College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Graduate Catalog

237 This course provides an in-depth introduction to the fundamental logic and principles of research design, with additional focus areas in critical thinking and analysis. Students will gain familiarity with key concepts in the philosophy of science and current debates over appropriate methods of data collection and analysis of the social sciences. Students will learn the differences between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research; from here the student will be introduced to the foundations of these approaches and learn what strategies, methods, and techniques are in use. Students will then be expected to formulate a research question, develop a set of hypotheses, develop a strategy for data collection, develop a literature review, and finally to formulate ways to operationalize their study. Offered Fall and Summer terms. NSAM 5006 – Assessment of Credibility – Theory and Implications Students will explore a broad range of contemporary thought, discussion, and scientific research, relevant to the assessment of credibility with the goal of developing a base of knowledge for the assessment of statements made by, or on behalf of, individuals, groups, political parties, and government, both domestic and foreign. Topics that will be explored include, but are not limited to, the "making and unmaking of ignorance", defining what constitutes a "lie", the ubiquitous nature of lying, the many reasons for lying, and how lying is used in varying contexts by individuals, business, and government. Offered Fall term. NSAM 5007 – Leadership in National Security Affairs This course is designed to assist national security leaders in identifying and developing their leadership style, building effective relationships with critical stakeholders, developing strategies to building effective teams, and enabling leaders and followers to optimize decision-making in the workplace. Students review remarkable leaders, organizations, and teams in order to hone their own observation, sense-making, and innovating skills in a national security setting. Offered occasionally. NSAM 5008 - Credibility Assessment: Methods and Implications This is the second course in the realm of credibility assessment. Students will explore a broad range of issues, thought, discussion, and scientific research, relevant to the actual assessment of credibility using various contemporary methods. Topics that will be explored include, but are not limited to; defining what constitutes a "lie," the ubiquitous nature of lying, nonverbal and verbal cues to deception, non-instrumental forms of lie detection, and instrumental forms of lie detection. Offered Winter term. NSAM 5009 – US Relations with Latin America This course focuses on strategic analysis while examining historical relations between the United States and Latin America. The material is presented in three segments; strategic analysis, historical relations, and current issues impacting US relations with the southern hemisphere. The course will enhance knowledge and understanding of the history of US-Latin American relations and the application of strategic analysis to those relations. The course will emphasize the strategic importance of Latin America to long term stability in the US. Offered occasionally. NSAM 5010 – US Foreign Policy and National Security This course examines the history of United States foreign policy from World War II to the present, with an emphasis on the emergence of national security as the dominant feature of policymaking in this period. In this class, we will explore the expanding global reach of U.S. interests since 1945, paying considerable attention to the role of the Cold War and the War on Terror in the creation of and continued expansion of a national security apparatus within the United States government. In readings and course discussions students will be exposed to key concepts such as the national interest and identity, isolationism and internationalism, and realist and idealist approaches to foreign policy. Students will also be exposed to the major schools of thought on US foreign policy, and develop a greater contextual understanding of contemporary policies and issues in national security. Offered annually, Fall only NSAM 5014 – Ethical Issues in National Security This course provides an introduction to moral reasoning through a philosophical examination of major ethical problems in the context of national security, such as those encountered by security professionals; intelligence gathering; military engagements; responses to terrorism, among others. The relationship between security interests and traditional democratic values such as, privacy, truth and honesty will also be explored. Student will be introduced to the idea that ethical problems are largely a matter of normative ethical (philosophical) theory. Annually, Fall only NSAM 5015 – International Relations: Theory & Practice This course is a survey of the dominant theories of international relations including (but not limited to) realism, liberalism, their neo-variants, as well as critical theories. The course will examine the “great debates” within international relations and apply these theories to historical case studies and current issues in U.S. national security. Annually Winter only NSAM 5016 – Civil Liberties and National Security This course focuses on understanding the interconnection between Civil Liberties and National Security. Both elements are important – the first being the mechanism by which the Republic as an entity protects itself and the second by which many of the principles of the Republic are