DSS Course Schedule: Spring 2024 Semester

Web conference courses

Classes meet in real time on specific day and time. Zoom, MS Teams platforms. Each course 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 Trachtenberg Zoom: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 632 401 29549 Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs Ellis Zoom: Thursday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 707 401 43793 Seminar on Congress, National Security, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Taylor 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 716 401 45680 Understanding Military Operations
View expanded course description.		 Rose, Ford

Zoom: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 721 401 43795 Missile Defense, Proliferation and Contemporary Warfare DeBiaso Zoom: Monday 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 722 405 44581 Emerging Strategic Challenges Rose Zoom: Thursday,  6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 723 500 45521

Counterproliferation 
RESTRICTED - DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from acacdemic advisor.

 Bronson Zoom: Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 724 401 43797

Leadership for National Security Professionals
View expanded course description.

 Anderson Zoom: Monday, 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 727 406 44584 Chemical and Biological Warfare Moodie Zoom: Thursday,  6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 797 407 44586 Special Topic: Educational Wargaming Taylor 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 Zoom: Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 840 401 45533 Advanced National Security Strategies
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.		 Koch, Ford Zoom: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

In-resident, seated courses

Classes meet in real time on specific day and time in the Fairfax, Virginia location. Each course 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 Trachtenberg Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 632 301 22969 Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs Ellis Thursday, 6-9 p.m.  Eastern
DSS 707 301 25277 Seminar on Congress, National Security, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Taylor Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 713 301 24669 Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Covert Action Peck Tuesday,  6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 716 301 45681 Understanding Military Operations
View expanded course description.		 Rose, Ford

Tuesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 722 305 24672 Emerging Strategic Challenges Rose Thursday,  6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 725 301 33559 Instruments of State Power Ford Monday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 727 306 35628 Chemical and Biological Warfare Moodie Thursday: 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 801 301 43116 Advanced Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.		 Payne Tuesday: 6-9 p.m. Eastern
DSS 840 301 45532 Advanced National Security Strategies
RESTRICTED: DSS doctorate students only. Permission required from academic advisor.		 Koch, Ford Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. Eastern

Internet courses

Classes are asynchronous; no real-time class meetings required. Each course 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 Trexel Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 601 895 43796 Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control Trexel Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 630 899 43118 International Law and Global Security Berman Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 632 899 40685 Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs Geipel Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 705 899 41901 NATO Security Issues Clawson Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 708 899 40748 Seminar on Contemporary Security Issues in Russia Marlo Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 710 895 43950 Seminar on International Terrorism and Security Kiras Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 714 899 45569

Strategic Thought
View expanded course description.

 Clawson Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 715 899 45520 Grand Strategy
Prequisite course required: DSS 601 Nuclear Strategy
Permission required by academic advisor to enroll in this course.		 McGiffin Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 719

899

40749

 Strategic Culture Kartchner Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 722 899 40653 Emerging Strategic Challenges Molino Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 723 898 41903 Counterproliferation Bronson Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 727 899 33560 Chemical and Biological Warfare: Global and Community Perspectives Melley Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 730 899 43905 Cyber Conflict and International Security Mazanec 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 832 899 43113 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 1 22970 Internship Training in DSS Policy
Permission requried, contact your academic advisor.		 Contact your academic advisor for information. Local (In-resident)
DSS 720 899 40746 Internship Training in DSS Policy
Permission requried, 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 1 22971 Directed Reading and Research in Defense and Strategic Studies
Permission requried, contact your academic advisor.		 Contact your academic advisor for information. Local (In-resident)
DSS 796 899 40747 Directed Reading and Research in Defense and Strategic Studies 
Permission requried, contact your academic advisor.		 Contact your academic advisor for information. Internet/Asynchronous
DSS 799 1 35627 Thesis
Permission requried, contact your academic advisor.		 Contact your academic advisor for information. Local (In-resident)
DSS 799 899 43317 Thesis
Permission requried, contact your academic advisor.		 Contact your academic advisor for information. Internet/Asynchronous

Required books list for spring 2024 semester

DSS 601: Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control (Trachtenberg)

  1. Keith B. Payne, “Chasing a Grand Illusion: Replacing Deterrence with Disarmament.” 2023
  2. Keith B. Payne, “Shadows on the Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament.” ISBN-13: 978-0-9855553-2-0. This book can be ordered from MSU bookstore. 
  3. Keith B. Payne, “The Great American Gamble: Deterrence Theory and Practice from the Cold War to the Twenty-First Century.” (Fairfax, Virginia: National Institute Press, 2008).
  4. John G. Stoessinger, “Why Nations Go to War.” (any edition)
  5. Kenneth Waltz, “Man, the State and War:  A Theoretical Analysis.” (1959 or later edition)

DSS 601: Nuclear Strategy and Deterrence (Trexel)

  1. Keith B. Payne, “The Great American Gamble: Deterrence Theory and Practice from the Cold War to the Twenty-First Century.” ISBN-13: 978-0977622177.
  2. Keith B. Payne, “Shadows on the Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament.” ISBN-13: 978-0-9855553-2-0. This book can be ordered from MSU bookstore.
  3. Keith B. Payne, “Chasing a Grand Illusion: Replacing Deterrence with Disarmament.” 2023
  4. Therese Delpech, “Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century: Lessons from the Cold War for a New Era of Strategic Piracy.” Arlington, Virginia: RAND Corporation, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0833059307.

DSS 630: International Law and Global Security (Berman)

  1. David J. Bederman, "International Law Frameworks." Fourth Edition (Foundation Press, 2016).

DSS 632: Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs (Ellis)

  1. Michael Mandelbaum, "The Rise and Fall of Peace on Earth". Oxford University Press, 2019.  
  2. Robert G. Joseph, "Countering WMD: The Libyan Experience". National Institute Press, 2009.  
  3. Keith B. Payne, "Shadows on the Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament." National Institute Press, 2020. For this book, order from MSU Bookstore.
  4. Aiden Warren and Joseph M. Siracusa, "Understanding Presidential Doctrines: U.S. National Security from George Washington to Joe Biden." Rowman and Littlefield, 2022.   

Recommended:  

  1. William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, "The Elements of Style." Fourth Edition, Pearson, 2019.

DSS 632: Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs (Geipel)

  1. Chicago Manual of Style Guidelines (Quick Study) – an inexpensive flip chart available on Amazon and elsewhere.
  2. Roy Peter Clark, "Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer." (Paperback) Little, Brown (2016).
  3. John Lewis Gaddis, "The Cold War: A New History." Penguin, 2005.
  4. Keith B. Payne, "Shadows on the Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament." National Institute Press, 2020). For this book, order from MSU Bookstore.
  5. Joseph Siracusa and Aiden Warren, "Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Search for Global Security." (Paperback) Rowman Littlefield Publishers (2017).

DSS 705: NATO Security Issues (Clawson)

  1. David S. Yost. “NATO’s Balancing Act”. United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington, D.C., 2014.
  2. Stanley R. Sloan.  “Defense of the West:  Transatlantic Security from Truman to Trump. Second Edition”. Manchester University Press, Manchester, UK, 2020. 

DSS 707: Congress, National Security and WMD (Taylor)

  1. Hamilton, Alexander; Madison, James; and Jay, John, “The Federalist Papers”. Signet Classics, April 1, 2003.
  2. Trachtenberg, David J., “The Lawgivers’ Struggle: How Congress Wields Power in National Security Decision Making.” Fairfax, VA, National Institute Press, 2020.

DSS 708: Security Issues in Russia (Marlo)

No textbooks are required for this course.                                              

DSS 710: International Terrorism & Security (Kiras)

  1. Hoffman, B. (2017) “Inside Terrorism.” New York, NY, Columbia University Press. ISBN-13: 978-0231174770; ISBN-10: 0231174772.
  2. Hoffman, B. and Reinares, F. (2014), “The Evolution of the Global Terrorist Threat.” New York, NY: Columbia University Press. ISBN-13: 978-0231168991.

DSS 713: Intelligence, Counterintelligence and Covert Action (Peck)

  1. Robert Jervis, Why Intelligence Fails:  Lessons from the Iranian Revolution and the Iraq War, Cornell University Press, 2010.
  2. Mark M. Lowenthal, Intelligence, from Secrets to Policy, 8th ed., CQ Press, 2014.
  3. Lock Johnson and James Wirtz, James (eds.),  Intelligence: The Secret World of Spies: An Anthology,  4th or 5th ed., Oxford University Press, 2014.
  4. David Wise, Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI’s Robert Hanssen Betrayed America, Random House, Inc., 2003
  5. Michael V. Hayden, Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence in the Age of Terror. Penguin Press, 2016.
  6. Richards J. Heuer, Psychology of Intelligence Analysis.  Center for the Study of Intelligence, CIA, 1999. 
  7. Henry Crumpton, The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, The Penguin Press, 2012
  8. Mark M. Lowenthal and Robert M. Clark, The 5 Disciplines of Intelligence Collection, CQ Press, 2016

DSS 714: Strategic Thought (Clawson)

  1. Robert B. Strassler, ed. "The Landmark Thucydides." New York: The Free Press, 1996.
  2. Sun Tzu. "The Art of War." Samuel B. Griffith, trans. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980.
  3. Hal Brands, ed. "The New Makers of Modern Strategy from the Ancient World to the Digital Age." Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2023.
  4. Niccolò Machiavelli, "The Prince and the Discourses." New York: Random House, 1950.
  5. Carl Von Clausewitz, "On War." Edited and Translated by Michael Howard and Peter Paret. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984.
  6. Kevin D. McCraine, "Mahan, Corbett, and the Foundations of Naval Strategic Thought."  Annapolis, MD.: Naval Institute Press. 2021.
  7. Michael Walzer, "Just and Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument with Historical Illustrations." 5th edition. New York: Basic Books, 2015.

DSS 715: Grand Strategy (McGiffin)

  1. Terry L. Deibel, “Foreign Affairs Strategy: Logic for American Statecraft”, Cambridge University Press, illustrated edition July 16, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0521692779.
  2. Peter Layton, “Grand Strategy”, Columbia, SC: 2018, ISBN:0-6482793-0-8. 
  3. Keith B. Payne, “Shadows on the Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament.” (Fairfax, Virginia: National Institute Press, 2020). ISBN-13: 978-0-9855553-2-0. This book can be ordered from MSU bookstore.

DSS 716: Understanding Military Operations (Rose, Ford)

  1. Sun Tzu, "The Art of War." (Samuel Griffith, trans.) (Oxford University Press, 1971).  An alternative translation of Sun Tzu (a.k.a. Sunzi) would also be acceptable: many are in print, often with extensive commentary.
  2. Carl von Clausewitz, "On War." Princeton University Press, 1976, 1984, or another edition.
  3. John Keegan, "The Mask of Command." Viking Penguin, 1987.
  4. James Bradley, "Flags of Our Fathers." Bantam Dell Publishing, 2000.
  5. Rick Atkinson, "The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944." Henry Holt & Company, 2007.
  6. B.A. Friedman, "On Operations: Operational Art and Military Disciplines." Naval Institute Press, 2021.

DSS 719: Strategic Culture (Kartchner)

  1. Kerry M. Kartchner, Briana D. Bowen, and Jeannie L. Johnson, eds., "Routledge Handbook of Strategic Culture" (London: Routledge, 2024). ISBN: 978-0367445485. Students should purchase this book as an eBook: ISBN 9781003010302.
  2. Sohail, Hashmi H., and Steven P. Lee, “Ethics and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Religious and Secular Perspectives.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.
  3. Adamsky, Dima, “The Culture of Military Innovation: The Impact of Cultural Factors on the Revolution in Military Affairs in Russia, The US, And Israel.” Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2010.

DSS 720: Internship/Professional Experience (Koch)

No books are required for this course.

DSS 721: Missile Defense Proliferation and Warfare (DeBiaso)

  1. Payne, Keith B. "The Fallacies of Cold War Deterrence and a New Direction." Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2001.
  2. Gray, Colin S.  "The Sheriff: America's Defense of the New World Order." 
    Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2004.
  3. Trachtenberg, David (Ed.), "Expert Commentary on the 2022 Missile Defense Review." Fairfax, Virginia: National Institute Press, 2023.

DSS 722 Emerging Strategic Challenges (Rose)

  1. Christopher Whyte and Brian Mazanec, "Understanding Cyber Warfare., Politics Policy and Strategy." Routledge, 2nd Edition.  ISBN-13: 978-1032159317, ISBN-10: 1032159316
  2. Daniel Yergin, “The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Class of Nations”.  Penguin Press, New York, 2020.
  3. Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr., “The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers.” Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2023.

DSS 722 Emerging Strategic Challenges (Molino)

  1. P.W. Singer & Allan Friedman, "Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know." Oxford University Press, New York, 2014.
  2. Sean McFate, "The New Rules of War: Victory in the Age of Durable Disorder." Harper Collins Publishers, New York, NY, 2019. 
  3. Daniel Yergin, "The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Class of Nations." Penguin Press, New York, 2020.

DSS 723 Counterproliferation (Bronson, both sections)

  1. Etel Solingen, “Nuclear Logics:  Contrasting Paths in East Asia and the Middle East”, Princeton University Press, 2007, ISBN-13: 978-0691134680, paperback and Kindle.
  2. Scott D. Sagan and Kenneth N Waltz, “The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: An Enduring Debate, Third Edition, London, W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0393920109, paperback.
  3. Vipin Narang, “Nuclear Strategy in the Modern Era: Regional Powers and International Conflict, Princeton University Press, 2014, ISBN-13: ‚Äé978-0691159836, paperback and Kindle.
  4. Rupal N. Mehta, “Delaying Doomsday: The Politics of Nuclear Reversal”, New York, NY, Oxford University Press, 2019, ISBN-13: 978-0190077976, hardcover and Kindle.
  5. Vipin Narang, “Seeking the Bomb: Strategies of Nuclear Proliferation”, Princeton University Press, 2022, ISBN-13:978-0691172620, paperback and Kindle.

DSS 724: Leadership for National Security Professionals (Anderson)

  1. Daniel Coyle, "The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups." Bantam Books, 2018.
  2. Niccolo Machiavelli, "The Prince", translated by Havey C. Mansfield, Second Edition, University of Chicago Press, 1998 (available online at no cost).
  3. Colin Powell, "It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership." Harper Perennial, 2014.
  4. Donald Rumsfeld, "Rumsfeld's Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War, and Life." Broadside Books, 2013.
  5. ADM James Stavridis, USN (Ret.) and Manning Ancell, "The Leader's Bookshelf." Naval Institute Press, 2017.

DSS 725: Instruments of State Power (Ford)

No textbooks required for this course. 

DSS 726: Chinese Military Power (Anderson)

  1. Colby, Elbridge, "The Strategy of Denial:  American Defense in an Age of Great Power Competition", Yale University Press, 2021.
  2. Fravel, Taylor, "Active Defense, China's Military Strategy since 1949", Princeton University Press, 2020.

DSS 727: Chemical and Biological Warfare (Moodie)

No textbooks are required for this course.

DSS 727: Chemical and Biological Warfare (Melley)

No textbooks are required for this course.

DSS 730-899: Cyber Conflict and International Security (Mazanec)

  1. Christopher Whyte and Brian Mazanec, "Understanding Cyber Warfare." Routledge, 2nd Edition.  ISBN-13: 978-1032159317, ISBN-10: 1032159316
  2. Andrew Blum, “Tubes: A Journey To The Center Of The Internet”, Ecco; Reprint edition, May 28, 2013, ISBN-13: 978-0061994951.

DSS 794: Active in Research

No textbooks are required for this course.

DSS 796: Directed Reading Course

Consult with your project mentor for any required books.

DSS 797: Special Topics: Educational Wargaming (Taylor)

No textbooks are required for this course.

DSS 799: Thesis

Consult with your board chair for any book recommendations.

DSS 801: Advanced Nuclear Strategy and Deterrence (Payne)

  1. Alain Enthoven and K. Wayne Smith, "How Much Is Enough?" (New York:  Harper and Row, 1971).
  2. Keith Payne, "Shadows On The Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament." Fairfax, VA: National Institute Press, 2020), pp. 1-62, 147-159. Please note: this book is available to all 801 students at no cost to the student via the DSS library at the Fairfax, VA campus. 
  3. Payne, "Chasing the Grand Illusion: Replacing Deterrence With Disarmament." Fairfax, VA: National Institute Press, February 2022. Please note: this book is available to all 801 students at no cost to the student via the DSS library at the Fairfax, VA campus.
  4. Payne, "The Great American Gamble." National Institute Press, 2008). Please note: this book is available to all 801 students at no cost to the student via the DSS library at the Fairfax, VA campus.
  5. Kenneth N. Waltz, "Man the State and War: A Theoretical Analysis." New York:  Columbia, 1959.

DSS 801: Advanced Nuclear Strategy and Deterrence (McGiffin)

  1. Keith B. Payne, “The Great American Gamble: Deterrence Theory and Practice from the Cold War to the Twenty-First Century.” ISBN-13: 978-0977622177.
  2. Keith B. Payne, “Shadows on the Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament.” (Fairfax, Virginia: National Institute Press, 2020). ISBN-13: 978-0-9855553-2-0. This book can be ordered from MSU bookstore.
  3. Therese Delpech, “Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century: Lessons from the Cold War for a New Era of Strategic Piracy.” Arlington, Virginia: RAND Corporation, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0833059307.
  4. Keith B. Payne, “Chasing a Grand Illusion: Replacing Deterrence with Disarmament.” 2023. ISBN-13: 979-8218147563

DSS 832: Advanced Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs (Geipel)

  1. Chicago Manual of Style Guidelines (Quick Study, 2012). https://tinyurl.com/v4sd8p4b 
  2. Hal Brands, "The Twilight Struggle: What the Cold War Teaches Us about Great-Power Rivalry Today." (Yale University Press, 2022)
  3. Roy Peter Clark, "Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer."  (Paperback), Little, Brown (2016).
  4. Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, "Storytelling with Data." (Wiley, 2015). 
  5. Mustafa Suleyman, "The Coming Wave." (Crown, 2023)

DSS 840: Advanced National Security Strategies (Koch, Ford)

  1. Hal Brands, ed., "The New Makers of Modern Strategy: From the Ancient World to the Digital Age." Princeton University Press, 2023.
  2. Melvyn P. Leffler and Jeffrey W. Legro, "In Uncertain Times: American Foreign Policy after the Berlin Wall and 9/11." Cornell University Press, 2011. 
  3. Aiden Warren and Joseph M. Siracusa, "Understanding Presidential Doctrines: U.S. National Security from George Washington to Joe Biden." Rowman and Littlefield, 2022.

DSS 896: Doctoral Capstone Project (Geipel)

Consult with your project mentor for any required books