University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Course Information: BA in Intelligence and Cyber Operations
The Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence and Cyber Operations combines scholarship in international relations with technical expertise in information technology, equipping USC students for the rapidly emerging field of intelligence and cyber operations. This interdisciplinary major requires a total of 55-56 units: 12 units at the lower-division level and 43-44 units at the upper-division level.
Full Time (4 years)
Tuition fees $57,256.00 (48,03,356) per year
Start date FOR 2025
Location: University of Southern California
University Park Campus, LOS ANGELES, California,90089, United States
Lower Division Required Courses (12 units)
________________________________________
IR 210gw International Relations: Introductory Analysis Units: 4
ITP 125L From Hackers to CEOs: Introduction to Information Security Units: 2
ITP 115 Programming in Python Units: 2
or
ITP 165 Introduction to C++ Programming Units: 2
IR 213 The Global Economy Units: 4
or
ECON 203g Principles of Microeconomics Units: 4
Upper Division Required Courses (16 units)
________________________________________
IR 304 National Intelligence and the Shaping of Policy Units: 4
IR 320 Technology and International Relations Units: 4
ITP 325 Ethical Hacking Units: 4
ITP 375 Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Investigations Units: 4
Security and Violence (4 units)
________________________________________
Choose one:
IR 313 Religions and Political Violence Units: 4
IR 315 Ethnicity and Nationalism in World Politics Units: 4
IR 318 Violent Conflict Units: 4
IR 319 Human Security and Humanitarian Intervention Units: 4
IR 342 The Politics and Strategy of Weapons of Mass Destruction Units: 4
IR 381 Introduction to International Security Units: 4
IR 386 Terrorism and Counterterrorism Units: 4
IR 387 Strategic Studies Units: 4
International Finance (4 units)
________________________________________
Choose one:
ECON 452 International Finance Units: 4
(Prerequisite: ECON 305)
ECON 457 Financial Markets Units: 4
(Prerequisite: ECON 303)
IR 328 The Evolving Global Economic Architecture-Capital Mobility Units: 4
IR 329 The Global Finance and Monetary Regime Units: 4
IR 431 Commercial and Financial Globalization-Trends, Challenges Units: 4
Cyber Law, Policy and Management (4 units)
________________________________________
Choose one:
DSCI 429 Security and Privacy Units: 4
ITP 370 Cybersecurity Management and Operations Units: 4
ITP 479 Cyber Law and Privacy Units: 4
Technical Elective (7-8 units)
________________________________________
Choose two:
ITP 303 Full-Stack Web Development Units: 4
ITP 357 Enterprise Networks: Design and Architecture Units: 4
ITP 365 Managing Data in C++ Units: 4
ITP 425 Web Application Security Units: 4
ITP 446 Cyber Breach Investigations Units: 3
ITP 457 Network Security Units: 4
ITP 475 Advanced Digital Forensics and Incident Response Units: 4
Regional Electives (8 units)
________________________________________
Choose two courses, each from a different category:
The Middle East
________________________________________
IR 362 The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East Units: 4
IR 463 Islam and Arab Nationalism Units: 4
MDES 340g The United States and the Middle East Units: 4
REL 402 Cultural Heritage, Religion, and Politics in the Middle East Units: 4
Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia
________________________________________
IR 345 Russian and Post-Soviet Foreign Policy Units: 4
IR 346 Communism and Post-Communism: Eastern Europe and the Balkans Units: 4
IR 438 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict after Communism Units: 4
IR 439 Political Economy of Russia and Eurasia Units: 4
East Asia
________________________________________
HIST 366 The People’s Republic of China Units: 4
IR 333 China in International Affairs Units: 4
IR 340 The Political Economy of China Units: 4
IR 360 International Relations of the Pacific Rim Units: 4
IR 384 Asian Security Issues Units: 4
Total Units for Major: 55-56
Entry Requirements for International Students
• Academic Records: International applicants must submit official copies of academic records from all secondary or senior secondary schools, pre-university programs, and any colleges or universities attended.
• English Language Proficiency:
o TOEFL iBT: A minimum score of 100, with at least 20 in each section.
o IELTS: A minimum overall score of 7.
o PTE: A minimum score of 68.
*IELTS requirements may vary based on the specific course you choose.
Course Information: BA in Intelligence and Cyber Operations
The Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence and Cyber Operations combines scholarship in international relations with technical expertise in information technology, equipping USC students for the rapidly emerging field of intelligence and cyber operations. This interdisciplinary major requires a total of 55-56 units: 12 units at the lower-division level and 43-44 units at the upper-division level.
Full Time (4 years)
Tuition fees $57,256.00 (48,03,356) per year
Start date FOR 2025
Location: University of Southern California
University Park Campus, LOS ANGELES, California,90089, United States
Lower Division Required Courses (12 units)
________________________________________
IR 210gw International Relations: Introductory Analysis Units: 4
ITP 125L From Hackers to CEOs: Introduction to Information Security Units: 2
ITP 115 Programming in Python Units: 2
or
ITP 165 Introduction to C++ Programming Units: 2
IR 213 The Global Economy Units: 4
or
ECON 203g Principles of Microeconomics Units: 4
Upper Division Required Courses (16 units)
________________________________________
IR 304 National Intelligence and the Shaping of Policy Units: 4
IR 320 Technology and International Relations Units: 4
ITP 325 Ethical Hacking Units: 4
ITP 375 Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Investigations Units: 4
Security and Violence (4 units)
________________________________________
Choose one:
IR 313 Religions and Political Violence Units: 4
IR 315 Ethnicity and Nationalism in World Politics Units: 4
IR 318 Violent Conflict Units: 4
IR 319 Human Security and Humanitarian Intervention Units: 4
IR 342 The Politics and Strategy of Weapons of Mass Destruction Units: 4
IR 381 Introduction to International Security Units: 4
IR 386 Terrorism and Counterterrorism Units: 4
IR 387 Strategic Studies Units: 4
International Finance (4 units)
________________________________________
Choose one:
ECON 452 International Finance Units: 4
(Prerequisite: ECON 305)
ECON 457 Financial Markets Units: 4
(Prerequisite: ECON 303)
IR 328 The Evolving Global Economic Architecture-Capital Mobility Units: 4
IR 329 The Global Finance and Monetary Regime Units: 4
IR 431 Commercial and Financial Globalization-Trends, Challenges Units: 4
Cyber Law, Policy and Management (4 units)
________________________________________
Choose one:
DSCI 429 Security and Privacy Units: 4
ITP 370 Cybersecurity Management and Operations Units: 4
ITP 479 Cyber Law and Privacy Units: 4
Technical Elective (7-8 units)
________________________________________
Choose two:
ITP 303 Full-Stack Web Development Units: 4
ITP 357 Enterprise Networks: Design and Architecture Units: 4
ITP 365 Managing Data in C++ Units: 4
ITP 425 Web Application Security Units: 4
ITP 446 Cyber Breach Investigations Units: 3
ITP 457 Network Security Units: 4
ITP 475 Advanced Digital Forensics and Incident Response Units: 4
Regional Electives (8 units)
________________________________________
Choose two courses, each from a different category:
The Middle East
________________________________________
IR 362 The International Relations of the Contemporary Middle East Units: 4
IR 463 Islam and Arab Nationalism Units: 4
MDES 340g The United States and the Middle East Units: 4
REL 402 Cultural Heritage, Religion, and Politics in the Middle East Units: 4
Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia
________________________________________
IR 345 Russian and Post-Soviet Foreign Policy Units: 4
IR 346 Communism and Post-Communism: Eastern Europe and the Balkans Units: 4
IR 438 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict after Communism Units: 4
IR 439 Political Economy of Russia and Eurasia Units: 4
East Asia
________________________________________
HIST 366 The People’s Republic of China Units: 4
IR 333 China in International Affairs Units: 4
IR 340 The Political Economy of China Units: 4
IR 360 International Relations of the Pacific Rim Units: 4
IR 384 Asian Security Issues Units: 4
Total Units for Major: 55-56
Entry Requirements for International Students
• Academic Records: International applicants must submit official copies of academic records from all secondary or senior secondary schools, pre-university programs, and any colleges or universities attended.
• English Language Proficiency:
o TOEFL iBT: A minimum score of 100, with at least 20 in each section.
o IELTS: A minimum overall score of 7.
o PTE: A minimum score of 68.
*IELTS requirements may vary based on the specific course you choose.