Advanced Defense Policy (ADP)

Oct 15 - Nov 4, 2009
Application period Feb 16 - May 18, 2009

Candidate Profile - Application Instructions - Application Form

This is a 14-week course, conducted in three phases, combining eleven weeks of on-line study and research with a three-week in-residence program to provide students a broad perspective on the subjects of strategy, defense policy matters, and defense analysis. The three phases are the Distance Learning Phase (three weeks), the Resident Phase (three weeks), and the Writing Phase (eight weeks).

» Course Goal

To deepen the participant’s understanding of theories and case-studies regarding strategy, defense policy, and defense analytical tools and methodologies, in order to enable the participant to more effectively engage in the process of defense policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.

» Course Objectives

At the end of the course, students will be expected to analyze, identify, and understand the following: different current major schools of thought and approaches related to international relations theories; classic and contemporary schools of thought and approaches on strategy; best practices regarding schools of thought and approaches regarding defense policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation; best practices of defense analysis methodology and processes; current schools of thought and approaches of decision-making methodologies and processes; and, current schools of thought and approaches of outcome-based performance measures evaluation. 
The On-line Phase will orient and inform participants about the course concept and its requirements and provide them with an overview on the main themes of the course. Participants that satisfactorily complete this phase will be invited to the Resident Phase at the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.

Resident Phase (3 weeks)

The course will be conducted at CHDS’ premises. Students will be exposed to an in-depth treatment on theoretical and practical discussions regarding international relations theory, strategy, defense policy, and defense analysis. They will be challenged to analyze complex circumstances related to these themes. Methodology to help students acquiring this knowledge will include required reading, lectures, conferences by experts and practitioners, seminars, and case-studies. Themes will be distributed in a way that students develop a general understanding of the theories and issues surrounding these phenomenon as well as the complexities of the various solution sets. Particular emphasis will be placed on improving the participants’ abilities to conceive, formulate, implement, and evaluate defense policy matters.

During this phase students will be expected to take advantage of the National Defense University library and resources to continue the research and writing process on their papers. They will also be expected to take advantage of the presence of the professors to have one-on-one discussions to help guide and direct their research efforts. 

At the end of the Resident Phase participants will enter the Writing Phase, with papers due Jan 2, 2009.