RFP: Online Course Development: Cybersecurity in Context: Artificial Intelligence, Policy, Law, and Ethics
The Master of Information and Cybersecurity program at the School of Information at UC Berkeley seeks proposals for a new online graduate course in Cybersecurity in Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Policy, Law, and Ethics.
About the Proposed Course
Proposals will outline a 14-week, master’s level online learning course experience exploring the multifaceted issues that shape the cybersecurity landscape. The course focuses on understanding how factors such as law, policy, ethics, and AI influence cybersecurity practices, policies, and governance. Students will examine key aspects such as national and international cybersecurity policies, the role of AI in threat detection and defense, the legal and ethical implications of emerging/evolving technologies, and the impact of human behavior on security outcomes.
The instructor should assume that students are self-motivated, advanced master’s degree students with foundational cybersecurity knowledge and critical thinking and analytical skills. The course will delve into the evolving intersection of AI and cybersecurity, including the legal complexities of AI-driven systems, the ethical challenges in data privacy and surveillance, and the development of effective governance frameworks. The course will also explore how governments, industry, and society are addressing the challenges posed by AI and other technological advancements in cybersecurity.
Topics covered in the proposed course should include but are not limited to:
- The evolution of cybersecurity beyond technology to include political, legal, ethical, social, economic, military, and other nontechnical contexts;
- Historical context of cybersecurity’s role in society and how it intersects with broader concerns;
- National security concerns, the role of governments and nation-states in cybersecurity (e.g., cyber warfare, international treaties, defense policies);
- Understanding legal frameworks governing cybersecurity (e.g., data protection laws, cybercrime laws, privacy regulations);
- Evidentiary standards in cybersecurity such as rules for digital evidence (e.g., emails, network logs, IP addresses) and its role in legal proceedings;
- Legal questions around AI in cybersecurity, including accountability for decisions made by autonomous systems;
- The role of AI in cybersecurity, including AI-driven threat detection, predictive analysis, and automated responses;
- The use of AI in firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other cybersecurity defense mechanisms;
- How ethical issues arise in the cybersecurity domain, especially with AI and automated security systems;
- Ethical concerns around AI-driven surveillance technologies, monitoring systems, and user privacy;
- Ethical issues related to AI bias, particularly in automated security tools like facial recognition or threat detection systems;
- Balancing data security with privacy and ethical considerations in the collection and storage of personal data;
- The development of cybersecurity policies at the national, international, and organizational levels;
- How governments create cybersecurity laws and regulations (e.g., data protection, encryption standards, cybercrime);
- International cooperation and treaties (e.g., EU Cybersecurity Act, NIST Cybersecurity Framework);
- Policy and strategy in cyber defense, including responses to cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism;
- The role of governments, industry, and standards organizations (e.g., NIST, ISO) in shaping cybersecurity governance;
- How organizations assess and mitigate cybersecurity risks (e.g., NIST RMF, ISO 27001);
- Compliance with cybersecurity standards and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS);
- The role of AI, IoT, and Blockchain in shaping the future of cybersecurity;
- Understanding the new types of threats introduced by AI and other emerging technologies, such as AI-driven attacks, IoT vulnerabilities, and blockchain security;
- How business models integrate cybersecurity and how business strategies can be influenced by cybersecurity concerns;
- Assessing the cost and return on investment (ROI) for cybersecurity solutions in various sectors;
- Examining the financial impact of security breaches, including reputational damage, fines, and compliance issues;
- Human behavior in cybersecurity, user interactions with security technologies, and insights from behavioral economics (e.g., trust in systems, security awareness, and user-driven risks);
- Understanding how human factors affect cybersecurity behaviors (e.g., why users might engage in risky behaviors or ignore security warnings);
- Using behavioral economics to improve user compliance with security practices (e.g., password hygiene, multi-factor authentication adoption);
- How users perceive AI-driven cybersecurity solutions and the impact of trust on security outcomes;
- The role of governments in protecting critical infrastructure (e.g., energy, transportation, healthcare) against cyber threats;
- Ethical concerns in using AI for national security purposes;
- Ethical considerations in the use of AI for national security surveillance and law enforcement;
- Actual cybersecurity incidents where AI and non-technical factors played a role (e.g., Equifax breach, AI-based fraud detection, government cyberattacks, etc.);
- Lessons learned from actual cybersecurity incidents to apply in real-world policy, legal, and ethical frameworks.
The successful proposal will be accepted for development and offered in the MICS online degree program. Since this is a fast-moving field, it is expected that the course contents will be continually revised.
Although typical MICS courses have 1.5 hours of pre-recorded asynchronous content, due to the fast-moving pace of this topic, for this course, we are open to innovative designs for content delivery so long as they meet required contact hours (45 hours/semester).
About the MICS Program
The Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) online program prepares students with the cybersecurity skills needed to assume leadership positions and drive innovation in the field.
Deliverables for Accepted Proposal
Instructors of accepted course proposals will be expected to produce well-designed, reusable presentation slides, structured topic outlines for discussion sections, and assignments that reinforce the course’s key objectives. Instructors will collaborate closely with an instructional designer and video producer to ensure the course meets established quality standards and fully aligns with defined learning objectives and outcomes. This partnership is integral to creating a high-impact, student-centered online learning experience.
Submission Requirements
Respondents to this RFP must submit a cover letter and draft syllabus using the form below. Draft syllabus should contain at minimum a course description, weekly topic breakdown for a 14-week course, brief descriptions of assignments, grading information, and reading list.
Responses must be received no later than July 18, 2025 for fullest consideration and will be accepted until selection is complete.
Strong preference will be given to course developers who are interested in continuing their association with the School of Information by applying to teach the developed course as a lecturer. The separate lecturer application can be found here: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04649.
Compensation
Compensation for course development will be offered via vendor payment from UC Berkeley. To be eligible to receive compensation, the successful proposer will need to register with the UC Berkeley Accounts Payable Vendoring Team and must meet all applicable university requirements. Our expert team will walk you through the process to ensure that your vendor profile is active before work proceeds. This is not a visa opportunity.
The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct
Questions
Questions about this call for proposals can be directed to Dr. Christina Arias, Assistant Dean of Academic Programs.