2008-2009 Catalog - United States Air Force Academy

MSS 463. Military Innovation and Emerging Threats. 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, students consider applications and
implications of organizational learning in a variety of operational settings.
MSS 470. Information and Cyberspace Operations. Examines Information Operations and Cyberspace capabilities
and strategies by means of a thorough study of Influence Operations, Network Warfare Operations, and Electronic Warfare
Operations. Analyzes 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. Students analyze and compare the doctrine, strategy,
structure, capabilities, and employment characteristics of selected air and space forces including those of the U.S., 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. Students 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 U.S. and its global space competitors.
MSS 490. Contemporary Military Challenges: International Threats. Drawing on major contemporary military
challenges for context, this course explores 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, 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. 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.
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.
132 United States Air Force Academy Catalog