CYSE201S

This course addresses the social, political, legal, criminological, and economic dimensions of cybersecurity through a social science framework. Students are introduced to a human-factors approach to understanding cybersecurity threats. Attention is given to the social factors that contribute to cyber incidents and the political and legal mechanisms that are developed to control the behaviors of those who create risks and cybersecurity incidents. The class also explores how cybersecurity is studied by social scientists in various social science disciplines.

The course objectives are:

• Theory Comparison: Compare psychological, sociological, criminological, political, economic, and legal theories on cybersecurity.
• Strengths and Weaknesses: Assess theory strengths and weaknesses in understanding human behavior’s role in cybersecurity.
• Key Concepts: Define cybersecurity terms like cybercrime, cyber law, digital forensics, etc.
• Career Applications: Explore how cybersecurity professionals use interdisciplinary concepts in daily work.
• Research Focus: Understand hypothesis formation and data analysis in social science cybersecurity studies.
• Marginalized Perspectives: Investigate how marginalized groups engage with and contribute to cybersecurity challenges.
• Societal Impact: Examine how social science informs our understanding of cybersecurity’s societal implications.

Course Material

Journals: