4.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This seminar course will focus on three questions: What is American defense policy? How is it formulated and implemented? What are the enduring and variable aspects of American defense policy? In order to address these questions the course will explore the: 1) Links between American foreign policy and defense policy; 2) Key actors in American defense policy, including: the NSC, the military, Congress, the intelligence community, and independent commissions; 3) Contemporary issues in American defense policy, including: the role of contractors on the battlefield; civilian control of the military; and crafting defense policy under demanding economic and international circumstances. Student should complete the course with a better understanding of the challenges involved in formulating and implementing an effective defense policy and be able to confidently participate in discussions on such matters with defense policy makers. The course deliverables will reflect those that an analyst would provide a senior decision maker in the Department of Defense. They will include 3 short papers and a timed decision briefing. <a href="http://bit.ly/1bebp5s" target="_blank">Click here to see evaluations, syllabi, and faculty bios</a>