Course descriptions for new courses, approved by the Faculty Senate in 2007 but not yet listed in the catalogue

50:790:388 Foundation Course

The National Security/Homeland Security Establishment

50:790:426

Civil Liberties in Times of Emergencies: Professor Alan Tarr

This course examines the effect of war and other national emergencies on the protection of individual rights and the balance that should be struck between national security and individual liberties. Although the course focuses primarily on national emergencies throughout American history, it will also examine how other countries have sought to strike the balance between national security and liberty.

50:790:427

Resource Scarcity and National Security: Professor Jenny Kehl

Natural resources are closely linked to economic prosperity and international security.

The need to procure and protect vital resources, particularly oil and water, has had a profound impact on U.S. national security and foreign policy. The purpose of this course is to study three major aspects linking natural resources and national security: 1) U.S. energy security and energy policy, 2) types of violence associated with conflict over scarce resources, and 3) strategies for conflict resolution. The course concludes with a discussion of the future trajectory of resource disputes and the policy implications for national security.

50:790:428

Radical Islam Challenges the West: Professor Kim Shienbaum

This course introduces students to the place of radicalism within the Islamic world, and examines and analyzes why, when, how and even whether it poses significant security challenges to the liberal democratic tradition of the West.The course will also focus on the relationship of this challenge to the forces of globalization.

50:790:429

Anti-Americanism: Professor Kim Shienbaum

Anti-Americanism, a means of challenging American power and global leadership, and defined as a set of negative predispositions towards the U.S, has been energized by the unipolar world following the collapse of Communism. This course will explore and examine three different ( and even contradictory) forms of anti-Americanism:”liberal” anti-Americanism which criticizes our support for dictatorships abroad; “social” anti-Americanism which criticizes our lack of social welfare programs and “sovereign-nationalist “ anti-Americanism from nations wanting to preserve identities which may be at odds with the liberal democratic values America seeks to export.

50:790:430

Contemporary Propaganda:  Professor Kim Shienbaum

In the 21st century ideas, religious and secular, are competing for global dominance. Military force to impose one value system over another is increasingly stymied by asymmetric warfare and low intensity conflict, as well as by the preference of the international community for peaceful dialog over force. Since propaganda has emerged as an increasingly potent weapon in the war of ideas and this course will define propaganda, examine and analyze how and why it is disseminated, and investigate whether democracies or dictatorships are better at conducting propaganda campaigns.

50:790:435

Counter-Terrorism Strategies

This course will cover methods to combat terrorism and political violence. The class will take a cross-disciplinary approach and will include military, police, legal, social, religious, and psychological responses to this growing phenomenon. Case studies of several terrorist groups and the counter-terrosim strategies that either reduced or enhanced their effectiveness will be provided.