Jackson School courses and programs offer invaluable insights and context for students wanting to pursue careers in a variety of fields and industries. Below is an example of some the unique courses and opportunities offered by the Jackson School for students interested in careers in technology.
Pathways to careers in technology
Tech companies are large multi-national businesses that require workers with diverse skills and knowledge to successfully operate across international borders. The Jackson School produces international area experts with broad knowledge of history, policy, and culture to fill a wide variety of roles in the dynamic and ever-changing tech sector.
Jackson School Pathways: Technology Alumni
Emma Lii
Government & Public Services Business Intelligence Analyst, Deloitte US
Emma Lii // B.A. International Studies (General) [2020]
While a JSIS student, Emma worked as an undergraduate researcher on a National Science Foundation funded project focused on Internet of Things (IoT) device cybersecurity in the built environment. She also completed a Global Research Group for Microsoft focused on the Paris Call for Trust and Security and received a Mary Gates Research Award for her work on this project. Emma pursued coursework related to cybersecurity in the Jackson School and completed her Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and global politics.
After graduation, Emma joined the Training Enabling Areas Campus Hires (TEACH) program at Deloitte US and currently works as a Business Intelligence Analyst in their Government & Public Services Contracts organization.
Conor Cunningham
M.A. Candidate, Harvard University
Conor Cunningham // B.A. International Studies (General) [2020]
During his time in JSIS, Conor combined area studies focus with a thematic interest in technology. He was a Cybersecurity Initiative Cybersecurity Research Fellow focusing on information operations. He received a Mary Gates Research Award for his research. He also completed two Global Research Groups for Microsoft, one on financial security and one on election security. His Task Force focused on election security and he took courses on international cybersecurity in the Jackson School. Conor also studied Russian in Moscow in 2018 as a FLAS Scholar and in Latvia as a Boren Scholar during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Since graduating, Conor was an intern with the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He then was a Fulbright Scholar in Moldova researching social and traditional media usage among university-age students. In February 2022, he relocated to Bucharest, Romania, where he worked as a translator with Ukrainian refugees. Conor is now an M.A. candidate in Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies with plans to enter government service.
Victoria O'Laughlin
Quality Engineer II, Dataminr
Victoria O'Laughlin // B.A. International Studies (General) [2019]
While Victoria was a JSIS student, she was a Cybersecurity Fellow and in this role engaged in research on Internet of Things (IoT) devices and privacy, with a particular focus on IoT surveillance device use in public spaces. She also completed a Global Research Group focused on dis/misinformation for the Woodrow Wilson Center in D.C. Victoria was also the co-editor (and an author) of a Task Force focused on nation-state cybersecurity strategy and international norms. Victoria also pursued independent studies in technology related topics as well as coursework focused on cybersecurity.
After graduation, Victoria was hired at Dataminr as a Domain Expert focused on cybersecurity. She now is a Quality Engineer II at Dataminr, testing their Cyber Risk product to ensure accuracy and quality across cyber risk-related alerts.
Meet Isabel Wilson: Mary Gates Research Scholarship 2022-23
Adventures in cybersecurity
Jackson School undergrads receive cybersecurity research funding on national projects – and build their work skills
Recently offered Technology courses
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JSIS B 100 Media and Information Technology in Global Conflict
Instructor: Vanessa Freije
JSIS B 100 C: International Cybercrime
Instructor: Jessica L. Beyer
This course will address the issue of cybercrime as an international, political phenomenon. We will discuss hackers and hacking culture, hacktivists, types of cybercrime, the interaction of cybercrime and organized crime, the international nature of cybercrime networks, the relationship between cybercrime and governments, and the impact of cybercrime on geopolitics.
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS 310 Data ethnography and qualitative methods
Instructor: Saadia Pekkanen
Relationships among political, social, and economic changes in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Problems of economic and political development, revolution and reform, state-society relations, imperialism and dependency. Instructors: Bachman, Callahan
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS B 355 Cybersecurity in International Studies
Instructor: Jessica L. Beyer
Addresses the major international agreements, organizations, and infrastructures shaping cybersecurity. Covers basic technical terminology and legal frameworks related to cybersecurity.
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS B 357 The Geopolitics of Energy
Instructor: Scott Montgomery
Provides an Introduction to energy studies focusing on geopolitics. Topics explored include global energy resources, trends, and technologies; energy supply, demand, and consumption; economic issues; the changing role of OPEC; concepts of energy sustainability; energy and climate change.
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS 478 G Global Disinformation
Instructor: Jessica L. Beyer
Examines cross-cutting issues such as content moderation on major global internet platforms, place-based analysis such as how content moderation plays out in particular contexts, how dis/misinformation plays out in different contexts and media markets, and government policy and other initiatives meant to address dis/misinformation.
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS 478 The Political Economy of Digital Technologies
Instructor: Clair Yang
This course will examine the economic and social implications of cutting-edge developments in digital technologies. The course will cover a range of topics, including e-commerce, digital marketing, Fintech, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence. Rather than focusing on the technologies themselves, we will discuss the economic forces that influence their takeoff, their impact on the market and society, and the regulatory challenges they raise. By exploring these topics, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of how digital technologies may shape our economy and society, and how they can be harnessed to promote economic development and social justice.
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS A 472 Science, Technology, and Innovation Policies in East Asia
Instructor: Marie Anchordoguy
Role of state and technological change in economic development. Analyzes state and corporate technology policies historically. Basic technology concepts, institutions, and policies in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. Examines sources of Asia's rise in world of technology and explores whether conditions for its success will continue.
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS B 444 Space Law And Policy
Instructor: Saadia Pekkanen
Law and policy foundations of outer space activities. Essential origins, sources, and role of space law, as well as key institutions, forums, and forces shaping the contemporary governance of space activities. Provides a thorough grounding in U.N. treaties, principles, resolutions, regulations, and private international and national space laws and policies.
General Education Requirements: SSc
JSIS B 480 Fundamentals of Global Cybersecurity
Instructor: Jessica L. Beyer
Area and international studies approach to investigating nation-state cybersecurity strategy and regional dynamics. Addresses the cybersecurity strategies of major international actors, regional dynamics, famous cyberattacks, and the state of international cybersecurity. Structured geographically. Involves instruction by guest experts.
General Education Requirements: SSc
Student Opportunities
The Jackson School offers unique initiatives and opportunities for students to expand their knowledge for careers in the tech industry.
The Global and Regional Studies program equips students with the skills (including writing and foreign languages) and the disciplinary tools needed to analyze global and regional issues and challenges. Students can choose a concentration in ‘Technology, Security and Diplomacy’ to match their course of study to their career goals.
Task Force is a unique undergraduate capstone experience that challenges teams of students to produce a report that is evaluated by real-world experts in the field. Task Force report topics change every year, and often include technology focused case studies.
Global Research Groups pair teams of faculty-supervised students with clients who want cutting edge and cost effective consulting. GRG consultants provide in-depth data analysis, reports, presentations and other research to meet their partners’ needs. Since 2009, GRG teams have worked for Microsoft, Starbucks, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and many others.
Cybersecurity Research Fellows work on independent research projects under the guidance of Jessica Beyer. Research fellows are required to produce one piece of high quality research a quarter and attend weekly research group meetings. Research fellows receive the title “Cybersecurity Policy Fellow” and close research/writing mentorship from Beyer. Students of any level – undergraduate to graduate – may be a research fellow.
