Course Schedule
Classes Found
Persuasive Writing and Advocacy
- MON, WED 11:50 am – 12:57 pm TNH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to advocacy in court. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, persuasive legal analysis, and oral argument before courts. Persuasive Writing and Advocacy and Legal Research & Legal Writing may not both be counted.
Persuasive Writing and Advocacy
- TUE, WED 10:30 – 11:37 am TNH 3.126
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to advocacy in court. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, persuasive legal analysis, and oral argument before courts. Persuasive Writing and Advocacy and Legal Research & Legal Writing may not both be counted.
Persuasive Writing and Advocacy
- THU 1:00 – 2:07 pm TNH 3.127
- FRI 11:50 am – 12:57 pm TNH 3.127
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to advocacy in court. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, persuasive legal analysis, and oral argument before courts. Persuasive Writing and Advocacy and Legal Research & Legal Writing may not both be counted.
Persuasive Writing and Advocacy
- TUE, THU 1:00 – 2:07 pm TNH 3.125
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to advocacy in court. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, persuasive legal analysis, and oral argument before courts. Persuasive Writing and Advocacy and Legal Research & Legal Writing may not both be counted.
Persuasive Writing and Advocacy
- TUE, WED 1:00 – 2:07 pm TNH 3.127
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to advocacy in court. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, persuasive legal analysis, and oral argument before courts. Persuasive Writing and Advocacy and Legal Research & Legal Writing may not both be counted.
Persuasive Writing and Advocacy
- TUE, THU 2:15 – 3:22 pm TNH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
Introduction to advocacy in court. Focuses on legal research, writing mechanics, persuasive legal analysis, and oral argument before courts. Persuasive Writing and Advocacy and Legal Research & Legal Writing may not both be counted.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- TUE 9:00 – 10:07 am ONLINE
- FRI 10:30 – 11:37 am ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- TUE 9:00 – 10:07 am ONLINE
- FRI 10:30 – 11:37 am ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- E. Youngdale
- TUE 9:00 – 10:07 am ONLINE
- FRI 10:30 – 11:37 am ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- TUE 10:15 – 11:22 am ONLINE
- FRI 11:45 am – 12:52 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- TUE 10:15 – 11:22 am ONLINE
- FRI 11:45 am – 12:52 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- TUE 10:15 – 11:22 am ONLINE
- FRI 11:45 am – 12:52 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- E. Youngdale
- TUE 10:15 – 11:22 am ONLINE
- FRI 11:45 am – 12:52 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Persuasive Wrtg and Advocacy
- TUE 9:00 – 10:07 am ONLINE
- FRI 10:30 – 11:37 am ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 232S
Registration Information
- 1L-only required
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This course covers persuasive legal writing and oral argument before an appellate panel. All students will complete a series of assignments designed to help you learn to write an appellate brief. All students will write a complete appellate brief and make two oral arguments. The course also covers other practical legal skills.
Pitfalls and Best Practices in Decision-Making
- MON 5:30 – 8:30 pm SRH 3.212
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 189V
- Short course:
- 8/21/23 — 10/2/23
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. Contact LBJ if you have questions about how the course will be taught.
This one-credit, five-day graduate seminar examines decision-making from both a theoretical perspective and from its execution in practice. The course introduces students to various models of decision-making; explores cognitive biases in decision-making; and examines how decision-makers often use — and misuse — historical analogies and lessons from history. The course also focuses on the concept of risk and decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty, as well as the effects of groups and bureaucratic politics on decisions. Drawn, in part, from the professor’s nearly six years on the National Security Council (NSC) staff at the White House, the seminar will incorporate select examples from U.S. national security. That said, the theories, pitfalls, and best practices studied throughout the course also apply to business, public policy, and leadership decisions more broadly.
• Class #1: Monday, 21 August, 5:30-8:30pm CT• Class #2: Monday, 28 August, 5:30-8:30pm CT• Holiday: Monday, 4 September, Labor Day. No classes.• Class #3: Monday, 11 September, 5:30-8:30pm CT• Class #4: Monday, 18 September, 5:30-8:30pm CT• No Class: Monday, 25 September. Prep for Presentations & Papers. • Class #5: Monday, 2 October. Presentations & Papers Due. Final class.
Pitfalls and Best Practices in Decision-Making
- WED 5:30 – 8:30 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 171V
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. This course will be taught online. Course meets January 20-February 24. Contact LBJ if you have questions about how the course will be taught. Previously taught under the course number 179M.
This one-credit, five-day graduate seminar examines decision-making from both a theoretical perspective and from its execution in practice. The course introduces students to various models of decision-making; explores cognitive biases in decision-making; and examines how decision-makers often use — and misuse — historical analogies and lessons from history. The course also focuses on the concept of risk and decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty, as well as the effect of groups on decisions. Drawn, in part, from the professor’s nearly six years on the National Security Council (NSC) staff, the seminar will incorporate select examples from U.S. national security, including decisions related to pandemics and terrorism. The theories, pitfalls, and best practices studied throughout the course also apply to business, public policy, and leadership decisions more broadly.
Seminar Dates. All sessions will be held online.
- Session #1: Wednesday, 20 January, 5:30-8:30pm CT
- Session #2: Wednesday, 27 January, 5:30-8:30pm CT
- Session #3: Wednesday, 3 February, 5:30-8:30pm CT
- Session #4: Wednesday, 10 February, 5:30-8:30pm CT
- Break: NO CLASS on 17 February
- Session #5: Wednesday, 24 February 5:30-8:30pm CT
Pitfalls and Best Practices in Decision-Making
- MON, TUE 5:30 – 8:30 pm SRH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 179M
- Short course:
- 1/21/20 — 2/17/20
- Cross-listed with:
- Other school
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
Class meets Tuesday, January 21 and then Mondays: January 27, February 3, 10, and 17 for five total class meetings.
This one-credit, five-day graduate seminar examines decision-making from both a theoretical perspective and from its execution in practice. The course introduces students to various models of decision-making; explores cognitive biases in decisionmaking; and examines how decision-makers often use — and misuse — historical analogies and lessons from history. The course also focuses on the concept of risk and decision-making under conditions of risk and uncertainty, as well as the effect of leaders, bureaucracies, and groups on decisions. Drawn, in part, from the professor’s nearly six years on the National Security Council (NSC) staff, the seminar will incorporate select examples from U.S. national security (including one case study that will be analyzed using multiple theoretical lenses over the duration of the seminar). However, the theories, pitfalls, and best practices studied throughout the course also apply to business, public policy, and leadership decisions more broadly.
Policy Development: Gender, Health, and Society
- J. Angel
- MON 2:00 – 5:00 pm SRH 3.212
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 389V
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This course provides a foundation that will introduce students to the use of a variety of analytic tools employed in the policymaking process. We pay particular attention to the major players in the process, and how gender in conjunction with race and ethnicity have become more salient in policy formation. Given the centrality of health care to the modern welfare state, we will examine how gender, race, and ethnicity influence health policy. Toward that end, the class will examine the gender dimensions of health, illness, and the health care industry in the United States and other developed nations. It is motivated by the fact that health, disease, and medical care have important gender-specific dimensions that interact with other sources of disadvantage, economic and political structures, and culture. In the past the health care system often ignored gender, as well as race-and ethnic-based differences in health and health-care needs.
These gaps in knowledge concerning risks and appropriate treatments have very specific consequences that we will investigate and debate. The collection of readings will allow us to examine the social institutions that shape men’s and women’s health and health care. Specific topics will include reproductive health, single motherhood and the stress of raising children alone, welfare and health care, divorce and changes in health, certain illnesses that women experience including breast and ovarian cancer, drug and alcohol abuse, and the forces that influence research into men and women’s health problems. Furthermore, we examine the role of women as major actors in changing the health care system, reducing health risks for themselves and their families, and their roles as health care providers, public administrators, and leaders in the health care establishment.
The second objective of the course is for students to develop an understanding of the major sources of health social policy data (e.g., demographic statistics, administrative records, health surveys, etc.). Our objective is to develop a critical understanding of the appropriate use of health-related data and to determine how they can best be used to evaluate a broad array of public policies.Finally, throughout the semester we examine the role of different levels and branches of government, touch upon the role of local, state and federal agencies in health policy formation and implementation (e.g., Medicaid), the politics of the medicalization of women’s issues including childbirth, refugee and immigrant health, and more. Alternative political ideologies regarding state and private responsibility for women’s health will be compared and contrasted. This involves gauging the relative power of key non-governmental actors, such as interest groups, health care NGOs, researchers, and the media in the definition and framing of our health agenda.
Note that the book course deals with rapidly evolving issues and readings serve as a point of departure. They will be adjusted in conformity with student interests and as current events warrant.
Bird, C.E. and P.P. Rieker. 2008. Gender and Health: The Effects of Constrained Choices and Social Policies. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Policy Development: Gender, Health, and Society
- J. Angel
- MON 2:00 – 5:00 pm SRH 3.216
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 389V
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This course provides a foundation that will introduce students to the use of a variety of analytic tools employed in the policymaking process. We pay particular attention to the major players in the process, and how gender in conjunction with race and ethnicity have become more salient in policy formation. Given the centrality of health care to the modern welfare state, we will examine how gender, race, and ethnicity influence health policy. Toward that end, the class will examine the gender dimensions of health, illness, and the health care industry in the United States and other developed nations. It is motivated by the fact that health, disease, and medical care have important gender-specific dimensions that interact with other sources of disadvantage, economic and political structures, and culture. In the past the health care system often ignored gender, as well as race-and ethnic-based differences in health and health-care needs.
These gaps in knowledge concerning risks and appropriate treatments have very specific consequences that we will investigate and debate. The collection of readings will allow us to examine the social institutions that shape men’s and women’s health and health care. Specific topics will include reproductive health, single motherhood and the stress of raising children alone, welfare and health care, divorce and changes in health, certain illnesses that women experience including breast and ovarian cancer, drug and alcohol abuse, and the forces that influence research into men and women’s health problems. Furthermore, we examine the role of women as major actors in changing the health care system, reducing health risks for themselves and their families, and their roles as health care providers, public administrators, and leaders in the health care establishment.
The second objective of the course is for students to develop an understanding of the major sources of health social policy data (e.g., demographic statistics, administrative records, health surveys, etc.). Our objective is to develop a critical understanding of the appropriate use of health-related data and to determine how they can best be used to evaluate a broad array of public policies.Finally, throughout the semester we examine the role of different levels and branches of government, touch upon the role of local, state and federal agencies in health policy formation and implementation (e.g., Medicaid), the politics of the medicalization of women’s issues including childbirth, refugee and immigrant health, and more. Alternative political ideologies regarding state and private responsibility for women’s health will be compared and contrasted. This involves gauging the relative power of key non-governmental actors, such as interest groups, health care NGOs, researchers, and the media in the definition and framing of our health agenda.
Note that the book course deals with rapidly evolving issues and readings serve as a point of departure. They will be adjusted in conformity with student interests and as current events warrant.
Bird, C.E. and P.P. Rieker. 2008. Gender and Health: The Effects of Constrained Choices and Social Policies. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Policy Development: Gender/Health
- J. Angel
- THU 2:00 – 5:00 pm SRH 3.316
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 389V
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This course examines the gender dimensions of health, illness, and the medical care industry in the United States and other developed nations. It is motivated by the fact that health, disease, and medical care have important gender-specific dimensions that are affected by economics, politics, and culture. In the past the medical care system often ignored gender, as well as race-based differences in health care needs. These gaps in knowledge concerning risks and appropriate treatments have very specific consequences that we will investigate. The collection of readings will allow us to examine the social institutions that shape men’s and women’s health and health care. Specific topics will include reproductive health, single motherhood and the stress of raising children alone, welfare and health care, divorce and changes in health, certain illnesses that women experience including breast and ovarian cancer, drug and alcohol abuse, and the forces that influence research into women’s health problems. In addition, we examine the role of women as major actors in changing the health care system, reducing health risks for themselves and their families, and their roles as health care providers, public administrators, and leaders in the health care establishment. We will also touch upon the role of local, state and federal agencies in health policy formulation and implementation, the politics of the medicalization of women’s issues including childbirth, refugee and immigrant women's health, and more. The course will also examine the role of different levels and branches of government, including the presidency, Congress, the courts, and the bureaucracy, in the formation of public policy. Alternative political ideologies regarding state and private responsibility for women’s health will be compared and contrasted. Similarly, we will assess the relative power of key non-governmental actors, such as interest groups, health care NGOs, researchers, and the media in the definition and framing of our health agenda. The course deals with rapidly evolving issues and readings will be assigned as current events warrant.
EVALUATION
Assignments include a policy issue brief (50%), point-counterpoint exchange (20%), and mid-term assessment (10%). Attendance and participation are integral parts of the course and will count towards the final grade (20%).
REQUIRED TEXT AND SELECTED READINGS TO BE ASSIGNED
Bird, C.E. and P.P. Rieker. 2008. Gender and Health: The Effects of Constrained Choices and Social Policies. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Stone, D. 2001. Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making. New York: W.W.Norton and Company.
Policymaking and Leadership: From the Battlefield to the SITROOM
- W. McRaven
- M. Gill
- MON, TUE, WED, FRI 5:30 – 8:30 pm SRH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 389V
- Short course:
- 8/22/22 — 9/29/22
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will use floating mean GPA if applicable
Description
This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. See description for meeting dates.
The purpose of the course is to expose students to contemporary policy challenges in the national security arena and, in doing so, provide the student a framework for making future decisions across the entire public policy spectrum. You will be exposed to a variety of geopolitical scenarios and working in conjunction with a “national security team” you will develop a list of options for government leaders. The course goes beyond the theoretical and analytical to understanding exactly how national security policy is made in the most complex and politically sensitive environments. In the scenarios, you will be confronted with the challenges of whether to conduct a drone strike in a denied area, what to do about Russian aggression in an allied country, how to address China’s build-up in the South China Sea, whether to conduct a large scale missile strike or a special operations raid and several other current international problems. You will learn to understand the implications of U.S. actions on both international and domestic policy. Throughout the course we will also examine the role of leadership in policy making.
During the course you will develop an understanding of the following:
- The roles and responsibilities of the national security policy makers.
- Current threats facing the United States.
- How to develop options for dealing with these threats.
- How to make decisions in a complex, high risk, high threat environment.
- The impact of your decisions on international and domestic policy.
- The fundamentals of leadership under pressure.
- Briefing techniques used in the White House Situation Room and the Pentagon Tank.
Through the two-week seminar we will have several guest speakers either in person or by videoconference that have extensive experience in policy making and can provide a further understanding of the complex nature of the process.In addition to the weekly scenario discussions, the class will also discuss the role of leadership; from small teams to large highly complex organizations.
Student Assessment
There will be five short briefing papers on contemporary geopolitical threats that must be read prior to the start of class.Student assessment will be based on classroom participation (60%), a two-page policy paper (20%) and a team paper/briefing (20%).
Class Schedule
Class is scheduled to meet August 22-26, August 29-September 2, and September 26-29.
Policymaking and Leadership: From the Battlefield to the SITROOM
- W. McRaven
- M. Gill
- MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI 5:30 – 8:30 pm SRH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 389V
- Short course:
- 1/18/22 — 2/18/22
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
Same as LAW 371V, Policymaking and Leadership: From the Battlefield to the SITROOM. This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. See description for meeting dates.
The purpose of the course is to expose students to contemporary policy challenges in the national security arena and, in doing so, provide the student a framework for making future decisions across the entire public policy spectrum. You will be exposed to a variety of geopolitical scenarios and working in conjunction with a “national security team” you will develop a list of options for government leaders. The course goes beyond the theoretical and analytical to understanding exactly how national security policy is made in the most complex and politically sensitive environments. In the scenarios, you will be confronted with the challenges of whether to conduct a drone strike in a denied area, what to do about Russian aggression in an allied country, how to address China’s build-up in the South China Sea, whether to conduct a large scale missile strike or a special operations raid and several other current international problems. You will learn to understand the implications of U.S. actions on both international and domestic policy. Throughout the course we will also examine the role of leadership in policy making.
During the course you will develop an understanding of the following:
- The roles and responsibilities of the national security policy makers.
- Current threats facing the United States.
- How to develop options for dealing with these threats.
- How to make decisions in a complex, high risk, high threat environment.
- The impact of your decisions on international and domestic policy.
- The fundamentals of leadership under pressure.
- Briefing techniques used in the White House Situation Room and the Pentagon Tank.
Through the two-week seminar we will have several guest speakers either in person or by videoconference that have extensive experience in policy making and can provide a further understanding of the complex nature of the process.In addition to the weekly scenario discussions, the class will also discuss the role of leadership; from small teams to large highly complex organizations.
Student Assessment
There will be five short briefing papers on contemporary geopolitical threats that must be read prior to the start of class.Student assessment will be based on classroom participation (60%), a two-page policy paper (20%) and a team paper/briefing (20%).
Class Schedule
Class is scheduled for 5:30pm-8:30pm, M-F, January 18-21, January 26-27, January 31, February 1-4, and February 14-18.
Policymaking and Leadership: From the Battlefield to the SITROOM
- W. McRaven
- MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI 5:30 – 8:30 pm SRH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 389V
- Short course:
- 10/18/21 — 11/12/21
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
Same as LAW 371V, Policymaking and Leadership: From the Battlefield to the SITROOM. This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. Meets Oct 18-22, Oct 25-29, Nov 9-12.
The purpose of the course is to expose students to contemporary policy challenges in the national security arena and, in doing so, provide the student a framework for making future decisions across the entire public policy spectrum. You will be exposed to a variety of geopolitical scenarios and working in conjunction with a “national security team” you will develop a list of options for government leaders. The course goes beyond the theoretical and analytical to understanding exactly how national security policy is made in the most complex and politically sensitive environments. In the scenarios, you will be confronted with the challenges of whether to conduct a drone strike in a denied area, what to do about Russian aggression in an allied country, how to address China’s build-up in the South China Sea, whether to conduct a large scale missile strike or a special operations raid and several other current international problems. You will learn to understand the implications of U.S. actions on both international and domestic policy. Throughout the course we will also examine the role of leadership in policy making.
During the course you will develop an understanding of the following:
- The roles and responsibilities of the national security policy makers.
- Current threats facing the United States.
- How to develop options for dealing with these threats.
- How to make decisions in a complex, high risk, high threat environment.
- The impact of your decisions on international and domestic policy.
- The fundamentals of leadership under pressure.
- Briefing techniques used in the White House Situation Room and the Pentagon Tank.
Through the two-week seminar we will have several guest speakers either in person or by videoconference that have extensive experience in policy making and can provide a further understanding of the complex nature of the process.In addition to the weekly scenario discussions, the class will also discuss the role of leadership; from small teams to large highly complex organizations.
Student Assessment
There will be five short briefing papers on contemporary geopolitical threats that must be read prior to the start of class.Student assessment will be based on classroom participation (60%), a two-page policy paper (20%) and a team paper/briefing (20%).
Policymaking and Leadership: From the Battlefield to the SITROOM
- W. McRaven
- MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI 5:30 – 8:30 pm TBD
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 371V
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Prof. keeps own waitlist
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. This short course meets January 19 through February 18. This course will be taught in person but with online components. Contact LBJ if you have questions about how the course will be taught.
The purpose of the course is to expose students to contemporary policy challenges in the national security arena and, in doing so, provide the student a framework for making future decisions across the entire public policy spectrum. You will be exposed to a variety of geopolitical scenarios and working in conjunction with a “national security team” you will develop a list of options for government leaders. The course goes beyond the theoretical and analytical to understanding exactly how national security policy is made in the most complex and politically sensitive environments. In the scenarios, you will be confronted with the challenges of whether to conduct a drone strike in a denied area, what to do about Russian aggression in an allied country, how to address China’s build-up in the South China Sea, whether to conduct a large scale missile strike or a special operations raid and several other current international problems. You will learn to understand the implications of U.S. actions on both international and domestic policy. Throughout the course we will also examine the role of leadership in policy making.
During the course you will develop an understanding of the following:
- The roles and responsibilities of the national security policy makers.
- Current threats facing the United States.
- How to develop options for dealing with these threats.
- How to make decisions in a complex, high risk, high threat environment.
- The impact of your decisions on international and domestic policy.
- The fundamentals of leadership under pressure.
- Briefing techniques used in the White House Situation Room and the Pentagon Tank.
Through the two-week seminar we will have several guest speakers either in person or by videoconference that have extensive experience in policy making and can provide a further understanding of the complex nature of the process.In addition to the weekly scenario discussions, the class will also discuss the role of leadership; from small teams to large highly complex organizations.
Student Assessment
There will be five short briefing papers on contemporary geopolitical threats that must be read prior to the start of class.Student assessment will be based on classroom participation (60%), a two-page policy paper (20%) and a team paper/briefing (20%).
Policymaking and Leadership: From the Battlefield to the SITROOM
- W. McRaven
- MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI 5:30 – 8:30 pm LBJ 2.104
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 371V
- Short course:
- 8/26/20 — 9/24/20
- Cross-listed with:
- Public Affairs
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Will not use floating mean GPA
Description
This is an LBJ School course, cross-listed with the Law School. This course will be taught in person but with the option of remote participation. Contact the professor for details.
The purpose of the course is to expose students to contemporary policy challenges in the national security arena and, in doing so, provide the student a framework for making future decisions across the entire public policy spectrum. You will be exposed to a variety of geopolitical scenarios and working in conjunction with a “national security team” you will develop a list of options for government leaders. The course goes beyond the theoretical and analytical to understanding exactly how national security policy is made in the most complex and politically sensitive environments. In the scenarios, you will be confronted with the challenges of whether to conduct a drone strike in a denied area, what to do about Russian aggression in an allied country, how to address China’s build-up in the South China Sea, whether to conduct a large scale missile strike or a special operations raid and several other current international problems. You will learn to understand the implications of U.S. actions on both international and domestic policy. Throughout the course we will also examine the role of leadership in policy making.
During the course you will develop an understanding of the following:
- The roles and responsibilities of the national security policy makers.
- Current threats facing the United States.
- How to develop options for dealing with these threats.
- How to make decisions in a complex, high risk, high threat environment.
- The impact of your decisions on international and domestic policy.
- The fundamentals of leadership under pressure.
- Briefing techniques used in the White House Situation Room and the Pentagon Tank.
Through the two-week seminar we will have several guest speakers either in person or by videoconference that have extensive experience in policy making and can provide a further understanding of the complex nature of the process.In addition to the weekly scenario discussions, the class will also discuss the role of leadership; from small teams to large highly complex organizations.
Student Assessment
There will be five short briefing papers on contemporary geopolitical threats that must be read prior to the start of class.Student assessment will be based on classroom participation (60%), a two-page policy paper (20%) and a team paper/briefing (20%).
Class schedule
Class is scheduled for 5:30 - 8:30 pm, M-F, August 26-28, August 31, September 1-4, September 8-9 and September 21-24.