Global Security Courses at Illinois: Current Offerings

Numerous international and global security courses have been developed with ACDIS support over the past three decades. Students take these courses as part of their general education or to prepare themselves for careers in fields related to nuclear nonproliferation, peace and conflict studies, diplomacy, intelligence, or other aspects of international security.

The ACDIS program and its affiliated faculty have developed innovative interdisciplinary security studies graduate-level courses. ACDIS also periodically offers special undergraduate seminars in conjunction with the Campus Honors Program or Freshman Discovery program. Some of these courses are cross-listed under the Global Studies (GLBL) course rubric.

Many of the courses on the following list have been developed and are taught by ACDIS faculty, in some cases with support from the ACDIS program. Others on the list, although developed and taught by University of Illinois faculty not currently affiliated with ACDIS, have a significant portion of the course devoted to security issues. Information about any of these courses can be obtained from the faculty instructor, from the department listing the course as indicated by the course rubric, or in some cases from the ACDIS office.

Fall 2012 / Summer 2012 / Spring 2012

Fall 2012

the following courses all appear on the approved list of courses eligible to be used towards the ACDIS Undergraduate Certificate in Global Security
additional courses may be added to this list as updated information becomes available
this list is meant as a guide for students -- please refer to the course information suite and the faculty who are teaching the course for the most reliable course information

Social Sciences and Humanities:

GEOG/GLBL 110 (Geography of International Conflicts) Focuses on contemporary cultural conflicts, competition among nations for economic and mineral resources; treats territorial disputes from a cultural and geographic perspective. Case studies vary to illustrate types of contemporary conflicts. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

HIST 274 (US & World Since 1917) History of American foreign relations since World War I. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 300 (Special Topics - Human Rights) This course will be an exploration of the meaning, basis, historical roots, and practical significance of human rights, with special attention given to the questions of the universality of human rights. The course is divided into four parts: Part one sets up the context and the background within which the role of human rights in international relations must be understood. Part two examines and compares human rights in contemporary Global North and Global South with special focus on the relationship between poverty and democracy. Part three will deal with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The meaning of aggressive war and ethnic cleansing will be analyzed in depth and the importance of the International Criminal Court is examined. In part four the course will deal with rights of people under military occupation and the responsibilities of the occupying power under international law. Specific cases will be used to better understand the significance of these four areas of inquiry. These include South Africa, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, the Palestinian territories, Chile, Iran, EU, and the United States. Restricted to political science and global studies majors until April 17. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 339 (Political Violence ) Survey of various forms of political violence and examination of competing theories about why these types of political violence occur and their implications. The different "categories" of violence under examination constitute pressing topics in the study of conflict in both international relations and comparative politics. These categories, which may overlap conceptually or empirically, include phenomena such as mass collective action in protests, riots, repression and torture, coups, civil war and insurgency, genocide and massacres, sexual violence during war, self sacrifice, and terrorism. Prerequisite: PS 240 or PS 241 or PS 280, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 390 (American Foreign Policy) Considers the major foreign policy decisions currently confronting the United States government: analyzes their background, principal issues, and alternative actions, as well as the policy formulation process. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 283, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 396 (International Conflict) Examines the conditions that promote war and peace between states. General topics covered are: historical patterns in warfare; causes of war, including arms races and power distributions; outcomes of war; and approaches to peace. Credit is not given for both PS 381 and PS 396. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 281 or PS 283, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

SOC 160 (Global Inequality and Social Change) Introduces sociological concepts of poverty, inequality, and social change within a global context. Themes explored include basic food security, poverty and hunger; population and resource distribution; foreign aid and development institutions; and social policies and movements for change. Course approach is historical and transnational, and typically includes case studies from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. This course can be used to fulfill either Western or Nonwestern general education categories, but not both. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology:

ATMS/ESES 140 (Climate and Global Change) Introduces climate change and its interactions with the global environment; surveys the physical, chemical, biological and social factors contributing to global change; includes topics such as greenhouse warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, distinguishes anthropogenic influences and natural variability of the earth system; addresses societal impacts, mitigation strategies, policy options and other human responses to global change. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

CS 461 (Computer Security I) Fundamental principles of computer and communications security and information assurance: ethics, privacy, notions of threat, vulnerabilities, and risk in systems, information warfare, malicious software, data secrecy and integrity issues, network security, trusted computing, mandatory and discretionary access controls, certification and accreditation of systems against security standards. Security mechanisms: authentication, auditing, intrusion detection, access control, cryptography, security protocols, key distribution. Same as ECE 422. Prerequisite: CS 241 or ECE 391. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

GEOL/GLBL/ESES 118 (Natural Disasters) Introduces the nature, causes, risks, effects, and prediction of natural disasters including earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, subsidence, global climate change, severe weather, coastal erosion, floods, mass extinctions, and meteorite impacts; covers geologic principles and case histories of natural disasters as well as human responses (societal impact, mitigation strategies, and public policy). 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

GLBL/HIST 251 (Warfare Milit Insts & Soc) History of warfare and its relationship to changing technologies, tactics, and political structures, with an emphasis on the ways that military institutions are integrated with society as a whole. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

MCB 493 (Special Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology - Global Biosecurity) Seminar-based course designed to provide advanced students with broad coverage of key areas of legal, ethical, scientific and political aspects of biosecurity, emphasizing current problems and research in the areas of biodefense, emerging infectious diseases, synthetic biology and other topics. In combination with related reading and writing assignments, the weekly special topics-based seminars will integrate knowledge of natural and man-made biological threats with the skills to develop and analyze public policies and strategies for enhancing global biosecurity. Prerequisite: MCB 150 or equivalent or consent of instructor. 1 hour. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

NPRE/GLBL 201 (Energy Systems) Examines patterns of energy production and utilization and discusses the technical aspects of renewable energy resources, advanced fossil fuel systems and advanced nuclear systems. 2 or 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

NPRE/GLBL 483 (Seminar on Security) Technology and security issues are analyzed through preparation of reports on a weekly seminar chosen from a regular seminar offering or an alternative approved list. Topics covered include technology of domestic and international security and the regional and international contexts that influence the nature of security problems. Prerequisite: junior standing and completion of the Composition 1 requirement; or graduate standing. 1 hour. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

Summer 2012

the following courses all appear on the approved list of courses eligible to be used towards the ACDIS Undergraduate Certificate in Global Security
additional courses may be added to this list as updated information becomes available
this list is meant as a guide for students -- please refer to the course information suite and the faculty who are teaching the course for the most reliable course information

Social Sciences and Humanities:

PS 394 (Crisis Diplomacy) A comparative study of foreign policy decision-making and diplomacy among the major states from 1816-1948 with a focus on crisis bargaining, management, and escalation. Foreign relations of Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Japan, and the United States are covered in light of international relations theories. Emphasis is placed on how domestic political struggles, like those between hard liners and accommodationists, and external factors, like alliances and international norms, affect decision-making. Comparisons are made between those crises that are peacefully settled and those that escalate to war and/or get out of control. Prerequisite: PS 280, PS 281, PS 283, or consent of instructor. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info - note: summer 2011 offering is a study abroad course in Vienna)

Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology:

Spring 2012

the following courses all appear on the approved list of courses eligible to be used towards the ACDIS Undergraduate Certificate in Global Security
additional courses may be added to this list as updated information becomes available
this list is meant as a guide for students -- please refer to the course information suite and the faculty who are teaching the course for the most reliable course information

Social Sciences and Humanities:

GEOG/ ESE/ GLBL 199 (Undergraduate Open Seminar - Resource Conflicts) This is a new course that will eventually be listed in the course catalog at the 200 level. It provides an introduction to the twin topics of resource conflicts and environmental geopolitics. It explores the ways in which competition for resources is (and has been) one component of inter-state competition, and how specific resources (such as oil, timber, water, and diamonds) are implicated in these processes. The class will also look at the issue of global climate change to understand how the environment has been incorporated into the geopolitical actions (often militarized) of countries. Rather than just looking at examples of conflict, the class will explore how societies have used their stance towards resources and the environment to establish frameworks for peaceful co-existence. The class will allow ample opportunity for students to explore a topic of their own interest through individual and group projects. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

GEOG 210 (Contemporary Social & Environmental Problems) Geographic perspectives on contemporary national and international problems. Topics vary each term and include such themes as environmental quality, food production, urban problems, and particular social and political conflicts. Same as ESES 210. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

GLBL 392 (International Diplomacy and Negotiation) Examines the complexities of international diplomacy and negotiations among states and other actors. Focuses on three main subject areas: negotiation analysis, applied negotiation, and the interaction of practical considerations that affect negotiations. Utilizes theoretical case-based, and active-learning approaches during the semester as topics are explored in detail. Issues and topics include security, public health, economic development, human rights, and the environment. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 199 (Undergraduate Open Seminar - Approaches to Peace) Honors students only. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 300 (Special Topics - Terrorism) Terrorism, a violent tactic with a strikingly long history of use, has become a central security concern and political issue in the U.S. in recent years. This course relies on both theoretical and empirical literature to examine a host of questions about terrorism in an advanced, intensive, discussion-based seminar. In particular, we investigate the definition(s) of terrorism, its historical use and evolution, the motivations of various types of groups that employ or have employed this tactic, different forms of terrorism, variation in state responses to terrorism (or, where and when terrorism successfully results in concessions), and the effectiveness of a range of counterterrorism strategies and tactics. Open to students with sophomore or higher standing. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 381 (International Conflict) Examines the conditions that promote war and peace between states. General topics covered are: historical patterns in warfare; causes of war, including arms races and power distributions; outcomes of war; and approaches to peace. This course is identical to PS 396 except for the additional writing component that fulfills the campus' advanced composition requirement. Credit is not given for PS 381 and PS 396. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 281 or PS 283, six hours of Political Science credit, completion of campus Composition I general education requirement, or consent of instructor. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 386 (International Law) Analyzes the concepts and bases of public international law. Topics include sources and subjects of international law, as well as issues of jurisdiction, territory, law of the sea, and use of military force. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 283, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PS 391 (Soviet & Post-Soviet Foreign Policy) Surveys Soviet and Post-Soviet foreign policy from 1917 to the present, with emphasis upon the forces shaping this policy; special attention to the interplay of ideology and national interest in policy formulation. Prerequisite: PS 280 or PS 283, six hours of Political Science credit, or consent of instructor. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology:

ATMS/ESE 140 (Climate and Global Change) Introduces climate change and its interactions with the global environment; surveys the physical, chemical, biological and social factors contributing to global change; includes topics such as greenhouse warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, distinguishes anthropogenic influences and natural variability of the earth system; addresses societal impacts, mitigation strategies, policy options and other human responses to global change. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

GEOL/GLBL/ESE 118 (Natural Disasters) Introduces the nature, causes, risks, effects, and prediction of natural disasters including earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, subsidence, global climate change, severe weather, coastal erosion, floods, mass extinctions, and meteorite impacts; covers geologic principles and case histories of natural disasters as well as human responses (societal impact, mitigation strategies, and public policy). 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

NPRE/GLBL/PS 480 (Topics in Energy and Security) Security and supplies of energy, mineral resources, and water. Evolution of the importance of various fuels in conflicts (including coal, oil,
uranium, and natural gas) starting with the Franco-Prussian Wars. Theories of international conflict and examination of the role of individual leaders versus institutional factors in the precipitation and outcome of pivotal wars. Econometric analyses relevant to past and projected future energy use. Same as GLBL 480 and PS 480. Prerequisite: Composition I and Quantitative Reasoning I. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

PHYS/GLBL 280 (Nuclear Weapons and Arm Control) Beginner’s-level introduction to the physics of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon effects, delivery systems, and defenses against nuclear attack; includes presentation of current issues. Nontechnical, but about technology. Designed to assist in making informed judgements about nuclear armaments and arms control. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for an Advanced Composition course. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)

ACDIS

Program in Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security

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Global Security Courses at Illinois: Current Offerings

Fall 2012 / Summer 2012 / Spring 2012

Fall 2012

Social Sciences and Humanities:

Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology:

Summer 2012

Social Sciences and Humanities:

Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology:

Spring 2012

Social Sciences and Humanities:

Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology: