Current Courses

SIS 306 - Digital Investigations (Undergraduate)

This course is a practical introduction to open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations – using data from publicly available sources for Internet research. We cover a variety of methods, from geolocation and chronolocation to investigating websites, tracking accounts and verifying content. By the end of the course each student will have produced a full independent investigation that should serve as the basis for future research, conference presentations, and even potential publication. 

SIS 653 - New Tech, Emerging Threats (Graduate)

"New Technologies, Emerging Threats” is a forward-thinking course designed to explore the array of new technologies defining our modern era, as well as the risks and challenges they pose for security, democracy, and society. As the pace of technological advancement accelerates, it is crucial to gain a nuanced understanding of how these developments can shape our future—for better or for worse. This course is tailored for those eager to delve into the complexities of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biomedical advancements, space exploration, and the Internet of Things (IoT), with a keen eye on both their transformative potentials and associated risks.

SIS 712 - AI, Security & Politics (Graduate)

This course explores the hidden infrastructures, labor systems, and power dynamics underlying artificial intelligence (AI). While AI is often framed as a neutral and autonomous technology, this course reveals its deep entanglement with resource extraction, exploitative labor, and surveillance capitalism. Students will critically analyze how AI is applied across sectors such as policing, healthcare, education, national security, and warfare—questioning who benefits from these technologies and who bears the costs. Through interdisciplinary readings, case studies, and hands-on analysis, this course examines the security, environmental and ethical challenges shaping the governance of our AI-driven world.

SIS 793 - Trust & Safety in Online Games (Graduate)

Online gaming is one of the most important platforms for human communication and interaction, yet the trust and safety challenges in these spaces—such as freedom of expression, hate speech, harassment, online privacy, and child protection—are often overlooked and underexplored. In this practicum, students will learn about content moderation practices and engage in discussions about the ethical challenges involved in creating safe and inclusive online environments. By the end of the course, students will have gained practical experience in trust and safety policy, along with a strong understanding of the industry standards and legal frameworks that govern digital spaces.

Current & Former PhD Students

  • Kate Munro

    Kate Munro is a PhD student in the School of International Service. Her research interests include the influence of AI on decision-making and information collection in intelligence, the evolution of misinformation/disinformation, and the relationship between evolving technology and warfare.

  • Kirubel Tadesse

    Kirubel is a PhD candidate at American University's School of Communication, where he researches the intersection of media, technology, and democracy, with a focus on social media content moderation and its impact on political transitions in the Global South.

  • Monzima Haque

    Monzima Haque is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka and a PhD candidate at the School of International Service. Focused on South and Southeast Asia, her research investigates foreign policy processes, multilevel governance practices, and hydropolitics within the broader scope of global environmental diplomacy, employing narrative and text analysis as core methodologies.