSTDS 5701 - Intelligence & National Security in a Changing World
- INTSTDS 5702 - Research on Organized Violence
- INTSTDS 5703 - Thinking and Writing: A Practicum for Intelligence Analysis
- LING 3801 - Codes & Code Breaking
- POLITSC 4310 - Security Policy
- POLITSC 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- POLITSC 4318 - The Politics of International Terrorism
- PSYCH 4525 - Psychology of Personal Security: Global & Local Perspectives
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 3315 - Sociology of Terrorism
- SOCIOL 5525 - Global Criminology
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: 4 courses (12 hours)
- INTSTDS 3700 - Introduction to Intelligence
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism (EL Advanced Writing)
- Political Science 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- Psychology 4525 - Psychology of Personal Security
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- Earth Sciences 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- Economics 4547 - Economics of War
- History 3540 - Modern Intelligence History
- History 3552 - War in World History, 1900-present
- INTSTDS 3701 - Introduction to Homeland Security
- INTSTDS 3702 - Herding Cyber Cats: Information Security Management
- INTSTDS 3400 - Analysis & Display of Data (EL Data Analysis)
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4550 - Bioterrorism: An Overview
- INTSTDS 4701 - Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4704 - A Global War on Terror?
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Accessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
- INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- INTSTDS 5701 - Intelligence & National Security in a Changing World
- INTSTDS 5702 - Research on Organized Violence
- INTSTDS 5703 - Thinking and Writing: A Practicum for Intelligence Analysis
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (EL Data Analysis)
- Linguistics 3801 - Codes and Code Breaking
- Political Science 4310 - Security Policy
- Political Science 4318 - Politics of International Terrorism
- Sociology 3315 - Sociology of Terrorism
- Sociology 5525 - Global Criminology
Electives: Choose 2 courses (6 hours)
For electives, students can choose any combination of two courses from other International Studies specializations, the list below and unused courses from the Critical Perspectives.
- Anthropology 3211 - Introduction to Forensic Science
- Anthropology 3305 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
- Communication 3597.02 - Media and Terrorism
- Computer Science & Eng. 4471 - Information Security
- Earth Science 4425 - Energy Resources and Sustainability
- Economics 3790 - Economics of Crime
- ENR 4648 - Environment and Natural Resources Law Enforcement
- Geography 5200 - Elements of Cartography
- Geography 5300 - Geography of Transportation
- History 3270 - History of World War I
- History 3551 - War in World History, 1651-1899
- History 3560 - American Military History, 1607-1902
- History 3561 - American Military History, 1902-present
- History 3570 - World War II
- History 3580 - The Vietnam War
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 4703 - Science, Technology and the Cold War
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping and Collective Security
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- Sociology 3410 - Criminology
- Sociology 5618 - Sociology of Police and Policing
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.
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- International Studies 3700 Introduction to Intelligence
- International Studies 4700 Terror & Terrorism
- Political Science 4315 International Security & the Causes of War
- Psychology 4525 Psychology of Personal Security
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON or INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- Earth Sciences 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- Economics 4547 - Economics of War
- Geography 3300 - Transportation Security
- History 3540 - Modern Intelligence History
- History 3552 - War in World History, 1900-present
- INTSTDS 3701 - Introduction to Homeland Security
- INTSTDS 4251 - Organized Crime and Corruption in Contemporary Europe
- INTSTDS 4701 - Development and Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction
- INTSTDS 4704 - A Global War on Terror?
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Accessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- INTSTDS 5701 - Intelligence & National Security in a Changing World
- INTSTDS 5702 - Research on Organized Violence
- INTSTDS 5703 - Thinking and Writing: A Practicum for Intelligence Analysis
- Linguistics 3801 - Codes and Code Breaking
- Plant Pathology/INTSTDS 4550 - Bioterrorism: An Overview
- Political Science 4310 - Security Policy
- Political Science 4318 - Politics of International Terrorism
- Sociology 3315 - Sociology of Terrorism
- Sociology 5525 - Global Criminology
Electives: Choose 2 courses (6 hours)
For electives, students can choose any combination of two courses from other International Studies specializations, the list below and unused courses from the Critical Perspectives.
- Anthropology 3211 - Introduction to Forensic Science
- Anthropology 3305 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
- Communication 3597.02 - Media and Terrorism
- Computer Science & Eng. 4471 - Information Security
- Earth Science 4425 - Energy Resources and Sustainability
- Economics 3790 - Economics of Crime
- ENR 4648 - Environment and Natural Resources Law Enforcement
- Geography 5200 - Elements of Cartography
- Geography 5300 - Geography of Transportation
- History 3270 - History of World War I
- History 3551 - War in World History, 1651-1899
- History 3560 - American Military History, 1607-1902
- History 3561 - American Military History, 1902-present
- History 3570 - World War II
- History 3580 - The Vietnam War
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis and Display of Data
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 4703 - Science, Technology and the Cold War
- INTSTDS 4803 - Intervening for Peace: Peacekeeping and Collective Security
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- Sociology 3410 Criminology
- Sociology 5618 Sociology of Police and Policing
Bachelor of Science
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), and Technology (TECH), and complete a 3- course sequence in Data Analysis (DA). 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)
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours), Choose 1 3-course sequence)
- 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
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I
- Statistics 3302 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery II
Specialization: Choose 6 courses (18 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- ANTHROP 3211 - Introduction to Forensic Science
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- COMM 3597.02 - Media & Terrorism
- EARTHSCI 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- GEOG 3300 - Transportation Security
- HISTORY 3270 - History of World War I
- HISTORY 3540 - Modern Intelligence History
- HISTORY 3552 - War in World History, 1900 – Present
- HISTORY 3561 - American Military History, 1902 to the Present
- HISTORY 3570 - World War II
- HISTORY 3580 - The Vietnam War
- 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 4550 - Bioterrorism
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4704 - A Global War on Terror? America’s Response to the 9/11 Attacks
- INTSTDS 4803 - Peacekeeping & Collective Security
- INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Assessing Leadership Style
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
- INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed & Weak States
- INTSTDS 5701/5701E - Intelligence & National Security in a Changing World
- INTSTDS 5703 - Thinking and Writing: A Practicum for Intelligence Analysis
- LING 3801 - Codes & Code Breaking
- POLITSC 4310 - Security Policy
- POLITSC 4315 - International Security & the Causes of War
- POLITSC 4318 - The Politics of International Terrorism
- PSYCH 4525 - Psychology of Personal Security: Global & Local Perspectives
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 3315 - Sociology of Terrorism
- SOCIOL 5525 - Global Criminology
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, Data Analysis, and Technology. These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. The Stats 2450.01 prerequisite satisfies the EL Data Analysis.
Required Minor:
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:
- Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
- Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
- Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
- City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
- Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
- Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
- International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
- Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours), must include one EL Technology
- Earth Sciences 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- Economics 4547 - Economics of War
- History 3540 - Modern Intelligence History
- History 3552 - War in World History, 1900-present
- International Studies 3701 - Introduction to Homeland Security
- International Studies 3702 - Herding Cyber Cats: Information Security Management
- International Studies 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
- International Studies 4550 - Bioterrorism: An Overview
- International Studies 4701 - Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
- International Studies 4704 - A Global War on Terror?
- International Studies 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Accessing Leadership Style
- International Studies 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
- INTSTDS or PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- International Studies 5701 - Intelligence & National Security in a Changing World
- International Studies 5702 - Research on Organized Violence
- International Studies 5703 - Thinking and Writing: A Practicum for Intelligence Analysis
- Linguistics 3801 - Codes and Code Breaking
- Political Science 4210 - Security Policy
- Political Science 4318 - Politics of International Terrorism
- Sociology 3315 - Sociology of Terrorism
- Sociology 5525 - Global Criminology
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.
Required Minor:
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:
- Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
- Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
- Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
- City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
- Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
- Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
- International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
- Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- International Studies 3700 Introduction to Intelligence
- International Studies 4700 Terror & Terrorism
- Political Science 4315 International Security & the Causes of War
- Psychology 4525 Psychology of Personal Security
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)
- Earth Sciences 3411 Water Security in the 21st Century
- Economics 4547 Economics of War
- Geography 3300 Transportation Security
- History 3540 Modern Intelligence History
- History 3552 War in World History, 1900-present
- International Studies 3701 Introduction to Homeland Security
- International Studies 3702 Herding Cyber Cats: Information Security Management
- International Studies 4251 Organized Crime and Corruption in Contemporary Europe
- International Studies 4701 The Development and Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction
- International Studies 4704 A Global War on Terror?
- INTSTDS or PUBAFRS 5700 Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- International Studies 5701 Intelligence & National Security in a Changing World
- International Studies 5702 Research on Organized Violence
- International Studies 5703 Thinking and Writing: A Practicum for Intelligence Analysis
- Linguistics 3801 Codes and Code Breaking
- International Studies 4550 Bioterrorism: An Overview
- Political Science 4318 Politics of International Terrorism
- Sociology 3315 Sociology of Terrorism
- Sociology 5525 Global Criminology