Semester length: August 18 to December 11.
Registration begins March 31 on a sequenced basis.
Required books list will be available on July 15.
DSS Course Schedule: Fall 2025 Semester
Web conference courses - ZOOM, MS Teams
Class meets in real time on specific day and time. Each course also has its own Course Reference Number (CRN).
| Course | Section | Course Reference Number (CRN) | Course name | Instructor | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSS 601 | 895 | 58260 | Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control | Clark, Payne, Trachtenberg | ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 631 | 895 | 58884 | International Negotiations | Bronson | ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 632 | 895 | 46212 | Survey & Writing, International Security Affairs | Ellis | ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 700 | 895 | 58262 | Strategy and U.S. Defense Policy |
Hewitt
|
ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 707 | 895 | 58263 | Seminar on Congress, National Security, and Weapons of Mass Destruction | Taylor | ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 708 | 895 | 59150 | Security Issues in Russia | Beasley | ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 709 | 895 | 59934 | Space Policy and Security | Gardner | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 713 | 500 | 58265 | Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Covert Action | Peck | ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 722 | 895 | 57609 | Emerging Strategic Challenges | Ritcheson |
ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 724 | 895 | 59204 | Leadership for National Security Professionals | Rose, Clawson |
ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 725 | 401 | 60904 | Instruments of State Power | Ford | ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 726 | 401 | 58895 | Chinese Military Power | Anderson | ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 727 | 850 | 51431 | Chemical and Biological Warfare | Moodie | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| 401 | 60984 | Intelligence and War | Gentry | ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern | |
| DSS 797 | 601 | 60906 |
Spec Topic: Cybersecurity - Understanding and Assessing Risk |
Bell | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 797 | 845 | 61582 |
Spec Topic: National Security Production Restricted to DSS doctorate students only and instructor permission required. |
Geipel | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 797 | 895 | 60909 |
Spec Topic: Adapting Deterrence Strategy to Two Nuclear Peers |
Bradley |
ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 797 | 896 | 60908 |
Spec Topic: Building Partner Capacity in Defense and Foreign Policy |
Molino |
ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 797 | 897 | 59205 |
Spec Topic: Educational Wargaming |
Taylor |
ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 840 | 895 | 60912 |
ADVANCED National Security Strategies Restricted to DSS doctorate students only |
Koch/Ford |
ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
In-residence, seated courses - Virginia campus
Class meets in real time on specific day and time. Each course also has its own Course Reference Number (CRN).
| Course | Section | Course Reference Number (CRN) | Course name | Instructor | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSS 601 | 1 | 42390 | Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control | Clark, Payne, Trachtenberg | Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 700 | 301 | 51433 | Strategy and U.S. Defense Policy | Hewitt | Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 709 | 301 | 59933 | Space Policy and Security | Gardner | Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 713 | 301 | 58264 | Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Covert Action | Peck | Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 722 | 301 | 47419 | Emerging Strategic Challenges | Ritcheson | Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 724 | 301 | 61567 | Leadership for National Security Professionals | Rose, Clawson | Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 725 | 301 | 60903 | Instruments of State Power | Ford |
Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 727 | 301 | 49416 | Chemical and Biological Warfare | Moodie |
Thursday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 745 | 301 | 60983 | Intelligence and War | Gentry | Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 797 | 701 | 60907 |
Spec Topic: Building Partner Capacity in Defense and Foreign Policy |
Molino | Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
Internet courses
Classes are asynchronous; no real-time class meetings required.
| Course | Section | Course Reference Number (CRN) | Course name | Instructor | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSS 601 | 897 | 58473 | Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control | Trexel | Online/Asnychronous |
| DSS 601 | 898 | 56521 | Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control | Trexel | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 630 | 899 | 60897 |
International Law and Global Security |
Berman | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 632 | 898 | 57644 | Survey & Writing, International Security Affairs |
Kartchner |
Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 705 | 899 | 56243 | NATO Security Issues |
Dodge |
Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 706 | 899 | 61583 |
Russian Military Strategy |
Hoehne, Murphy |
Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 708 | 895 | 59150 | Seminar on Contemporary Security Issues in Russia | Beasley | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 710 | 899 | 45524 | Seminar on International Terrorism and Security | Kiras | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 710 | 898 | 61581 | Seminar on International Terrorism and Security | Gibson | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 714 | 899 | 58888 | Strategic Thought | Clawson | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 715 | 899 | 58889 |
Grand Strategy Prequisite course: DSS 601 Nuclear Strategy. Contact your academic advisor for required enrollment Permission. |
McGiffin | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 716 | 899 | 60898 |
Military Operations |
Murphy, Hoehne |
Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 719 | 899 | 54975 | Strategic Culture | Kartchner | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 722 | 899 | 56244 | Emerging Strategic Challenges | Marlo | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 723 | 899 | 56245 | Counterproliferation | Bronson | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 727 | 899 | 45393 | Chemical and Biological Warfare | Melley | Online/Asychronous |
| DSS 730 | 899 | 58843 | Cyber Conflict and International Security | Mazanec | Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 801 | 899 | 58268 |
Advanced Nuclear Strategy, Deterrence and Arms Control
|
McGiffin, Payne, Trachtenberg |
Online/Asynchronous |
| DSS 832 | 899 | 60350 |
Advanced Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs
|
Geipel | Online/Asynchronous |
Arranged courses
Internship, Thesis, Non-thesis, Directed Reading, Capstone courses
| Course | Section | Course Reference Number (CRN) | Course name | Instructor | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSS 720 | 899 | 42478 |
Internship Training in DSS Policy Contact your academic advisor for enrollment details. |
Koch | Arranged |
| DSS 794 | 1 | 49538 |
Active in Research Contact your academic advisor for enrollment details. |
Contact your academic advisor for enrollment details. | Arranged |
| DSS 796 | 899 | 56305 |
Directed Reading and Research in Defense and Strategic Studies Contact your academic advisor for enrollment details. |
Contact your academic advisor for enrollment details. | Arranged |
| DSS 799 | 899 | 58271 |
Thesis Contact your academic advisor for enrollment details. |
Contact your academic advisor for enrollment details. | Arranged (Internet) |
| DSS 896 | 899 | 58340 |
Doctoral Capstone Project
|
Geipel | Online/Asynchronous |