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MACS 5004 – Border Protection and Military Issues
This course is an in-depth analysis of the importance and the difficulties in security
measures and tactics used to protect a sovereign nation’s borders. Border protection is
an essential part of National Security. The threats to domestic populations include drug-
smuggling, terrorism, human and arms trafficking, and illegal immigration. Theoretical
and applied case studies will facilitate student engagement. The course will serve as an
introduction to the theories and applied practices of successful border protection.
MACS 5005 - Research and Evaluation in National Security Affairs
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.
MACS 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.
MACS 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.
MACS 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.
MACS 5032 - Aquatic Invasions Outbreaks and Diseases
Aquatic, coastal and marine ecosystems can be exposed to a number of biological
stressors and disturbances such as (i) invasive species (e.g. lionfish, asian carp, zebra
mussels),(ii) outbreaks (e.g. crown-of-thorns starfish, mat tunicates), and (iii) diseases
(e.g. Eelgrass wasting disease, Fibropapilloma in sea turtles), and (iv) mass mortality
events (e.g. Diadema epizootic, 1998 worldwide coral bleaching, fish kills associated with
