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Department of
Military & Strategic Studies
Course Descriptions
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The Military Strategic Studies Department offers three types of courses; core, majors and aviation. Following are the descriptions of each of those courses with MSS core and majors course descriptions appearing first and aviation courses following. |
Military Strategic Studies Courses
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MSS 200. Military Theory and Strategy.
Air, Space, and Cyberspace Power. 3(1). Provides cadets the professional military cornerstone for development as an Air Force officer through independent, critical military thinking. Drawing on a wide range of relevant military thought, cadets scrutinize theories of warfare and approaches to strategy, adaptively formulating and applying concepts in contemporary and notional contexts. This course seeks to develop Air Force leaders who can form creative solutions to complex problems. Final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall or spring.
In addition, this course/program is a primary contributor to the development and assessment of the following USAFA outcomes:
Skills: |
Decision Making, Teamwork |
Knowledge: |
Heritage and Application of Air, Space, and Cyberspace Power; National Security & Full Spectrum of Joint & Coalition Warfare |
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MSS 365. Developing the Military Strategist.
Develops foundational knowledge and thinking skills for contemporary challenges facing Air Force strategists. Cadets explore propositions of air, space, and cyberspace power, doctrine and theory, examine alternative approaches to the conceptualization and employment of military strategic power, and consider current and emerging Air Force capabilities and requirements. Final exam or final paper. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
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MSS 369. Strategy, Society, and the Airman.
Examines the interplay of societal groups, organizations, and issues on the formulation and execution of military strategy. Special emphasis will be given to contemporary concerns that affect military roles, missions, identities, effectiveness, plans and operations in joint, interagency, and coalition environments. Final exam or final paper. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
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MSS 379. Research Methods in Military Strategic Studies.
3(1). Introduce and explain research methods and their application to Military Strategic Studies. Provide 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. The seminar director will assign each cadet a faculty thesis advisor to provide additional research mentorship. This course will conclude with a final paper that will be developed into a thesis in the MSS 498 Capstone Thesis in Military Strategic Studies course. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
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MSS 402. Applications in Military Innovation
3(1). Provides an opportunity for design, development, and implementation of scenario-based simulation to evaluate theoretical, strategic, or operational concepts in one of the DFMI Research and Learning Laboratories. Designed for application learning, the combined capabilities of the three DFMI laboratories (Air Warfare Laboratory, Space Operations Education Laboratory, and the integrated Military and Strategic Studies Laboratory) provide access for cadets to all USAF domains. Final project and/or demonstration/briefing. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3.0 fall or spring. Departmental approval required.
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MSS 410. Contemporary Joint Operations: Advanced Strategy and ISR Integration.
3(1) Cadets learn to integrate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) ends, ways and means with other operations to shape combined effects. Cadets practice intellectual initiative and mission versatility in contemporary operating environments with asymmetric threats, non-linear relationships, adaptive networks and pervasive uncertainty. MSS 420 is the MSS major core substitute for MSS 415/16. Final project. Prereq: MSS 200 and MSS 365 or 369. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
In addition, this course/program is a primary contributor to the development and assessment of the following USAFA outcomes:
Skills: |
Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Teamwork |
Knowledge: |
National Security & Full Spectrum of Joint & Coalition Warfare; Civic, Cultural, and International Environments |
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MSS 415. Contemporary Joint Operations: Strategy in Regional Contexts.
3(1). This seminar course focuses on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions across and within regions of interest to the United States military. Cadets evaluate current and emerging operational environments in Combatant Command Areas of Responsibility, developing requisite knowledge, analytical, and decision-making skills. Cadets apply the capabilities of all U.S. military services across domains, illustrating strategy, doctrine, technology, and service culture within diverse threat contexts. The course integrates special operations and coalition forces and includes joint/coalition/interagency operational simulations. Emphasis is on teamwork. Final exam and/or final paper. Prereq: MSS 200. Sem hrs: 3 fall or spring.
In addition, this course/program is a primary contributor to the development and assessment of the following USAFA outcomes:
Skills: |
Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Teamwork |
Knowledge: |
National Security & Full Spectrum of Joint & Coalition Warfare; Civic, Cultural, and International Environments |
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MSS 415S. Contemporary Joint Operations: Strategy in Global Contexts.
3(1). This course is the Scholar’s version of the MSS 415/416 course. Cadets scrutinize global challenges and regional dynamics faced by the U.S. military, critically evaluate contemporary debates through the application of strategic concepts, and examine means of recalibrating the joint force in complex operating environments. Final exam or final paper. Prereq: MSS 200 and Scholar status. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
In addition, this course/program is a primary contributor to the development and assessment of the following USAFA outcomes:
Skills: |
Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Teamwork |
Knowledge: |
National Security & Full Spectrum of Joint & Coalition Warfare; Civic, Cultural, and International Environments |
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MSS 416. Contemporary Joint Operations: Strategy and Technology.
3(1). This seminar course focuses on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions across and within U.S. military operational domains. Within the context of contemporary and emerging strategic technologies and service attitudes toward technology and its operational effects, cadets evaluate current and emerging operational environments, developing requisite knowledge, analytical, and decision-making skills. Cadets apply the capabilities of U.S. military services across domains, illustrating strategy, doctrine, technology, and service culture within diverse threat contexts. The course integrates special operations and coalition forces and includes joint/coalition/interagency operational simulations. Emphasis is on teamwork. Final exam and/or final paper. Prereq: MSS 200. Sem hrs: 3 fall or spring.
In addition, this course/program is a primary contributor to the development and assessment of the following USAFA outcomes:
Skills:
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Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Teamwork |
Knowledge: |
National Security & Full Spectrum of Joint & Coalition Warfare; Civic, Cultural, and International Environments |
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MSS 420. Contemporary Joint Operations: Advanced Strategy and ISR Integration.
3(1). Cadets learn to integrate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) ends, ways, and means with other operations to shape combined effects. Cadets practice intellectual intitiative and mission versatility in contemporary operating environments with asymmetric threats, non-linear relationships, adaptive networks, and pervasive uncertainty. MSS 420 is the MSS major core substitute for MSS 415/16. Final project. Prereq: MSS 200 and MSS 365 or 369. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
In addition, this course/program is a primary contributor to the development and assessment of the following USAFA outcomes:
Skills: |
Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Teamwork |
Knowledge: |
National Security & Full Spectrum of Joint & Coalition Warfare; Civic, Cultural, and International Environments |
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MSS 450. Toward New Horizons in Military and Strategic Power.
3(1). This seminar examines the strategic environment of two decades hence, focusing cadets on specific problem sets for which to seek solutions, be they technological, institutional, ideational, cultural, or combinations thereof. Cadets develop a deep understanding of 1) the problems the military will face during their careers; 2) potential solutions to those problems; and 3) pathways to marrying resources to objectives and strategy. Cadets apply concepts of military innovation to present capabilities of US military services across domains, illustrating strategy, theory, technology, and service culture within diverse threat contexts. Final project or exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
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MSS 462. Military Innovation and Transformation.
3(1). Military strategy, operations, and theory reflect efforts to shape institutions, ideas, and organizations. Armed forces are involved in various processes of invention, innovation, and potentially transformation to meet emerging threats. Cadets develop and apply critical inquiry to comprehend complexities of innovation and transformation during peacetime and wartime. Case studies of American and foreign military change are examined to evaluate processes of successful—and failed—military innovations and their relationship to service transformation. Final paper. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
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MSS 463. Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups.
3(1). Examines the challenges armed groups employing irregular warfare strategies pose to the US and its allies. Cadets will explore and evaluate alternative approaches for meeting these diverse threats and consider frameworks for analyzing the complex strategic challenges associated with armed groups and irregular warfare. Final paper or final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
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MSS 470. Information and Cyberspace Operations.
3(1). 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. Final paper or final project. Prereq: MSS major or departmental approval. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
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MSS 477. Airpower for Combined Effects.
3(1). Cadets relate air campaign planning and airpower strategy and operational concepts in robust scenarios. Content includes weapons platforms, sensors and munitions, as well as roles, missions, and types of manned and unmanned aerial warfare in contemporary operating environments. Cadets adaptively plan and adjust air operations to combine effects in multiple simulations. Final paper. Prereq: MSS 200 and department approval. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
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MSS 480. Operational Art in Surface Warfare.
3(1). This course examines theory, war as art and science, major paradigms, and laboratory applications in contemporary contexts. Cadets study strategy and operational concepts in land and maritime warfare, the role of professional staffs, and power projection. Emphasis is on current challenges exercised via laboratory simulations requiring original solutions. Cadets develop mental agility to adapt to complex operating environments. Final project or exam. Prereq: MSS 200. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
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MSS 485. Space as an Element of National Power.
3(1). Seminar discusses conceptual frameworks 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. Contemporary and notional future space capabilities are also addressed. Cadets explore selected concepts and capabilities in the Space Operations Education Lab. Final project or final paper. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
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MSS 490. Military Strategies of Asia and the Pacific.
3(1). Seminar focused on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions in the region. Comprehend current and emerging military operational environments in the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), develop regional knowledge and analytical skills, and practice decision-making in realistic scenarios. This AOR primarily comprises India, Australia, East Asia, and the Pacific. Regional context will include selected threats, concepts, and issues related to contemporary military strategy. Final paper or final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 spring of even-numbered years.
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MSS 491. Military Strategies of North America.
3(1). Seminar focused on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions in the region. Comprehend current and emerging military operational environments in the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), develop regional knowledge and analytical skills, and practice decision-making in realistic scenarios. This AOR primarily comprises the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. Regional context will include US homeland defense and selected threats, concepts, and issues related to contemporary military strategy. Final paper or final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 spring of odd-numbered years.
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MSS 492. Military Strategies of Latin America.
3(1). Seminar focused on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions in the region. Comprehend current and emerging military operational environments in the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), develop regional knowledge and analytical skills, and practice decision-making in realistic scenarios. This AOR primarily comprises Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Regional context will include selected threats, concepts, and issues related to contemporary military strategy. Final paper or final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall of even-numbered years.
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MSS 493. Military Strategies of Europe and Russia.
3(1). Seminar focused on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions in the region. Comprehend current and emerging operational environments in the United States European (USEUCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), develop regional knowledge and analytical skills, and practice decision-making in realistic scenarios. This AOR primarily comprises Europe, Russia, Turkey, and Israel. Regional context will include selected threats, concepts, and issues related to contemporary military strategy. Final paper or final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall of even-numbered years.
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MSS 494. Military Strategies of Africa.
3(1). Seminar focused on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions in the region. Comprehend current and emerging operational environments in the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), develop regional knowledge and analytical skills, and practice decision-making in realistic scenarios. This AOR primarily comprises the African continent, minus Egypt. Regional context will include selected threats, concepts, and issues related to contemporary military strategy. Final paper or final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall of odd-numbered years.
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MSS 495. Special Topics.
Selected topics related to military doctrine, operations and strategy. Prereq: department permission. Sem hrs: 3 fall or spring
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MSS 496. Military Strategies of Western and Central Asia.
3(1). Seminar focused on strategic military assumptions, processes, and interactions in the region. Comprehend current and emerging military operational environments in the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), develop regional knowledge and analytical skills, and practice decision-making in realistic scenarios. This AOR primarily comprises Egypt, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia including Pakistan. Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Regional context will include selected threats, concepts, and issues related to contemporary military strategy. Final paper or final exam. Prereq: None. Sem hrs: 3 fall of odd-numbered years.
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MSS 498. Capstone Thesis in Military Strategic Studies.
3(1). 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 included within the genre of Military Strategic Studies. Final Paper. Prereq: MSS 379. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
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MSS 499. Independent Study.
3(0). Individual study and/or research under the direction of a DFMI instructor. No final. Prereq: Department approval. Sem hrs: 3 fall or spring.
MSS 499A. Independent Study. 2(0). Sem hrs: 2 fall or spring.
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MSS 499B. Independent Study. 1.5(0). Sem hrs: 1.5 fall or spring.
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MSS 499C. Independent Study. 1(0). Sem hrs: 1 fall or spring.
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