NDD 720 - Deterrence Strategy and Policy

(3 units)

This course provides students with a practitioner’s perspective on nuclear deterrence and the policies that have shaped nuclear weapons policy over the past seven decades. It also introduces adversarial deterrence theory, the role of nuclear weapons, and the means of nuclear deterrence within a broader geopolitical context. The course analyzes nuclear strategy in relation to modern threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, and discusses arms control, disarmament, and their connection to nuclear strategy.

Maximum units a student may earn: 3

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Fall and Spring

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. describe nuclear strategy with the ability to assess the applicability of nuclear deterrence to strategic threats.
2. analyze and assess the risks present in selecting nuclear or convention options.
3. apply deterrence theory and strategy to case studies, recommending solution.
4. assess the impact of nuclear deterrence on international treaties, nonproliferation, and disarmament efforts.

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