International Security and Intelligence Studies Degree - Bachelor of Applied Science

College of Arts & Sciences

Curriculum

Major Requirements (36 credit hours)

(Click a course name below to view course details). All courses are 3 credit hours.

• PS 208 Introduction to National Security

  This course introduces students to national security as a concept, strategy, goal, and challenge. It examines the dangers and threats that exist domestically and internationally and analyzes how the United States attempts to deal with those challenges using strategies that range from diplomacy to military force.

• PS 209 Foundations in Intelligence and Counterintelligence

  This course introduces students to intelligence and counterintelligence as concepts, processes, and careers. It elaborates on historical and contemporary approaches to intelligence/counter intelligence. The process of intelligence collection, analysis, research dissemination, consumption, and feedback is examined. Students are exposed to the diverse intelligence community and the responsibilities of its various members.

• PS 210 Ethical Controversies in Security and Intelligence

  This course introduces and engages elements of theoretical and ethical analysis to empirical topics and subject matter. Some of the issues covered will include war, weapons of mass destruction, humanitarian intervention, globalization, and spying. This course explores the deeper underlying philosophical issues within national security.

• PS 317 Introductory Geostrategy

  This course introduces the subfield of geostrategy. It takes a holistic approach to the study of geopolitics and foreign policy when guided by geographical factors. It examines how geography can inform, constrain and affect political, economic, and military planning. Topics covered include how a country's resources, position, and physical factors can change and determine its geopolitical objectives and how geography is sometimes inextricable from strategy.

• PS 318 Essentials in Strategic Thought

  This course promotes the understanding of tactical and strategic thought at the introductory level. The course explores how theory and strategy help form policy by identifying the implications and shifts in long-term strategic patterns and trends. Security culture, use of force, international law, grand strategy, and just and unjust war will be major aspects of course study.

• PS 320 Security Concepts in Science and Technology

  This course provides an in-depth understanding of how science and technology impacts national security and intelligence. It examines how important hard science and technology is in developing areas of national security and intelligence. This includes analyzing cyber-security and cyber-warfare, the emerging relationship between the Intelligence Community (IC) and Information Technology (IT), space reconnaissance, and high-tech espionage.

• PS 403 Guns, Sex, Drugs: Illicit Activity in Global Politics

  This course analyzes transnational crime and corruption issues within global politics. Focus is given to potential national and international responses to transnational threats. This course examines the increasing relevance of criminality and governmental corruption and how it becomes a major aspect of national security policy.

• PS 404 FREEDOM'S CURSE: Problems in Democratization and Development

  This course examines how democratization projects around the world succeed or fail and the international dynamics that flow from that success/failure. International threats that emerge from the problems and flaws of implementation are investigated in depth. Case studies are used as teaching tools about international involvement and difficulties with that engagement.

• PS 406 Rogue Leaders and Outlaw States

  This course analyzes issues of leadership and statehood that run contrary to international norms and democratic standards. The course investigates key case studies and how they offer challenges to the global community and international security. Review of current problem areas and issues in world politics and scrutiny of conflict-resolution strategies that are both short and long term are included. How these strategies are employed within U.S. foreign policy and their likely efficacy is also examined.

• PS 407 Eurasian Political Culture and Security

  The study of Eurasia (defined as Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) with an emphasis on understanding the different political cultures and security issues across the region. Topics covered include individual domestic concerns, international positions, national security/economic interests, and alliances/conflicts between countries within and beyond the region.

• PS 408 Rebellion, Insurgency and War

  This course investigates the various forms and differences of internal/domestic conflict. Students will be exposed to the global context of civil war and insurgency. Numerous case studies will be analyzed, exposing students to the nature and characteristics of revolution. Understanding the changes in our concepts of old/new wars and how that impacts international peacekeeping and global intervention will be highlighted. Students consider transnational issues that emerge within domestic conflicts and how democracy emerges as both a cause and effect within rebellion.

• PS 411 Radical Religion and Political Extremism

  This course examines various fundamentalist movements around the globe and considers the revival of religious radicalism in the 21st century. Students evaluate how various ‘fundamentalisms’ impact domestic and global political processes. The process for morphing religious radicalism into political violence is examined. How various international factors can ameliorate/exacerbate extremism is examined.