Military Strategic Studies Major

Return to academic major description.

MILITARY STRATEGIC STUDIES (MSS)
Offered by the Department of Military Strategic Studies.

MSS 200. Military Theory and Strategy. This course provides the professional cornerstone for the military officer through the exploration of military theories and strategies.  Drawing on a wide range of military thought—from the ideas of the classical military thinkers to the propositions of modern theorists—cadets analyze relevant theories of warfare, evaluate various approaches to military strategy, and apply them to contemporary and notional conflicts.  This course develops military thinkers who can form creative solutions to complex military problems.

MSS 282. Air, Space and Information Power Theory. Cadets will innovate beyond current doctrinal boundaries through critical analysis of air and space power theories. Identify, explain, and examine existing propositions, frameworks and assumptions of air and space power doctrine and theory. Through case studies and seminar discussion, analyze alternatives to current approaches of air and space power employment and their relationship to information power. Examine current and notional characteristics of air and space platforms and investigate future requirements of air and space platforms. Evaluate air and space issues such as integration and/or separation of air and space power.

MSS 365. Developing the Military Strategist. In this course, you will learn how military strategists shape the international environment, prepare for an uncertain future, recognize threats to national security, and when necessary, skillfully develop military responses. You will begin by exploring various theories and doctrines involving air, sea, space, information and land warfare, and the context in which those ideas developed. Next, you will associate these assessments with authentic cases and uncover variables that lead to success, and those that tend to be unsuccessful. Finally, you will investigate future national security challenges, and using strategy formulation tools air and space power war fighters currently employ, develop and practice the skills necessary to methodically and aggressively dominate the battlespace of the future by coercing, punishing, disabling, delaying, containing, decapitating, denying or destroying an adversary.

MSS 379. Research Methods in Military Strategic Studies. Introduces and explains research methods and their application to Military Strategic Studies. Provides the foundation for a range of qualitative and quantitative research designs, tools, processes and resources to analyze military issues including strategy, theory, doctrine, force structure and operations. Seminar director assigns each cadet a faculty thesis advisor to provide additional research mentorship. Course concludes with a final paper that will be developed into a thesis on MSS 498.

MSS 385. Special Operations.  Course is designed to educate future airmen regarding the capabilities, limitations, and potential for employing special operations forces (SOF) at the operational and strategic levels. In addition, it develops critical thinking skills by requiring analysis, problem-solving, and application of theoretical concepts to real-world situations. It traces the evolution of SOF capabilities and evaluates the reasons behind successes and failures. Case studies are incorporated for comparison with contemporary operations and introduction of a common framework.

MSS 400. Joint and Coalition Operations. Course introduces the capabilities of all U.S. military services, with emphasis on individual service culture and doctrine. It culminates by synergistically leveraging service-specific capabilities in a joint war fighting simulation. It also explores integration of Special Operations and Coalition forces in war fighting. Emphasis is placed on teamwork. War-gaming scenarios and teaching cases, reinforce the validate concepts taught in the classroom.

MSS 410. Advanced Studies in Joint and Coalition Operations. Course introduces the cultures, organization, doctrines, and capabilities of all U.S. military services. Discussions also include the National Military Strategy, the organization for National Security, the Unified Command structure, and the critical role of Special Operations Forces.  Once this foundation is set, classroom discussion centers on U.S. and coalition operations in specific areas of Military Operation Other Then Wasr (MOOTW). These areas include, but are not limited to, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), peace operation, humanitarian relief, and stability operations.

MSS 462.  Theory of Military Transformation. The United States Armed Forces are currently in the midst of a process of transformation designed to posture American air, land, and sea forces for the security challenges of the coming decades.  Cadets develop and apply critical intellectual inquiry to penetrate the complexities of transformation during peacetime and wartime.  Contextual and comparative case studies of American and foreign military innovations will be examined to evaluate the processes of successful—and failed—military innovations and their relationship to service transformation.

MSS 463. Military Innovation and Emerging Threats.  This course focuses on organizational learning and the various factors that promote or inhibit changes in military technology, doctrine, and organization.  By examining cases of successful and unsuccessful peacetime and wartime innovation across the various mediums of warfare, cadets consider applications and implications of organizational learning in a variety of operational settings.

 MSS 470.  Information and Cyberspace Operations.  This course examines Information Operations and Cyberspace capabilities and strategies by means of a thorough study of Influence Operations, Network Warfare Operations, and Electronic Warfare Operations.  An analysis will be made of the current and emerging influence of Information Operations on force structure, strategy, and operational capabilities together with an assessment of the crucial role of information dominance across the spectrum of war.

 MSS 476.  Comparative Air Forces.  This seminar applies comparative methodology to examine selected air forces and how they organize and employ military air, space, and cyberspace power.  Cadets analyze and compare the doctrine, strategy, structure, capabilities, and employment characteristics of selected air and space forces including those of the United States, Great Britain, Russia, China, France, and Israel.

MSS 485. Space as an Element of National Power. This seminar cultivates a conceptual framework to understand the context, theory, and application of space as an element of national power.  Cadets contextually understand the intellectual foundations of space strategy and theory for American and foreign space powers, as well as contemporary and notional future space capabilities of the United states and its global space competitors.  Independent research, cadet presentations, and a research paper.

MSS 490. Contemporary Military Challenges: International Threats. Drawing on major contemporary military challenges for context, this course explores the concepts, principles, and processes involved in formulating military strategy and in developing derivative plans and operations. Depending on the scope and nature of current threats, the strategic regions selected for examination may include the Asian littoral, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Balkans, Latin America, and/or Africa.

MSS 491. Contemporary Military Challenges: Threats to the Homeland. Drawing on major contemporary military challenges for context, this course explores the concepts, principles, and processes involved in formulating military strategy and in developing derivative plans and operations. Focuses on national strategy for homeland security, understanding the threat, and strategic and military force approaches to countering the terrorist threat.

MSS 495. Special Topics. Selected topics related to military doctrine, operations and strategy.

MSS 498. Capstone Thesis in Military Strategic Studies. This course provides an opportunity for all MSS majors to participate in higher-level discussions and learning that combine all aspects of previous MSS coursework. In addition, it offers an opportunity for each MSS major to work closely with their thesis advisor to complete a major paper for publication on the topics within the genre of Military Strategic Studies.

MSS 499. Independent Study. Individual study and/or research under the direction of a Military Strategic Studies instructor.

The following are additional course offerings from the Department of Military Strategic Studies.

AVIATION

Aviation 483. Air Warfare Applications. Examines the context, theory, and application of contemporary airpower employment and explores potential future airpower applications. Learning methods include classroom discussion, relevant case studies, independent research, and laboratory exercises in the Warfare Simulation Lab, the Air Warfare (aircraft simulator) Lab, and the T-41 Airborne Conceptual Application and Validation (TACAV) Lab. Cadets explore current airpower application in classroom discussions and through multiple lab-based missions. Post-mission analysis emphasized emphasizes airpower capabilities at the strategic and operational levels.

Aviation 495. Special Topics in Aviation. Selected special topics courses in aviation.

Aviation 498. Fundamentals of Air Force Aviation. Focuses on essential Air Force aviation-related topics such as airmanship, aerodynamics, time-sensitive decision making processes (emergency procedures), human physiology, and operational risk management models; aims to provide in-depth understanding of many timeless aviation topics. Cadet learning experience focuses on application and reinforcement of military aviation theory and knowledge. Theoretical foundation is complemented by ‘hands-on’ learning in aircraft simulators. When registering, please indicate preference for first half (Aviation 498) or second half (Aviation 498X) of the semester.

Aviation 499. Independent Research and Study. Individual study and research in Aviation under the direction of a MSS academic instructor.