Hacking for Defense (H4D)

Hacking for Defense (H4D) provides students with the opportunity to learn how to work with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) to address the nation’s emerging threats and security challenges. In this course, teams of 3-5 students from interdisciplinary backgrounds develop minimum viable products (MVPs) and prototypes that match DOD/IC users’ needs by the end of the semester.

Using Lean Startup Methodology and working closely with their problem sponsors, mentors, and military liaisons, the student teams work together to bring a product or service “to market.” Why take this class?

• You’ll work on hard, gnarly problems, while contributing to national service.
• You’ll work on real national security issues, with real national security leaders.
• You’ll learn Lean Startup methodology to help you build efficient and successful startups, and develop skills to solve problems in any organization.

Problem sponsors include the National Security Agency (NSA), Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER), U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. State Department Bureau of Counterterrorism, Army Research Lab-West, and many others.

All nationalities/citizenship are encouraged to apply. Graduate and upper division undergraduate students welcome.

For more information, please contact hack4d@usc.edu.