Grand Strategy Minor

Grand Strategy Minor

Grand Strategy

Minor

The grand strategy minor offers an opportunity to examine big questions about America's future role in the world. Cadets will learn how states allocate resources to pursue foreign policy goals and the logic underpinning the actions they take, to shape the world around them.

The grand strategy minor adopts a dynamic and interdisciplinary philosophy and prepares cadets to think strategically through an academically rigorous approach to problem-solving that emphasizes critical, holistic, and creative thinking. Cadets will study the theory and practice of grand strategy over a wide range of countries and time periods. Cadets will graduate ready to serve as strategic thinkers who can make informed decisions about complex, uncertain situations -- a skill that will serve them well in the Army and beyond. This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of Social Sciences.

Podcast: West Point cadets on why they chose to major in Social Sciences

Required Courses

SS457 INTRODUCTION TO GRAND STRATEGY

SS458 TOPICS IN GRAND STRATEGY

 

Sample Electives

SS378 ADV INTL RELATIONS THEORY 

SS478 DIST PROF OF SECURITY STUD SEM 

SS480 PUBLIC POLICYMAKING PROCESS 

SS481 POLITICS OF DEFENSE POLICY  

SS483 NATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR  

SS486 INTERNATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR 

SS489 ADV INDIV STUDY IN SOC SCI 

SS490A COLLOQUIUM (AMER POLITICS) 

SS490B COLLOQUIUM (COMP POLITICS)  

SS490C COLLOQUIUM (INTER RELATIONS) 

XH397 GRAND STRATEGY FIELD STUDY

 

To learn more, view the full Grand Strategy Minor Curriculum.

A key part of the minor is the capstone experience we offer through XH397, a for-credit summer field study course. In the past, XH397 cadets traveled to East Asia, Greece, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Estonia. In addition to this summer experience, the Grand Strategy program offers discussion-based seminar courses, exciting policy-focused trip sections and workshops, and expert guest speakers. This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of Social Sciences or the center associated with this department/area of study.