Cyber Science - Interdisciplinary Approach to Cyber Studies

Cyber Science is a course developed through a collaboration of math, science, engineering, computer science, and liberal arts faculty. The primary goal of the course is to help teachers and students become better cyber-citizens who help, rather than hinder, security efforts by making them aware of the benefits and dangers of cyberspace while driving them to fundamental concepts across the disciplines. Course content exposes students to multiple topics of cyberspace including: the history of cyberspace, ethical and social issues, computer programming, and need for and use of security in cyberspace. Faculty members from the College of Engineering and Science teamed up with the College of Liberal Arts to develop an engaging experience aimed at high school students. During the 2011 academic year the course was piloted at a regional school with 21 students. In summer 2011, the program expanded to 6 participating schools in the region. During the summer of 2012, 21 teachers from 12 high schools participated in professional development for the course. The Cyber Science course was a natural expansion of the Cyber Discovery program developed by Louisiana Tech University. The course consists of discussion sessions, hands on labs, cryptographic problems, film sessions, and a final cyber challenge each of which integrate the history, ethical issues, applications, and theory behind cyberspace, security, and cryptography. Developing a cyber curriculum that is truly interdisciplinary in focus – cutting across both the sciences and the liberal arts – demonstrates a national model for implementing similar programs at other institutions. This integrated approach to teaching strives to educate new scholars who understand not only the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics but also the political, social, historical, ethical, and legal aspects of this evolving discipline. Results of the project include activities developed such as: historical/policy essay assignments, robotics challenges, as well as computer science fundamentals. This paper will describe the approaches used in addressing ethical and social issues related to cyber technology, as well as how STEM fundamentals are enhanced by integrating with liberal arts.