Welcome! Thank you for your interest in learning more about CSCI 1800 Cybersecurity and International Relations.
The course is available to students from the College and the Graduate School. Students from undergraduate, master's, and PhD programs throughout Brown can start their study of cybersecurity with this course if they'd like--the course assumes no previous knowledge about the topic, but provides a rigorous learning experience that examines the complexity of the cyber threat landscape and international relations. Advanced cybersecurity students can also benefit from the course and will be able to add a global perspective to their cybersecurity knowledge.
If you're a student at Brown and are interested in taking this course or are currently enrolled in it, please note that we will be utilizing a Canvas course website. This page shares basic information about the course for students at Brown as well as members of the public that might be interested in learning more about the CS Department's cybersecurity course offerings.
Registration Updates
Spring 2026 Registration
Please read this website carefully before emailing to ask a question about the course--many frequently asked questions are addressed here. You may have read a note in the CSCI 1800 course listing on Courses at Brown which stated, "Enrollment limited to students in the Cybersecurity (SCM) program." This is an error. This course is open to students from throughout the University. The course is also avaiable to remote students such as those studying abroad.
How to Register for the Course
This course uses the override process provided in CAB. CSCI 1800 has many avaiable seats; you are encouraged to request an override if you are interested in the course.
Please do not email with override requests. Instead, please request your override via CAB by sharing your concentration, your interest in the course, and and special circumstances you have such as participating in study abroad. Once you receive an override for the course, please make sure to return to CAB to complete your registration--there is no override code, the process all takes place within CAB. Please use your override to register within 24 hours of receiving it or it may be deactivated and provided to someone else that has requested an override for the course.
Section 2 is only for students in the Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. All other students should request an override for Section 1 of the course.
When the Course Will Meet
At this time, the course is planned to be a fully asynchronous course. However, it is anticipated that students will be required to attend a maximum of two synchronous sessions in the entire semester to complete some required assignments. These required sessions will occur during the Tuesday and Thursday 1 PM to 2:20 PM course meeting time and will always be online. The course will not meet in person.
It is anticipated that any required session will require class participation from students. This may take the form of a presentation, participation in a simulation, or another similar exercise that builds verbal advocacy skills.
Course Description
This course examines the role that cybersecurity plays in the relationships of nation state governments. Through simulations, interactive discussions, exercises, guest speakers, and readings, students examine how international norms, diplomacy, international law, and technology provide a de facto infrastructure for how nation states operate in the cybersecurity domain. This is a writing-designated (WRIT) course.
