Master of Arts in National Security Studies-Capstone Option

RECOMMENDED AS FIRST PROGRAM COURSE. REQUIRED AS ONE OF FIRST THREE PROGRAM COURSES. Learn basic research methods skills for addressing security and intelligence studies problems and issues. You focus on the detailed procedures for conducting qualitative case studies, which is the foundation for most basic security and intelligence research conducted in academic, government, and business circles. You become well versed in research planning, secondary data collection, and qualitative data analysis methods and how these methods relate to the larger field of social science research. You will also learn the analysis of competing hypotheses approach to research design. You are also introduced to basic social theory which supports security and intelligence research. The course prepares you for later learning intermediate and advanced security and intelligence methods.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AS YOUR SECOND CLASS in National Security Studies. The course will cover the roles, missions, organization, capabilities, unique cultures and strategic purposes of the President, the Departments of State and Defense, Congress, National Security Council, Armed Forces, intelligence community, and NGOs, as well as how these actors interact to formulate national security strategy. Students will examine some of the successes and failures of the interagency process and will gain an appreciation of the capabilities, limitations and organizational cultures of the players in the national security community, as well as providing an overview of legal and ethical issues that impact on the development of national security policy.

This course assesses the major concepts of strategic thinking that underpin the national security decision making process in the U.S. Students analyze the fundamental nature of power in the international arena, how national security objectives are determined, grand strategies available to attain national security objectives and the ways in which the elements of national power are applied to achieve desired objectives. The course surveys national security policies since the end of the Cold War, examines regional security concerns to the U.S., covers the concept and principal components of national security strategy and evaluates the most important theories that explain how states and non-state actors interact in the international arena. The student examines current challenges to U.S. national security interests, especially terrorism and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and evaluates future national security policies and challenges.

During this course, the student analyzes the domestic and international contexts that shape the behavior of state and non-state actors, and which affect the formulation of national security policies. The course provides an assessment of major social, cultural, political, military, economic, technological, and historical issues that influence the international context; the roles and influence of international organizations and non-state actors; and the key transitional challenges to national security such as weapons proliferation and terrorism. The student will examine the issues and national security interests of the U.S. in regions of the world, how the U.S. has carried out its foreign policy in those regions to protect its national security, and the security interests of the nations in those regions. This course will prepare the student to conduct strategic assessments of selected organizations, regions, states, and other actors on the international stage.

This course will examine the implications of rising world-wide economic interdependence upon relevant aspects of U.S. national security policy. The phenomenon of globalization will be analyzed from an economic standpoint and related security issues, such as the effectiveness of sanctions, the ability to regulate commerce in weapons and technology, and the changing global balance in military capabilities will be considered in this context.

This course examines contemporary globalization, its links to emergent threats, and potential U.S. responses. To familiarize students with the types and effects of emergent threats, the course considers several topics including the history and future of: cyber conflict, bioterrorism and public health, climate change, radicalization of U.S. citizens, transnational organized crime, terrorism WMD, state failure and civil war, and emerging technologies. The relationship between globalization and emergent threats is explored with a focus on U.S. national security strategy. The course is about the politics of emergent threats and does not require any specialized technical background.

This course examines the forces reshaping world politics and analyzes the institutions that are fostering new forms of global governance. The course will allow the student to analyze models of international cooperation and identify the states that have most actively challenged the existing order. There will be a focus on the examination of leading and emergent international institutions such as the G-20, the nascent regime for sovereign wealth funds, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the forums organized to foster cooperation in the war on terror.

This course examines the heritage of Latin America from pre-Columbian civilizations (Aztec, Maya, and Inca) and Iberian colonial patterns, through the independence movements of the early 19th century, and the global relationships that oriented the region toward Europe and the United States. Purpose is to distinguish early Latin American history, from the arrival of the first peoples on the American continents through the 19th century, and Latin American culture, economics, and politics.

This course is a study of central Asia's history, culture, and ways of thinking. The focus is on the political and social organization of central Asia, cultural changes as expressed in art and literature, and formal and informal interactions with China, India and the Middle East. Students examine the sweep of Central Asian history and culture from the earliest times to the present time, and distinguish cultural, religious, social, military-security, political, and economic developments in the region, with special focus on the impact of Islam, as well as Soviet and Russian influences, concluding with the post-9/11 era.

This course examines Southeast Asia as an historical and cultural area through the 20th century. Students compare and contrast Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei and distinguish different socio-political systems and development levels, geographical conditions, cultural origins, values, and interests in national independence. Special emphasis is on the cultural patterns in the formation of Southeast Asia nations, including traditional notions of authority, political and cultural identity, state-society relations, and regionalism.

This course examines the defense policies of a number of nations in Europe and Asia that had to deal with enormous changes following the East bloc's collapse. It concentrates on the effect of post-Cold War induced changes on these nations.

This course is a study of the theory and literature on the history and practice of international negotiations for purposes of peace; mediation between opposing factions, groups, or states; settlement of hostilities; preemption; among other issues. The course includes contending approaches to international negotiations, their basic assumptions and methodologies, and their application to current conflict situations. The role of culture and cross-cultural communication in international negotiation is explored. Also included in the course is discussion and study of skills development in international negotiation.

An examination of the strategic, operational, and tactical elements required for conducting both UN and non-UN sponsored peace operations. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the reasons for success or failure of previous and ongoing peacekeeping missions.

An examination of the governments and the militaries of the two Koreas. This course will closely examine the reasons behind the Korean peninsula playing such a pivotal role in overall Northeast Asian security. The course will examine domestic political, economic and social problems and prospects of North Korea and South Korea; the prospects for reunification; the military balance and the changing strategic environment; and the relations of Pyongyang and Seoul with their key allies. Includes an examination of U.S. relations with Korea.

Latin America continues as one of the most important areas to the United States -- even as it remains one of the least understood. In particular, the internal dimension of security has not yet been resolved in many Latin American nations to the extent that domestic stability can be taken for granted, a reality which could have profound consequences for the United States.

This course examines evolution of the contemporary Middle East politics. It studies political, social, and cultural, interactions both within and among the countries located in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, the Persian Gulf region, and the North Africa. The course aims to present detailed and multidimensional analysis of the political attitudes and behaviors of prominent players biased through religious motives, regimes, patterns of patrimonial leadership, and diverse aspirations and goals of traditional social groups rooted in the Middle East. In this framework, focusing, first, on the birth and rise of Islam and religious motives in social life, the course sets the stage for historic developments which brought about structural dilemmas of today. Emphasizing on the period starting with the industrial revolution early in the nineteenth century, it also draws attention to the political economic motives of the region shaped by petroleum as well as the rise of mass politics. Correspondingly, involvement of the great powers into the politics of region is, in the final analysis, another topic that adds up flavor to the discussions and perspectives related to the Middle East politics. Finally, it takes up the analysis of current developments, like the U.S. led Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and democratization efforts in the Broader Middle East area in the context of U.S. war on terror.

This course examines the political, economic and security forces that impact on the government and politics of countries in the Middle East, specifically the Persian Gulf, as well as U.S. foreign policy toward this important region. It will touch on the historic, religious, social and cultural aspects that have helped shape the political dynamics of the Persian Gulf as well as the strategic factors which have tied the region to the West generally and to the U.S. in particular. The first part of the course will focus on the historical background of the region, the role of religion, and the emergence of nation-states after centuries of foreign domination. The latter part will concentrate on contemporary issues and problems -- The issue of terrorism and the recent Gulf conflict caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. The course will examine the political systems and the political elites of the major players in the Middle East including Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. The course will conclude with an overview of current U.S. involvement in the region.

This course covers the geography, culture, society, economy, and religions of the major ethnic and linguistic groups in the Middle East. The course will introduce students to important events and developments, such as the changing concepts of politics in Islam; the evolving sociological bases of states and societies in the Middle East; and the early impact of Europe on the Middle East, first through trade and then through colonialism.

This course will enable students to put the contemporary Islamist challenge to the West into historical, political, and cultural context and to understand Islam and the Islamic world more broadly. It does not focus on Islamism specifically, but does include it. The breadth of the course content reflects the inconsistent and uncertain usage of the term Islam. Strictly defined, Islam refers only to the religion founded by Muhammad. It is not a political, ethnic, geographic or cultural term any more (or less) than Christianity is. The central theme of the course will be to address the question of whether the relationship of theology to polity within Islamic societies is unique to that religious tradition.

This course examines the Middle East peace process surrounding the Arab-Israeli conflict and focuses on the historical perspectives, the roles of the various Middle Eastern countries in the process, Western intervention efforts, and the inherent successes and failures over the years. Purpose is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the background and history of conflict resolution, the hope for peace in the future, and the ability of the various nations to coexist.

This course explores the problem of insurgency and counterinsurgency in Asia during the 20th and 21st century in terms of lessons learned. Students examine insurgencies in the Philippines, the Vietnam War, the Soviet-Afghan War, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Key issues such as political awareness and social consciousness, coupled with dissatisfaction under the extant regime, are assessed as factors in insurgency and counter-insurgency.

This course is a comparative study of unconventional warfare in Africa. It begins with the European “Great Scramble” into the continent, addresses the 19th century anti-colonial insurgency of the Mahdiyya in the Sudan, and 20th century anti-colonial insurgencies such as the Mau Mau in Kenya, Angola and Mozambique and Robert Mugabe’s ZANU and Nelson Mandela’s ANC. Other insurgencies such in Ethiopia-Eritrea, Ivory Coast and “failed states” like Liberia are included as well as sub national insurgencies such as the Touareg Uprising in West Africa and the ongoing conflict in Sudan’s Darfur.

Students will appraise the contributions of classic philosophers to security strategy and assess the theoretical explanations for the causes of war and peace. In addition, they will compare differing strategies for the conduct and termination of war and appraise just and unjust war doctrines in light of international law. Students will also assess deterrence strategy and its use in the nuclear age; compare differing doctrines for guerrilla war, revolution, and terrorism; and assess strategies for peacekeeping and peacemaking. The student will complete a number of small writing assignments and a final research paper that develops contemporary strategy and operational art for some aspect of national security.

This is a 16 week course that must be taken after all other courses in your program are complete. The Master’s Capstone Seminar option in National Security Studies includes a thesis or a major research paper. The thesis or major research paper options are recommended for those students who wish to apply their advanced research and analytic skills to a topic of US or international security interest. Students who select to do a research paper take the Capstone Seminar. The thesis option is recommended for those students planning security community analysis or professional writing careers or those planning to continue their education at higher levels.