Course Catalogue
Advanced Research Methods
SIS-695 Research Seminar in International Communication: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (Graduate Seminar/ Face-to-Face and Synchronous Online Course)
SIS-750 Big Data Analytics and Text Mining (Graduate Seminar/Online, Synchronous/Asynchronous): This course is designed to help participants understand the opportunities and challenges of “Big Data Analytics and Text Mining” particularly in International Affairs research. Participants will be exposed to tools and techniques used to analyze large-scale data sets, with a focus on unstructured textual data.
COMM-750 Advanced Media Theory: This course examines a range of theories for explaining the complex interrelationships among media, technology, human behavior, social interaction, and democratic processes. It provides an in-depth comparative analysis of theoretical approaches from a variety of academic fields including mass communication, cultural studies, film criticism, and digital media. Usually offered every fall. Restriction: PhD program.
COMM-751 Advanced Media Research Methods: This course covers major social scientific, historical, ethnographic, qualitative, and critical approaches to media research, including discussions of epistemology, conceptualization, measurement, and ethics. Usually offered every fall. Restriction: PhD program.
Advanced Topics in Internet Governance
SIS-106 Governing Globally: Internet, International Organization, Interests and Beyond (First Year Seminar): The Internet and emerging technologies shape the context for, and constitute one key focus for, governance issues locally and globally. No longer are nation states the only players in the policy spaces for global governance issues. International organizations, private sector organizations, and civil society are increasingly involved. Whether it is cybersecurity issues or digital divides, new research provides a lens on these complex policy spaces. This three-credit seminar is designed to have undergraduate students produce a written, evidence-based policy brief related to Internet governance issues and conduct an oral briefing.
COMM-696 / LAW-795 Cyber Flash Points: The most challenging and consequential problems of the contemporary era are now mediated by conflicts over Internet governance. This seminar allows students to become well versed in the growing body of interdisciplinary literature and theory around global cyber governance. Its specific objectives are three-fold: 1) to help students understand the technical infrastructure of the Internet and the distributed ecosystem of actors and systems that now control it; 2) to provide students with in-depth knowledge of some of the most critical contemporary public policy debates over Internet governance; 3) to allow students to develop their own evidence-based normative positions on how major problems in cyber governance should be addressed. Each class opens with a 15-minute flash talk explaining how the technical architecture of the Internet works.
SIS-419/628 Survey in Telecommunication Policy and the Global Information Society (Graduate/Undergraduate Seminar/ Face-to-Face and Synchronous Online Course)
GOVT-441 The Politics of Mass Communication: Effects of mass communication on all levels of political life in modern societies including socialization, participation, information, and opinion. Analysis of the relationship between mass communication and politics within a comparative context, i.e., societies with differing media structures (predominantly commercial, public, or state systems). Meets with GOVT-641. Usually offered every spring. Prerequisite: 6 credit hours of GOVT/SPA course work at the 300-level or above. Restriction: minimum 2.5 GPA.
GOVT-465 Politics and the Internet: This course examines the history and evolution of the Internet; its impact on our daily lives; and the various ways in which the Internet has embedded itself into the political landscape. The course also looks at the impact of the Internet on the media and reaching constituents as a two-way medium Meets with GOVT-665. Usually offered every summer. Restriction: minimum 2.5 GPA.
SIS-496/628 Cross-Cultural Collaboration in Global Virtual Teams (Graduate and Advanced Undergraduate Seminar/ Face-to-Face and Synchronous Online Course)
ITEC-617 Information and Technology: Successful managers understand the value of information technology (IT) and know how to apply IT to critical aspects of their jobs. This course provides business students with an understanding of the strategic, tactical, and operational roles of IT in business. Through case studies and assignments, students learn how to manage and apply IT to achieve business objectives. Restriction: MBA program.
SIS-640 International Communication: International communication as a field of inquiry and research: perspectives, theories, and assumptions underlying communication between nations and peoples; international flow of information and its implications in relations among nations and cultures. Usually offered every term.
GOVT-641 The Politics of Mass Communication: Effects of mass communication on all levels of political life in modern societies; including socialization, participation, information, and opinion. Analysis of the relationship between mass communication and politics within a comparative context, i.e., societies with differing media structures (predominantly commercial, public, or state systems). Meets with GOVT-441. Usually offered every spring.
SIS-645 International Communication and Cultural Policy: Designed for students and professionals in communication and culture, media, creative arts, public policy and international affairs, this course explores some of the most important areas of national, comparative and international policy shaping communication and culture in the twenty-first century. Students develop policy expertise for use in areas such as press freedoms, media and film policy; Internet policy, new digital media policy, and Internet censorship; intellectual property rights and foreign policy related to trade in cultural products and service; and constitutional rights of freedom of expression in comparative context. Particular emphasis is given to national arts policy and cultural policies that protect cultural rights of minorities; promote production and dissemination of new creative arts; preserve the national heritage in cultural traditions, national endowments and museums; construct and define national and cultural identity; support and subsidize national cultural industries; apply cultural content quotas; design and implement language policy; and defend cultural sovereignty. Usually offered every spring.
SIS-690: The Internet of Things in India
COMM-704 Media, Technology, and Democracy: This is a foundation overview course focused on scholarship and analysis concerning the intersections of media, technology, and democracy. It also introduces other core courses and study concentrations for advanced study in these topics. Usually offered every fall. Restriction: PhD program.
COMM-754 Media Law and Policy: This course equips students with a strong grounding in U.S laws, policies, and regulatory infrastructure. It analyzes how public debates and political struggles over policy issues have shaped the culture, structure, and operations of contemporary U.S. media industries and institutions. Usually offered every spring. Restriction: PhD program.
Advanced Topics in cybersecurity and cyberconflict
ITEC-466 Cyber Security Risk Management: Information security is rapidly becoming a critical aspect of corporate life that business professionals cannot afford to be unaware of. The potential risks associated with various and increasingly diverse digital security breaches are on the rise and the related recovery costs are very great. This course focuses on three key areas: the risks associated with information management in the digital economy; the most effective personal and business practices to manage these risks; and the associated information forensics to understand where and how information can be traced. Individual, corporate, and national/global aspects of information security risks are covered, as well as issues related to risk understanding, assessment, and management, corporate governance, and incident response. Meets with ITEC-666. Prerequisite: ITEC-200.
JLC-483 Cyber Threats and Security: This course examines the emerging threats to U.S. security caused by cyber activism. Special attention is paid to discussing appropriate policy responses to this nascent global problem. Meets with JLC-683. Usually offered every spring. Grading: A-F only.
ITEC-596 Cybersecurity Governance: Business leaders and boards of directors are increasingly focused on cyber governance, or the procedures and policies that companies must consider from legal, technical and operational perspectives. This course exposes students to key cyber governance issues for companies, regulators, governments and organizations worldwide–emerging cyber regulations, laws and procedures, variations within and between countries, as well as pre- and post-cyber crisis governance expectations, all of which have significant impact on how businesses must plan for the future and manage existing programs and operations. Students rely on case studies and examples from multiple business sectors as primary sources for this course.
SIS-619 Cyber Policy Analysis, Data Analytics, and Methods: In this course, students obtain specific skills and competencies to assess threats and develop evidence-based cyber policies, perform data analytics, and determine resource allocations in cyber security situations. Methods include threat analysis, digital forensics, attribution, data analytics, and risk assessments.
SIS-619 Cyber Conflict: Surveillance, Privacy, and Activism: This course includes the new dynamics of government surveillance and citizens’ ability to mobilize. Students gain knowledge of the core issues in cyber-related political issues, and the promises and perils of global e-commerce. Students also gain an understanding of the dynamics of cyber activism as an arena for effecting political change and expressing human rights. Governance structures and institutions as well as the emergence of international norms and practices are examined.
SIS-619 Cyber Warfare, Terrorism, Espionage, and Crime: Cyberspace plays an increasingly important role in diplomacy and global conflict. This course examines the issues and controversies surrounding the use of cyberspace for warfare, terrorism, espionage, and cybercrime. Students gain a thorough knowledge of the core concepts, issues, policy options, and potential futures of conflict in cyberspace. Note: Technical knowledge of digital media and networks is not required.
SIS-690: Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge
Advanced Topics in Internet Law
LAW-626 Human Rights Law: This course provides an overview of current international human rights law and the mechanisms for its implementation and enforcement. The course focuses on the general principles of international human rights law, including the functioning of the universal human rights system (United Nations) and existing regional human rights systems. It will also concentrate on the normative foundation of international human rights law and explore issues of limitations and derogations of rights, international criminal law, and current topics in international human rights law.
LAW-795 Internet Policy & Legislative Advocacy: While this seminar focuses on Internet issues, the practical skills learned can be applied to any policy matter. Students will learn legislative advocacy skills in the context of Internet policy issues. Using cutting edge Internet issues, such as cyber security, privacy, intellectual property, e-commerce, and more, students will have an opportunity to learn about Internet issues from a policy perspective. Student outcomes will include an understanding of key Internet policy issues and acquiring “skills of the trade” for legislative advocacy, including persuasive advocacy for policy issues, formation of policy campaigns, legislative strategic planning, drafting of policy documents, and stakeholder politics.
LAW-805 Law of Information Privacy: This seminar will critically examine cutting-edge information privacy law issues. Topics to be addressed include digital surveillance, the privacy implications of encryption and social networking technologies, consumer privacy, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, online behavioral advertising, and the role of anonymity in a networked world. The course will compare and contrast existing legal frameworks for privacy protection in the U.S. and abroad, and discuss emerging privacy paradigms. Finally, the nexus between privacy and information security will be examined through discussions of encryption, authentication, data breaches, and cybersecurity.
LAW-810 Communications Law and Information Policy: This course provides a general overview of the legal and public policy issues in the domestic regulation of the dynamic communications and information industry, including: broadcasting, cable, telephone, mobile, and broadband services. Students should be able to demonstrate the ability to be creative, thoughtful, and interdisciplinary policy advocates and problem solvers in this complex area.
LAW-924 Advanced Copyright Law & Policy: The rapid development of digital technology has affected all aspects of copyright law, including digital creation, adaptation, distribution, public performance, and display of works ranging from books, videos, websites, music, sound recordings, apps, programs, databases, dramatic works, and choreography. Traditional limitations on copyright, such as fair use and first sale, are also affected by these technological developments. But changes to the Copyright Act have not kept pace, resulting in recent congressional hearings on copyright reform and revision. Congress, the courts, and the Copyright Office struggle with these emerging issues as well as basic copyright doctrines, such as the copyrightablility of functional works, the standard for infringement, and the merger doctrine. This course will explore recent cases, such as the Blurred Lines infringement suit and the Varsity Brands case before the Supreme Court as well as congressional proposals. Topics for the course will vary based on student interests.