Infusing social science into cybersecurity education

Abstract

Cybersecurity, while definitively categorized as a sub-discipline of computing, is widely considered multidisciplinary in nature. This paper documents two attempts to adopt non-computing ideas and approaches in undergraduate cybersecurity courses for information technology majors. Specifically, the author uses the social sciences (criminal justice and political science) to elicit a deeper understanding of cybersecurity problems and to present interdisciplinary methodological approaches to students who, in their careers, will be tasked with defending against cyberthreats.