Please note only 6000+level courses are graduate courses.
Commonly offered courses include:
FALL SEMESTER
IAFF 6141 International Science & Technology Policy Cornerstone | View Full Syllabus Here
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the policy issues related to the support, use, management, and regulation of science and technology. It addresses US domestic as well as international issues, is concerned with governmental policies as well as non-governmental decisions, and it is focused on both the economics and politics of science and technology issues.
Taught by Professor Nicholas Vonortas
IAFF 6145 U.S. Space Policy
This course will address international space policy issues facing the United States and place them in context with broader technological advances and the changing strategic environment. The course will address current bureaucratic and regulatory issues facing U.S. space programs with regard to dual-use technologies, including export controls, spectrum management, and licensing of commercial remote sensing systems. Conflicts over dual-use technologies, such as space launch, remote sensing, satellite navigation, and communications, will be examined for their implications for a range of national interests. The course will also address strategic choices facing other nations in space activities, including dependence on U.S., European, and Russian space capabilities, developing indigenous space programs, and use of commercial space capabilities.
Taught by ISTP/IISTP/SPI Director, Professor Scott Pace
IAFF 6146 Space Law | Summary Syllabus Available Here
This course examines the underlying principles of international space law, with emphasis on issues arising from the increasing use of space for exploration, commerce, and security.
Taught by Research Professor Henry Hertzfeld
IAFF 6148 Space and National Security | Summary Syllabus Available Here
A broad, complex, and multidimensional set of factors contribute to the ability of states to use science and technology to advance their national security. This course examines how effectively states, and the United States, in particular, develop policies designed to translate science and technology into a strategic advantage. To assess this issue the course addresses a range of factors including innovation, revolutions in military affairs, globalization and international economic integration, technology transfer and export controls, changing global security dynamics, and the impact of emerging technologies on defense industries and military power. Major themes addressed throughout the course would form parts of an integrative framework for understanding the interplay between science, technology, and national security policy.
Taught by Adjunct Professor Peter Hays
IAFF 6157 ISTP Capstone Workshop
Taught by Adjunct Professors Rich Leshner and Otaviano Canuto
IAFF 6158 Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy – Science Diplomacy
By examining international and existential issues such as climate change, public health, weapons of mass destruction, biotechnology, and geophysical and space research, this course will explore how science and diplomacy co-evolved to produce new modes of knowledge production and communication, novel forms of international organization, and standards for professional practice. This course will identify the comparative advantages and disadvantages of official and unofficial diplomacy as it relates to scientists. It will debate whether science diplomacy belongs under the banner of “soft power,” “hard power,” or “smart power.” A recurring question in this course is: who are science diplomats? Are they trained diplomats and government officials who draw on scientific knowledge to facilitate international cooperation; or, are they scientists who capitalize on their expertise to influence and organize policy across national boundaries? This course will reveal that this distinction is both real and significant for international policymaking.
Taught by Adjunct Professor Anthony Eames
ECON 6255.10 / IAFF 6158.80 Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy – Economics of Technological Change | View Full Syllabus Here
This course provides an overview of important issues related to technological change that have attracted the attention of economists up to the present time. Among all social sciences, economics may be argued to have taken the longest and broadest interest in technological advancement and innovation. Examples of topics discussed include: technology markets, Schumpeterian hypotheses, market concentration and firm size as factors of technological innovation, expenditures in research and development, private and social returns to R&D, technological change and industry entry/exit, intellectual property rights, measurement of technology and innovation, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, innovation in service sectors.
Taught by Professor Nicholas Vonortas
IAFF 6158 Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy – Energy Policy
Energy supply, demand, and environmental impacts are among the most significant issues of the 21st century. This course will provide students with the necessary grounding to understand and contribute to debates on energy policy. The first half of the class will provide a background in fundamentals such as energy resource concepts and energy production technologies. The balance of the class will focus on energy and environmental policy development and current issues.
Taught by Professor Nina Kelsey
IAFF 6106 Nuclear Weapons
The technology and politics associated with nuclear weapons. Strategy and deterrence, force planning and operations, and the prospect of nuclear terrorism.
Taught by Benn Tannenbaum
IAFF 6158 Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy – Artificial Intelligence and Policy Challenges | View Full Syllabus Here
This class examines artificial intelligence (AI), problems of various sorts that AI use can cause, and candidate policy frameworks to manage these problems. No prior technical knowledge of artificial intelligence is needed to be successful in the class. The class examines problems in both the international and the domestic context; in each context, the class considers both technical problems and normative problems that arise from the use of artificial intelligence. Technical problems arise from using data sets to train AI algorithms that are unrepresentative of the relevant population, for example. Normative problems arise from various debates over new capabilities enabled by AI algorithms, including what constitutes “legitimate” heritable human genome editing, strategic stability in the military balance between great powers, “killer” robots, personal privacy, or equity between different groups within a society. In the international context, the class examines purposeful manipulation of genomes and AI-enabled military capabilities. It will examine historical examples of non-proliferation norms and treaties and consider whether similar norms or treaties could be used to manage these AI-related problems in the international context. In the domestic context, the class will examine the vulnerability of AI to incorporate systemic bias and to enable the construction of a surveillance state. The class will examine the comparative policy frameworks within the United States, the European Union, and China and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses for mitigating policy challenges in the domestic context.
Taught by Adjunct Professor Carol Kuntz
EHS 6227 Intro to Human Health in Space
With the development of commercial space-capable manned launch systems, human access to outer space is becoming more broadly available for research, commercial and recreation purposes. As access expands, feasibility of new and proposed ventures should be assessed from the lens of human productivity (and survival). This course introduces aerospace medicine concepts relevant to human spaceflight, in the context of next generation human space exploration. We will discuss human physiology and the effects of the space environment on human health and performance, review current areas of research relevant to human performance in space, and explore the gaps between current capabilities and exploration mission systems requirements. No prior medical background is required.
Taught by Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Claudia Ranniger (while Dr. Ranniger is not technically ISTP faculty, her course has proven very popular among ISTP students, especially those pursuing a Space Policy concentration).
IAFF 6501 Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners
This course will focus on developing data analysis and data science skills that are relevant for international affairs practitioners. Students will develop coding, data visualization, data analysis, and data presentation skills that will allow them to use data to answer questions related to international affairs and to contribute to data driven policy and programmatic decision making. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze data sets using modern computational tools (using R), identify and access data sets, and apply data wrangling concepts to optimize data for analysis and modeling purposes, use data visualization to summarize simple and complex relationships between and among variables in a data set, use tools of statistical inference to test hypotheses, develop and use models for prediction/forecasting, and for causal inference and create professional and reproducible data analysis outputs (reports, websites, slides, and so on) using Quarto.
Taught by Associate Professor Eric Kramon.
IAFF 3202 Space Policy*
This course is an examination of the origins, evolution, current status, and future prospects of U.S. space policies and programs. It will cover the U.S. government’s civilian, military, and national security space programs and the space activities of the U.S. private sector, and the interactions among these four sectors of U.S. space activity. This examination will be cast in the context of the space activities of other countries, and of international cooperation and competition in space. The goal of the course is to give the student an exposure to the policy debates and decisions that have shaped U.S. efforts in space to date, and to the policy issues that must be addressed in order to determine the future goals, content, pace, and organization of U.S. space activities, both public and private.
Taught by ISTP/IISTP/SPI Director, Professor Scott Pace
MAE 3145 Orbital Mechanics and Spacecraft Dynamics*
Coordinate systems and transformations, rocket equation, two-body problem, orbit transfers, orbit perturbations, attitude dynamics and stability of symmetric spacecraft, environmental and control torques. Prerequisite: APSC 2058. (Fall)
Taught by Professor Joel Slotten (while Dr. Slotten is not ISTP faculty his course may be of great interest to ISTP students). *Though this is an undergraduate course it has been pre-approved by ISTP Director Scott Pace to count for graduate credit and may be used as an analytical course or an elective.
PSC 3192W Politics of China’s Innovation*
China has ambitions to become a “science and technology superpower.” Yet, China will face difficult decisions as it enhances its scientific and technological capabilities. For instance, reducing dependency on foreign suppliers of key technologies could hamper China’s technological rise, which has benefited from international linkages. This course will unpack the politics behind some of these trade-offs. We will examine how China’s scientific and technological capabilities are shaped by: geopolitical position, regime type, institutions for skill formation, and misperceptions in power assessments.
Taught by Professor Jeffrey Ding (Taught by Professor Jeffrey Ding (while Dr. Ding is not technically ISTP faculty, his course may prove interesting to ISTP students). *Please note that if you’d like to take this undergraduate course for graduate credit you’ll need special approval from Program Director Scott Pace and will likely need to work specially with Dr. Ding to ensure the coursework rises to graduate level.
PSC 3500 Emerging Technologies, AI, and International Politics*
Rapid developments in new technologies have the potential to transform the international landscape. At the same time, the international environment also shapes the development of new technologies. This course examines the interactions between emerging technologies and global politics. It first introduces students to broad debates about the effects of technology on politics. Then it surveys the intersection between technological change and various outcomes in international politics, including economic statecraft, the rise and fall of great powers, social movements, and war. Throughout the course, we focus on the global implications of artificial intelligence.
Taught by Professor Jeffrey Ding (while Dr. Ding is not technically ISTP faculty, his course may prove interesting to ISTP students). *Please note that if you’d like to take this undergraduate course for graduate credit you’ll need special approval from Program Director Scott Pace and will likely need to work specially with Dr. Ding to ensure the coursework rises to graduate level.
IAFF 3190/HIST 2001 Science Technology and Espionage*
For centuries, science and technology have been integral parts of the clandestine world of intelligence gathering and espionage. This course will introduce students to the many ways in which science and technology have transformed espionage, and how the needs of this secret area of statecraft have shaped the development of science and technology. Students will gain significant exposure to the relationship among science, technology, and espionage, in a global context, from the 19th century to the present time.
Taught by Assistant Professor Aaron Bateman
IAFF 3190/HIST 2001 Spaceflight & the Modern World*
Since antiquity, human beings have looked up at the sky with wonder and aspired to explore beyond the confines of earth. During the Cold War, spaceflight became an intrinsic element of the superpower competition; cosmic dreams combined with the practical needs of statecraft. This course will introduce students to the global history of spaceflight and reveal how human activities in space have been inextricably linked to broader political, military, diplomatic, economic, and social agendas on earth.
Taught by Assistant Professor Aaron Bateman
SPRING SEMESTER
IAFF 6143 Science and Technology Policy Analysis | View Full Syllabus Here
Many of the most important and salient policy decisions taken by governments—whether for war or peace, whether they address everyday needs or long-term global grand challenges—involve science and technology. S&T is at the heart of debates regarding climate change; immunization against diseases such as COVID-19, measles, and rubella; decisions involving nuclear weapons; space exploration; cybersecurity and the generation and diffusion of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and gene-editing technologies like CRISPR; the widespread use of robotics, nanotechnology, 3-D printing, and advanced energy storage technologies; the internet of things (IoT); advanced manufacturing and the oncoming of the 4th industrial revolution (I4.0); energy policy and the transition to a carbon neutral economy; and many more. The second in the sequence of required core courses for the ISTP program, this seminar course offers the opportunity to go deeper and ask more probing questions about select contemporary policy topics like those listed above. The course will take an international perspective and provide opportunities for comparative analysis across both developed market economies and emerging economies.
IAFF 6141 serves as a prerequisite course. Exemptions can be granted by the instructor following specific requests providing evidence of equivalence to the prerequisite.
Taught by Professor Nicholas Vonortas
IAFF 6146 Space Law | Summary Syllabus Available Here
This course examines the underlying principles of international space law, with emphasis on issues arising from the increasing use of space for exploration, commerce, and security.
Taught by Research Professor Henry Hertzfeld
IAFF 6151 Environmental Policy
This course examines the public policies designed to protect the human and physical environment. It focuses on the ways science and technology can simultaneously create new environmental problems and contribute to their mitigation and prevention.
Taught by Assistant Professor Nina Kelsey
IAFF 6153 Science, Technology, and National Security | Summary Syllabus Available Here
This course examines the contributions of science and technology to U.S. security in military, intelligence, and homeland security activities.
Taught by Adjunct Professor Peter Hays
IAFF 6186 Special Topics in Security Policy Studies – Cybersecurity
This course will focus on the transnational impact of non-state actors on international policy and security. We will analyze different types of actors, from transnational criminal organizations to NGOs to terrorist groups primarily through case studies. Students will consider the interaction of non-state actors with state actors, evaluating impacts on sovereignty and governance worldwide.
Taught by Adjunct Professor Joshua Work (while technically a Security Policy Studies offering, this course has proven very popular among ISTP students, especially those pursuing a National Security concentration).
IAFF 6158 Issues in U.S. Space Policy – Tools and Scenarios | Summary Syllabus Available Here
This course will address international space policy issues facing the United States and provides an overview of common tools (e.g., orbital mechanics, cost estimation, regulation) used in space policy making and implementation. The course will address current policy and regulatory issues facing U.S. space programs with regard to dual-use technologies, including export controls, spectrum management, and licensing of commercial remote sensing systems. Conflicts over dual-use technologie will be examined for their implications for a range of national interests. The course will also address strategic choices facing other nations in space activities, including dependence on U.S., European, and Russian space capabilities, developing indigenous space programs, and use of commercial space capabilities.
Taught by ISTP/IISTP/SPI Director, Professor Scott Pace
IAFF 6158 Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy – Space Economics | Summary Syllabus Available Here
This course is aimed at understanding the economic issues and analytical tools that non-economists working in policy positions should know in order to be able to evaluate economic analyses and make informed and balanced judgments on economic aspects of space ventures.
Taught by Research Professor Henry Hertzfeld
IAFF 6158 Science, Technology, and Global Statecraft
In the twenty-first century we often hear commentary about the many ways in which advances in science and technology are shaping national security and international affairs. With social media, satellites, and global fiber optic cable networks, it is now possible to communicate (nearly instantaneously) from the far corners of the world. At this same time, science and technology are often presented as a source of anxiety in international affairs with talk of new races in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space, and hypersonic weapons. Fundamentally, science and technology play a defining role in shaping relations between countries. This course will explore the role of science and technology in international affairs using case studies from the 19th century through the present time. In doing so, we will explore how science and technology have shaped the international system as we know it today.
Taught by Assistant Professor Aaron Bateman
IAFF 6159 ISTP Capstone Course
Taught by Adjunct Professor Rich Leshner
PPPA 8197.80/ IAFF 6158.90 Seminar in Science and Technology Policy
Doctoral seminar on theory and practice in science and technology policy. Critical evaluations of current and historical foundations of science and technology policy. Application of analyses to policy questions and implementation of policy choices in selected fields related to science and technology policy. Prerequisites: The PPPA 8197.80 course is intended for TSPPPA PhD candidates in the S&T field prior to taking their field exams. MA candidates from who have completed the International Science and Technology Policy Cornerstone Seminar (IAFF 6141) may also take the course as IAFF 6158.90. Friday 6:10-8:00 pm, Spring 2023
Taught by ISTP/IISTP/SPI Director, Professor Scott Pace
IAFF 6186 WMD & Arms Control
Taught IISTP Research Professor Sharon Squassoni
IAFF 6168 Contemporary Science Diplomacy
This course follows the previous science diplomacy course (IAFF 6158) and focuses on practical applications and features case studies that span a wide range of topics. It is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the current issues, trends, and critical discussions at national, regional, and global levels within the realm of science diplomacy. Throughout this course, students will delve into a wide range of contemporary topics, from climate change, AI, and the Global South to emerging technologies. During the course, the students are expected to engage in discussions and in-class debates to foster critical thinking about different dimensions of scientific collaboration, technology, and the ethical dilemmas that can arise in pursuing scientific goals.
Taught by Dr. Derya Buyuktanir Karacan
MAE 6249 Spacecraft Design
Computer-aided design of spacecraft and satellites to meet specific mission requirements. Environment, propulsion, structure, heat transfer, orbital mechanics, control considerations. Use of modern computer codes for design studies. Prerequisites: MAE 3145 or graduate standing.
Taught by Professor John Soldner (while Dr. Soldner is not technically ISTP faculty, his course has proven popular among ISTP students, especially those pursuing a Space Policy concentration). In addition, this course can count toward the ISTP analytical requirement or elective requirement.
IAFF 3203 Space Power in Global Affairs* | Summary Syllabus Available Here
This course will address international space policy issues facing the United States and places them in the larger context of technological advances and a changing international strategic environment. The course will briefly examine the technical, historical and policy foundations for U.S. and international space programs and activities. It will then address current issues facing U.S. space programs as a result of globalization (more state actors in space) and democratization (more non-government actors in space). The course will also address strategic choices facing other nations in space activities, including cooperation and competition among U.S., European, Chinese, and Russian space capabilities, and developing indigenous space programs. Conflicts over dual-use technologies, such as space launch, remote sensing, satellite navigation, and communications, will be examined for their impacts on a wide range of national interests.
Taught by ISTP/IISTP/SPI Director, Professor Scott Pace
IAFF 3179 Space in International Affairs*
This course will address international space policy issues facing the United States and places them in the larger context of technological advances and a changing international strategic environment. The course will briefly examine the technical, historical and policy foundations for U.S. and international space programs and activities. It will then address current issues facing U.S. space policy. The challenges and opportunities of international space cooperation, along with the evolving and complex space security context, will be examined for their implications for a range of national interests.
Taught by Adjunct Professor Patsy Klein
ESME 4571 Introduction to Programming for Analytics*
Introduction to R with a comparison to Python: functions, packages, conditionals, loops, strings, coding style, file input/output, data structures, data wrangling, simple data visualization, reproducible reporting, and Monte Carlo methods. Restricted to students pursuing a BS in Systems Engineering; others may be admitted with the permission of instructor on a space available basis.
While this course isn’t taught by an ISTP professor, it is relevant for ISTP students. It is an undergraduate 4000 series course, but it can be taken for graduate credit and for the ISTP analytical requirement; to receive graduate credit you should register for 4571 and then you will need to submit an RTF, which the Program Director will be happy to sign.
ESME 4572 Exploratory Data Analysis*
Introduction to exploratory data analysis using R: data types, centrality, variability, correlation, advanced data visualization, data cleaning, reproducible reporting, interactive charts, shiny apps, and communicating results. Restricted to students in the BS in systems engineering program or with the permission of the instructor on a space available basis. Prerequisites: EMSE 4574 or EM
While this course isn’t taught by an ISTP professor, it is relevant for ISTP students. It is an undergraduate 4000 series course, but it can be taken for graduate credit and for the ISTP analytical requirement; to receive graduate credit you should register for 4572 and then you will need to submit an RTF, which the Program Director will be happy to sign.
SUMMER SEMESTER
IAFF 6186 Nuclear Proliferation and Nonproliferation
Taught by Research Professor Doug Shaw
*Denotes undergraduate course.
For more information on course requirements and for additional information on courses offered by non-ISTP professors, please click on your program of choice below:
