NSS Course Descriptions

Tentative Course Schedule

Economics 630. A seminar on the analysis of international economics.

Geography 306: Remote Sensing of the Environment. Interpretation of environmental phenomena recorded by satellite and aerial multispectral sensing systems, especially conventional aria photography. GEOG 306 Syllabus

Geography 406: Digital image Processing. Geographic manipulation and interpretation of multispectral scanner data from satellites, radar and other digital image sources with the aid of computers.

Geography 605: Spatial Data Presentation. An integrated study of geographic techniques used in land use planning, including: computer graphics, geographic information systems, and remote sensing.

Geography 610: Military Geography. The geographic perspective of military conflict.

History 521: The Soviet Union 1917-1991. This course focuses on the consequences of the Soviet effort to remake society. It examines in particular three perspective on this effort; the implications of an ideological society, the human impact made Soviet policy on ordinary Soviet citizens, and the legacy it has left for todays Russian Federation. HIST 521 Syllabus

Math 611: Operations Analysis. Scientific approach to the resolution of operational problems. Examines the structure and function of models and decision strategy commonly used in national policy analysis including measure of effectiveness, uncertainty and the misuse of modeling.

Political Science 484: National Security Policy. The foundation class for the NSS program, this course accomplishes certain objectives. It identifies and explains the primary theoretical approaches used within the related fields of national security, strategy, and defense policy. It outlines the historical formation and execution of post-World War II U.S. defense policy, up to and including the current debates over the use of U.S. military power in what some characterize as a new interwar period. It also provides a solid understanding of nuclear weapons: their physics, strategy, and defenses. Finally, it explores the evolution of U.S. national security institutions, both civilian and military, as well as the role that the intelligence community plays in protecting national security.

Political Science 500: International Law. This course sets out to investigate, if not gain critical knowledge, of one of the central and most important subjects in international relations. Using appropriate sources, students should be prepared to investigate and identify the specific geographic or topographical details of each case pending before the International Court of Justice and be prepared to share their knowledge.

Political Science 540: Seminar in Comparative Politics. Theories, methods, and paradigms of comparative politics. This is a "topics" course which may be repeated once for credit.

Topic A -- The Politics of Central Asia. Comparative politics of Central Asian States, including historical, ethnic, religious and cultural influences. (Note: Previously taught as PSCI 507: The Politics of Central Asia). PSCI 540A Syllabus

Topic B -- Politics of Eastern Europe. Comparative politics of Eastern European states, including historical, ethnic, religious and cultural influences. PSCI 540B Syllabus

Topic C -- Politics of the Middle East. Comparative politics of the Middle East, including historical, ethnic, religious and cultural influences.

Political Science 571: Organization of U.S. Intelligence. A single unit self-paced study course providing detailed information about the structure, procedures, and organizational principles behind U.S. intelligence community. PSCI 571 Syllabus

Political Science 572: Eurasian Security Through Film. A two-unit course tracing the development of key concepts of Eurasian security and defense through their portrayal in film. (Note: Course proposal still under review - class being taught in the interim as SSBS 695B: Directed Study). PSCI 572 Draft Syllabus

Political Science 590: Seminar in International Relations. Intensive study of some phase of foreign policy-making or international relations to be developed by instructor with class. This is a "topics" course which may be repeated once for credit.

Topic A: -- Naval Strategy and Maritime Affairs. Strategic and political analysis of the role of naval forces in U.S. history, sea power theory, U.S. Naval doctrine, and naval transformation. PSCI 590A Syllabus

Topic B -- International Terrorism. An introduction to major issues involving the definition, ideology, causes, development and sociological effects of modern terrorism. In light of the events of 11 September, special emphasis will be placed on the Middle East, one of the most politically volatile and strategically important and least understood areas of the world.

Topic D -- European Union. Development, institutions, organization and future prospects of the European Union.

Topic E -- Political Intelligence. Participants in this seminar a number of different ways of evaluating proposals for intelligence reform. These include varying theories of intelligence function and performance, organizational theory, historical development, assessment of bureaucratic and political interest, and philosophical positions on the role secret services should play in a democracy. On the basis of these approaches, each seminar participant will examine a component or agency of the U.S. intelligence community, and conduct an institutional analysis using as resources all available reform approaches, hearings and legislation. PSCI 590E Home Page

Topic J -- Russian Foreign Policy. This course provides an introduction to the history, development, and contemporary dynamics of foreign relations in the former Soviet republics, especially Russia. It will examine the development of policy, the constraints and opportunities presented by domestic factors and the international environment and competing interpretations of Soviet capacities, intentions, and behavior during the Cold War. The course should leave the participants with an appreciation for the background and issues behind today's headlines. PSCI 590J Syllabus

Topic K -- The Middle East. The objectives of this course are fourfold. The first is to gain an understanding of the theological underpinnings of Islamic belief systems. Secondly, the student will analyze the differences between so-called Western legal systems and siyra or international Islamic law. Next, the class will also look at the different modes of thoughts in the Islamic world. Finally, it will examine the different religious zealots that are identified with each major faith, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Political Science 600: Theory and History of Strategy. This course examines the critical texts of the literature on strategy for war and peace. The theory and history is foundational to understanding the use or misuse of force in the modern world. It considers the foundations and evolution of strategy and strategic thinking from ancient to modern times. It considers how theoretical and historical developments are useful in understanding modern security policies. A second objective of the course is to help you learn how to write critical book reviews.

Political Science 601: Strategic Systems and Thought. An overview of major issues in defense policy, including an introduction to modeling of strategic offensive and defensive forces, with a broad review of the literature on the evolution of strategic issues since World War II. The central problem will be to determine the future direction for U.S. national security, in an era of declining budgets and the risks of a less stable New World Order, and to assess the relevance of Cold War paradigms for deterrence, strategy, and security in the post-Cold War.

Political Science 602: International Security. The objectives of this course are for the student to develop an in-depth analysis of a regional security problem, and to become familiar with the many new challenges in international security in the post-Cold War. In addition, the student will become familiar with the requirements of writing a publishable-quality, article length paper and its editing.

Political Science 604: International Law. This course examines the historical basis and present trends in the development of international law. It considers the foundations of customary and conventional international laws as well as treaties that bear upon the conduct of members of the international community.

Political Science 605: Topics in Strategy. Intensive study of a specific phase or area of defense strategy developed by the instructor. This is a "topics" course that may be repeated once for credit.

Political Science 609: Theories of International Relations. This course will examine the leading schools of though in the academic study of international relations. We will consider the foundations of these theoretical perspectives and the operation and application with respect to historical international events. We will also consider the extent to which these theories, in the classic and more recent forms, are useful in explaining relations among nations in the post-Cold War era.

Political Science 611: Regional Security of Eurasia. This course provides an overall assessment of the former Soviet Armed Forces, with emphasis on the formulation, content, and continuity of Soviet military doctrine, and on its role in the Soviet polity. It covers the organization and basic structure of the former Soviet Armed Forces, the role of the Soviet high command, the relationship between the Soviet social-economic structure and military doctrine, and the potential for the Soviet Armed Forces to accomplish foreign policy objectives. PSCI 611 Home Page

Political Science 621: Strategic Intelligence. This course is intended to introduce graduate students to the various methods by which the United States intelligence community collects information, some of the analytical techniques by which it processes the information and turns it into finished intelligence, and above all, the organizational and management approaches by which all this is accomplished. This course includes an examination of the structure of the U.S. intelligence community, technical and human sources of intelligence collection, and discussion of various proposals under construction to assist the intelligence community. PSCI 621 Home Page

Political Science 622: Theory and Practice of Arms Control. This course examines the arguments that have surrounded contemporary arms control negotiations and agreements, the agreements themselves, and the military and political consequences that flow from the arms control process. It begins with background issues on contemporary arms control and continues with an analysis of texts on arms control agreements. It concludes with an investigation of current proposals for future agreements, and with the threat of the spread of nuclear weapons. PSCI 622 Home Page

Sociology 606: Sociology of Terrorism. An overview of major issues involving ideology, causes, development and sociological effects of terrorism in society. Also included are the histories of terrorist groups, social-psychological profiles of members, technology and modus operandi.