Spring 2027 semester dates: January 19 to May 13
Official MSU academic calendar
Required books list will be available here on December 15, 2026.
DSS Course Schedule: Spring 2027 Semester
Online asynchronous courses
Classes are asynchronous; no real-time class meetings are required. Course availability reflected in My MIssouri State Registration portal.
| Course | Section | Course Reference Number (CRN) | Course name | Instructor | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSS 601 | 895 | 43796 | Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control | Trexel | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 601 | 899 | 29548 | Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control |
Trexel |
Online asynchronous |
| DSS 632 | 899 | 40685 | Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs | Fierro-Martinez, Barnard | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 702 | 899 | 46406 | Seminar on Regional Security: Middle East Focus | Berman | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 705 | 899 | 41901 | NATO Security Issues | Dodge | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 706 | 899 | 47098 | Russian MIlitary Strategy | Hoehne, Murphy | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 710 | 895 | 43950 | Seminar on International Terrorism and Security | Kiras | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 714 | 899 | 45569 |
Strategic Thought |
Clawson | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 715 | 899 | 47905 |
Grand Strategy |
McGiffin |
Online asynchronous Optional Zoom class sessions with instructor |
| DSS 719 |
899 |
40749 |
Strategic Culture | Kartchner | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 720 | 899 |
46408 |
Internship Training in DSS Policy Permission required, contact your academic advisor. |
Contact your academic advisor for information. | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 722 | 899 | 40653 | Emerging Strategic Challenges | Marlo | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 723 | 898 | 41903 | Counterproliferation | Bronson | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 724 | 895 | 47916 | Leadership in National Security Policy | Rose | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 727 | 899 | 33560 | Chemical and Biological Warfare | Moodie | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 730 | 899 | 43905 | Cyber Conflict and International Security | Mazanec | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 734 | 895 | 47917 | Information Technology, National Security, and the 4th Industrial Revolution | Whyte | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 740 | 899 | 46410 | Ethics of Weapons of Mass Destruction | Kartchner | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 750 | 899 | 43906 | Security Challenges in the Americas | Downie, Spadiliero | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 794 | 1 | 33888 |
Active in Research |
Contact your academic advisor for information. | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 796 | 899 | 40747 |
Directed Reading and Research in Defense and Strategic Studies Permission required to enroll, contact your academic advisor. |
Contact your academic advisor for information. | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 799 | 899 | 43317 |
Thesis Permission required to enroll, contact your academic advisor. |
Contact your academic advisor for information. | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 801 | 899 | 43112 |
ADVANCED Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control Restricted to DSS doctorate students only. Contact your academic advisor for permission to enroll. |
McGiffin |
Online asynchronous Optional Zoom class sessions with instructor |
| DSS 832 |
898 |
46413 |
Advanced Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs Restricted to DSS doctorate students only. Contact your academic advisor for permission to enroll. |
Geipel | Online asynchronous |
| DSS 896 | 899 | 43800 |
Doctorate Capstone Project Restricted to DSS doctorate students only. Contact your academic advisor for permission to enroll. |
Geipel | Online asynchronous |
Online synchronous courses (ZOOM, MS Teams)
Classes meet in real time on a specific evening and time. ZOOM or MS Teams platforms. Each course section has its own Course Reference Number (CRN). Course availability reflected in My MIssouri State Registration portal.
| 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 | Fierro-Martinez, Dowley | ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 701 | 500 | 47097 | Assessing and Understanding Cyber Security Risk | Bell | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 704 | 500 | 48048 | Arms Control: Theory and Practice | Koch, Sharp | ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| 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 | Johnson |
ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 710 | 500 | 47904 | International Terrorism | Moy |
ZOOM: Wednesday, 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 | ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 722 | 405 | 44581 | Emerging Strategic Challenges | Ritcheson | ZOOM: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 723 | 400 | 47915 | Counterproliferation | Zarzecki |
ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 725 | 302 | 43205 |
Instruments of State Power |
Priniotakis | ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
|
|
501 | 45522 | Chinese Military Power | Anderson, Quam | ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| 400 | 47096 | Educational Wargaming | Taylor | ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern | |
| 500 | 47920 | Adapting Deterrence Strategy to Two Nuclear Peers | Bradley | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern | |
| 500 | 47921 | Arctic Security Challenges | Anderson | ZOOM: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern | |
| DSS 796 | 500 | 47099 |
International Security Winter Seminar: Practical Insights at Masaryk University, Czech Republic Permission required to register, contact adminstrator Julie Jeffrey. |
Rose | ZOOM: Friday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 801 | 401 | 43316 |
Advanced Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control Restricted to DSS doctorate students only. Permission required to enroll. Contact your academic advisor. |
Payne, Clark, Trachtenberg, Griffin | ZOOM: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 836 | 500 | 47927 |
National Security Publication |
Geipel | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. |
| DSS 840 | 401 | 45533 |
Seminar on National Security Strategies |
Koch, Ford | ZOOM: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. |
Seated courses (in-resident Arlington, Virginia)
Classes meet in real time on a specific evening and time. Each course section has its own Course Reference Number (CRN). Course availability reflected in My MIssouri State Registration portal.
| Course | Section | Course Reference Number (CRN) | Course name | Instructor | Modality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSS 601 | 400 | 47902 | Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control | Clark | Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 709 | 301 | 47315 | Space Policy | Johnson | Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 721 | 301 | 35631 | Missile Defense Proliferation and Warfare | Rose | Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |
| DSS 801 | 301 | 43116 |
ADVANCED Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control Restricted to DSS doctorate students only. Permission required to enroll. Contact your academic advisor. |
Payne, Clark, Trachtenberg, Griffin | Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern |