DSS Course Schedule: Spring 2026 Semester

Spring 2026 semester dates: January 12 to May 7. View MSU academic calendar.

Course registration begins on October 30, 2025. View the registration sequence at https://www.missouristate.edu/Registrar/Students/RegSequence.htm.  

Required books list for spring 2026 will be published by December 15, 2025.   

Web conference (also referred to as CNCT) internet courses: ZOOM, MS Teams platforms

Classes meet in real time on specific day and time. Each course section has its own Course Reference Number (CRN).

Course Section Course Reference Number (CRN) Course name Instructor Modality
DSS 601 401 43201 Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control Clark ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 632 401 29549 Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs Martinez ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 701 500 47097 Assssing and Understanding Cyber Security Risk Bell ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m.
DSS 707 401 43793 Seminar on Congress, National Security, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Taylor ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 708 401 40748 Security Issues in Russia Beasley

ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 709 500 47316 Space Policy and Security Johnson

ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 712 401 46407 American National Security Policy Hewitt

ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 713 401 43794 Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Covert Action Peck ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 721 401 43795 Missile Defense, Proliferation and Contemporary Warfare Rose, Trachtenberg, DeBiaso, Heinrichs ZOOM: Thursday 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 722 405 44581 Emerging Strategic Challenges Ritcheson ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 725 302 43205

Instruments of State Power

Ford ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 726

 

501 45522 Chinese Military Power Anderson ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 727

401 47142

Chemical and Biological Warfare
Part of term 8-week course: January 12 - March 5

Moodie ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m.

DSS 731

400 47096 Educational Wargaming Taylor ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 796 500 47099 International Security Winter Seminar: Practical Insights at Masaryk University, Czech Republic
(course offered under Directed Reading classification)
Rose ZOOM: Friday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 797

(pending DSS 841)

505 47100 ADVANCED National Security Strategy: Current Challenges
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.
Koch, Ford ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 801 401 43316 Advanced Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.
Payne, Clark, Trachtenberg, McGiffin, Griffin ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

In-resident, seated courses at Arlington, Virginia location

Classes meet in real time on specific day and time in the Arlington, Virginia location. Each course section has its own Course Reference Number (CRN).

Course Section Course Reference Number (CRN) Course name Instructor Modality
DSS 601 301 22912 Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control Clark Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 709 301 47315 Space Policy and Security Johnson Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 713 301 24669 Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Covert Action Peck Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 721 301 35631 Missile Defense Proliferation and Warfare Rose, Trachtenberg, DeBiaso, Heinrichs Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 722 305 24672 Emerging Strategic Challenges Ritcheson Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 726

 

401 29546 Chinese Military Power Anderson Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

DSS 727

301 47141

Chemical and Biological Warfare
Part of term 8-week course: January 12 - March 5

Moodie Wednesday, 6-9 p.m.
DSS 801 301 43116

ADVANCED Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.

Payne, Clark, Trachtenberg, McGiffin, Griffin Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

Internet/online asynchronous courses

Classes are asynchronous; no real-time class meetings required. Each course section has its own Course Reference Number (CRN).

Course Section Course Reference Number (CRN) Course name Instructor Modality
DSS 601 899 29548 Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control Bradley Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 632 899 40685 Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs Martinez Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 702 899 46406 Seminar on Regional Security: Middle East Focus Berman Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 705 899 41901 NATO Security Issues Dodge Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 706 899 47098 Russian MIlitary Strategy Hoehne, Murphy Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 710 895 43950 Seminar on International Terrorism and Security Kiras Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 714 899 45569

Strategic Thought

Clawson Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 719

899

40749

Strategic Culture Kartchner Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 722 899 40653 Emerging Strategic Challenges Marlo Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 723 898 41903 Counterproliferation Bronson Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 730 899 43905 Cyber Conflict and International Security Mazanec Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 740 899 46410 Ethics of Weapons of Mass Destruction Kartchner Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 750 899 43906 Security Challenges in the Americas Downie, Spadiliero Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 797 896 46414 Special Topic: Information Technology, National Security and the 4th Revolution Whyte Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 801 899 43112 ADVANCED Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.
McGiffin Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 832

898

46413

Advanced Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.
Geipel Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 896 899 43800 Doctorate Capstone Project
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.
Geipel Internet/Asynchronous

Arranged courses

Course Section Course Reference Number (CRN) Course name Instructor Modality
DSS 720 899

46408

Internship Training in DSS Policy
Permission required, contact your academic advisor.
Contact your academic advisor for information. Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 794 1 33888

Active in Research
Permission required, contact your academic advisor.

Contact your academic advisor for information. N/A
DSS 796 899 40747 Directed Reading and Research in Defense and Strategic Studies
Permission required, contact your academic advisor.
Contact your academic advisor for information. Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 799 899 43317 Thesis
Permission required, contact your academic advisor.
Contact your academic advisor for information. Internet/Asynchronous