National Security & Cybersecurity Law
This practice area has evolved with the world’s increased connectivity through the use of modern technology and cyberspace and the accompanying growing vulnerabilities from physical and cyber threats. Courses in this practice area explore the use of the internet and technologies, as well as sophisticated cyber actors and nation-states and how they exploit vulnerabilities, steal information and money, and develop methods to disrupt, destroy, or threaten essential services. The field includes law on the use of securing the critical cyber infrastructure, cyber breaches, armed forces and intelligence operations abroad, counterterrorism, homeland security, management of crises, congressional oversight, and classified information. The two foundational survey courses are National Security Law and Cybersecurity Law and Policy. The remaining advanced courses pursue in greater detail issues raised in the survey courses.
Webinar: Master's Degrees in Cybersecurity
Learn about the flexible programs in cybersecurity law offered at the George Washington University Law School, including:
- MSL in National Security and Cybersecurity Law
- MSL in Government Procurement and Cybersecurity
- Specialized LLM in National Security and Cybersecurity Law
Take courses online or on our downtown Washington, DC campus. Our flexible programs are designed for the working professional. No JD is Required. (DAU transfer credits accepted.)
JD Concentration
JD candidates may earn Recognition of a JD Concentration in National Security and Cybersecurity Law by successfully completing (i.e., receiving a grade of C- or better) 14 credits of coursework in National Security and Cybersecurity Law (listed below), including the following required courses — National Security Law (6870), Cybersecurity Law and Policy (6879), and Technology Foundations for Cybersecurity (6884) or National Security Law (6870) and Cybersecurity Law and Technology (6890) —and four cyber law credits from the Advanced Courses listed below plus two credits graded on the basis of a research paper that meets the standards for the law school’s legal writing requirement, either written in conjunction with one of the required, advanced, or additional courses in the practice area or, with advance approval of the program director, written for a journal, independent legal writing, or a course that is not included in the Bulletin list on a national security and cybersecurity law topic. Note: Students who receive credit for Law 6879, Cybersecurity Law and Policy or Law 6884, Technology Foundations for Cybersecurity may not enroll in Law 6890, Cybersecurity Law and Technology. Up to two credits earned through a national security-related Field Placement (6668) may count toward the concentration credits, with approval of the program director. (Students who have a background in information technology may submit a request to the program director to obtain a waiver from Technology Foundations enrollment.) Note: students cannot obtain concentrations in both National Security and Cybersecurity Law and International and Comparative Law or concentrations in both National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations Law and National Security and Cybersecurity Law.
Courses
Foundation Courses
- National Security Law (6870)
- Cybersecurity Law and Policy (6879)
- Technology Foundations for Cybersecurity (6884)
- Cybersecurity Law and Technology (6890)
Advanced Courses
- Computer Crime (6396)
- Constitutional Law Seminar (Cyber, Privacy and Speech) (6399)
- Telecommunications Law (6414)
- Public Law Seminar (Telecommunication and Technology) (6426)
- Computer Law (6484)
- Law in Cyberspace (6485)
- Information Privacy Law (6486)
- Internet Law (6493)
- Space Law (6548)
- Intelligence Law (6878)
- Artificial Intelligence Law and Policy (6881)
- Counterintelligence Law and Policy (6883)
- Foreign Access to US Technology (6891)
- Selected Topics in Cybersecurity Law (6892)**
- Disinformation, National Security, and Cybersecurity: Overview and Legal Approaches (6893)
- Blockchain: Law, Policy, and Cybersecurity (6894)
- Global Policy Law and Conflict Seminar (6895)
- Consumer Privacy and Data Protection: Regulatory Approaches (6896)
- Cybersecurity Law Crisis Challenges: Protecting Critical Infrastructure, Risk Management, and Incident Response (6898)
Additional Courses
- Professional Responsibility and Ethics (National Security) (6218)
- Role of the Federal Prosecutor (6363)
- Immigration Criminal Enforcement (6367)
- Law of Separation of Powers (6384)
- Legislation (6416)
- Legislative Analysis and Drafting (6418)
- Congressional Investigations Seminar (6420)
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Veterans Law (6423)
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Veterans Advocacy (6428)
- International Law (6520)
- International Money Laundering, Corruption, and Terrorism (6521)
- Immigration Law I (6538)
- Refugee and Asylum Law (6540)
- International Law of Human Rights (6546)
- Law of the Sea (6550)
- Law of War (6552)
- U.S. Export Control Law and Regulation (6553)
- International Criminal Law (6554)
- Nation Building and the Rule of the Law (6559)
- Selected Topics in Public International Law (6561)**
- Public International Law Seminar (6562)**
- Human Trafficking Law (6572)
- Legal Drafting (National Security) (6652)
- Field Placement (6668)
- Selected Topics in National Security Law (6869)**
- U.S. Foreign Relations Law (6871)
- National Security Law Seminar (6872)**
- Military Justice (6873)
- Comparative Military Justice (6874)
- Counterterrorism Law (6875)
- Homeland Security Law and Policy (6876)
- Nuclear Nonproliferation Law and Policy (6877)
- The Law of Emergencies: Natural Disasters, Climate Crises, Pandemics, and Beyond (6880)
- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (6882)
- Transnational Security (6885)
- Domestic Terrorism (6886)
- Problems Trying Terrorists in Article III Courts (6887)
- Crisis and Legal Controversy in the Central Intelligence Agency (6888)
- Aviation Law and National Security (6889)
- Foreign Direct Investment Law: The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and National Security (6897)
**For 2023-2024:
- Public International Law Seminars may include Arms Control
- National Security Law Seminars may include Internal Investigations, Modern Politics, and the Office of the Inspector General
- Selected Topics in National Security Law may include Law of Secrecy
- Selected Topics in Cybersecurity Law may include Protecting Critical Infrastructure: Mitigating Cybersecurity & National Security Threats; Cybersecurity: Risk Management and Incident Response; and Cybersecurity in the United Nations
Declare Your Concentration
For JDs who would like to formally declare a National Security & Cybersecurity Law concentration, please visit the GW Law Forms webpage and fill out the JD Concentration Declare/Withdraw Form for the Records Office.
LLM Degree
For those who have already earned a JD, a Master of Laws (LLM) is offered in National Security and Cybersecurity Law.
All candidates for the LLM degree must complete a total of 24 credit hours, including coursework that satisfies the written work requirement. Those working towards a specialized degree must complete the minimum required number of hours in courses listed for that program. Related courses are recommended for the remaining course work.
Learn more about an LLM in National Security & Cybersecurity Law
Master of Studies in Law
A Master of Studies in Law (MSL), a degree designed for non-lawyers interested in law, can now be received with a concentration in Cybersecurity.