International Security Courses at Illinois: Current Offerings
Numerous international 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, and 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. Many of these courses are cross-listed under the Global Studies (GLBL) course rubric.
Most 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.
Spring 2010
Notes: additional courses may be added to this list as updated information becomes available
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)
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)
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)
PS/GLBL 356 (Comparative Political Economy) Examines the effect of domestic political processes on economic performance, including monetary, fiscal, and trade policies. Topics include partisan influences on policy, interest group intermediation, political accountability for economic outcomes, and consequences of product and capital market internationalization. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)
PS/GLBL 357 (Ethnic Conflict) Explores the bases of nationalist and ethnic identities across a variety of different national and cultural contexts, and how these are related to conflict at the intrastate and interstate levels. Consideration is given to the characteristics and patterns of ethnic conflict with special emphasis on how and when ethnic tensions become manifested in violent conflict. The course concludes with consideration and evaluations of various domestic and international approaches to conflict management and resolution. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for an Advanced Composition course. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)
NPRE/GLBL/PS 480 (Energy and Security) Examines the interplay between security and supplies of energy, mineral resources, and water. Traces the evolution of thte importance of various fuels (including coal, oil, uranium, and natural gas) in the Franco-Prussian, First and Second World Wars, in subsequent conflicts in Asia and Africa, and in military planning for possible future conflicts. Reviews relevant theories of international conflict and examines the role of individual leaders versus institutional factors in the precipitation and outcome of pivotal wars. Reviews data and results of econometric analyses relevant to past and projected future energy use and discusses the role of policy formation and execution in influencing uncertainties about outcomes. Junior standing is required. Prerequisite: Composition I and Quantitative Reasoning I. 3 hours. (registration/schedule/instructor info)
Related Links:
University Class Schedule for Spring 2010
Catalog of International Security Courses at Illinois
Fall 2009
Notes: additional courses may be added to this list as updated information becomes available
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)
GEOL/GLBL 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)
[NEW!] 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 the completion of the Composition 1 requirement; or graduate standing. 1 hour. (registration/schedule/instructor info)
[NEW!] PS 590 (Research in Selected Topics - Science, Technology, and Security: New Institutions to Manage Global Security in the 21st Century) The course features lectures by UIUC faculty from diverse disciplines, cutting across the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and engineering and covering topics such as international relations, biosecurity, nuclear weapons proliferation, terrorism, and so forth. The common theme across the lectures/discussions will be existing and emerging institutions necessary to manage present-day problems in global security. (registration/schedule/instructor info)
Related Links:
University Class Schedule for Fall 2009
Catalog of International Security Courses at Illinois
Spring 2009
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.
GEOL/GLBL/ENVS 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.
EPS 199/SOC 196 (Vietnam and Globalization of Student Protests) Examines the Vietnam war and the globalization of student protests (and counter protests) in U.S., Germany, France, Italy, Britain, Mexico, Ireland, Japan, and other countries during the turbulent 1960s, and considers both similarities and differences in today’s student concerns related to various globalized multi-sided issues during the 2000s. First Year Discovery Program course. Registration restricted to freshmen. 3 hours.
HIST/GLBL 251 (War, Military Institutions, and Society Since 1815) Land and naval warfare since Napoleon; technology, tactics, strategy, administration, and military institutions in themselves and as they relate to western and non-western societies; and conventional and nuclear warfare. 3 hours.
PHYS/GLBL 280 (Nuclear Weapons and Arm Control) Beginner’s course on the physics of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapon effects, delivery systems, and defenses against nuclear attack; non-technical, but about technology. Designed to assist students in making informed judgements about nuclear armaments and arms control; includes presentation of current issues. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for an Advanced Composition course. 3 hours.
PS/GLBL 356 (Comparative Political Economy) Examines the effect of domestic political processes on economic performance, including monetary, fiscal, and trade policies. Topics include partisan influences on policy, interest group intermediation, political accountability for economic outcomes, and consequences of product and capital market internationalization. 3 hours.
NPRE/GLBL 481 (Writing Seminar on Technology and Security) develops writing skills in standard computer, desktop publishing, and electronic publishing formats, based on academic material identical to that covered in NPRE/GLBL 482 and NPRE/GLBL 483. That includes theory, global and regional security environments, and arms control and verification relevant to military uses of nuclear energy and the impact of the military uses of nuclear energy on the nuclear electrical power sector; and seminars on technology of domestic and international security and the regional and international contexts that influence the nature of security problems. For graduate credit, writing projects include documentation of computational work using software appropriate for typesetting of mathematical formulas. Credit is not given for both NPRE/GLBL 481 and either NPRE/GLBL 482 or NPRE/GLBL 483. 3 hours.