STRATEGY AND STATECRAFT

B.A. with a Major in Strategy and Statecraft

The Bachelor of Arts in Strategy and Statecraft is offered in partnership with the Clements Center for National Security. It combines rigorous engagement with the classic texts of politics, war, and diplomacy with historical and contemporary case studies of statecraft in action.

Courses are organized into three broad categories: classic texts in strategy and war, diplomatic and military history, and the practice of statecraft. Students address the nature and limits of political action and grapple with questions about power and legitimacy, prudence and justice, tragedy and ambition.

Next, students turn to the empirical study of war and diplomacy, from ancient battles and imperial expansion to modern conflicts and international institutions. These courses emphasize the interaction between political objectives and military means, as well as the tension between national interest and ethical restraint.

Finally, students study strategic theory and statecraft: how leaders align means and ends, balance domestic and foreign concerns, and make decisions under conditions of uncertainty and risk. Instructors draw from classics of strategy, as well as contemporary case studies and simulations.

This major is ideal for students considering careers in foreign service, defense policy, national security, or diplomacy. It also serves as an ideal complement to ROTC participation.