Cyber Pol for Nat Econ Sec

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course is designed to prepare students for a career in cyber policymaking for the purposes of national and economic security. Policy professionals in the cyber domain must effectively identify policy challenges, gaps, and potential data-driven solutions; navigate various policy making forums and norms to draft and build consensus around new policies; and communicate new policies in ways that can be practically implemented. In addition to existing cyber policies, they should possess a keen awareness of different influential parts of the cyber policy ecosystem, including but not limited to cyber strategies and plans, cyber laws and regulations, international agreements, related audit reports, and budgets. Finally, they must have awareness of the current global landscape of known cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and key stakeholders in cyber policy making and implementation. This course will cover all of these areas. In the first part of the course, we will conduct an overview of the cyber policy ecosystem, policy making forums, and policy writing styles and templates that are useful for documenting and transacting on cyber policy challenges, gaps, and solutions. In the second part of the course, we will use this baseline while reviewing at least ten current high-priority cyber policy topics [see Classes 4-13 for this semester’s topics]. Each week while exploring these topics, we will also review best practices and lessons learned from known styles of policy writing, convening, and consensus building that professionals have used to advance policies in these areas. This study will arm students with tools to conduct their own policy making efforts beyond the classroom. Finally, students will capstone the semester with a critical appraisal of different policy making models, leading to an assessment of which models are best suited for various cyber policy projects. Students of this course will develop a toolbox of techniques for identifying cyber policy challenges and gaps; developing data-driven solution-options; writing clear and concise policy language; and planning a roadmap to convene and build consensus around solution-options.