SS491 is one of three capstone courses that cadets may choose to take in their senior year to serve as the integrative experience within the International Affairs Major. In SS491, cadets will be placed into small groups under the direction of a faculty member to complete an in-depth research project based on cadet research interests. Research projects may be oriented toward the needs and interests of an external "client" organization in the government, civilian academia, or the private sector. In addition to producing a written research report, each research group will present their projects to the West Point community and, if applicable, to the external client organization or other audiences.
Lessons
30 @ 75 min (2.000 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
At the discretion of the current course director and International Affairs Program Director.
This course provides cadets an opportunity for reading and analysis in depth in a topic area of special interest and timely relevance to their concentration. The course employs the seminar approach in which a senior faculty member meets with small groups to discuss assigned readings, and cadets present their own analyses to the group. Course directors develop topics and determine the semesters in which they will be offered. Department Academic Counselors then forward course offerings and descriptions to Social Science majors and those majoring in areas related to the senior studies topic. Topics will vary by year but recent senior studies include: Homeland Security, Advanced Terrorism, and Environmental Economics.
Lessons
30 @ 75 min (2.000 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
These will vary by topic. Typically three analytical papers or projects of 3000-4500 words based on selected readings; class attendance adjusted to provide research time.
This course provides cadets an opportunity for reading and analysis in depth in a topic area of special interest and timely relevance to their concentration. The course employs the seminar approach in which a senior faculty member meets with small groups to discuss assigned readings, and cadets present their own analyses to the group. Course directors develop topics and determine the semesters in which they will be offered. Department Academic Counselors then forward course offerings and descriptions to Social Science majors and those majoring in areas related to the senior studies topic. Topics will vary by year but recent senior studies include: Homeland Security, Advanced Terrorism, and Environmental Economics.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
These will vary by topic. Typically three analytical papers or projects of 3000-4500 words based on selected readings; class attendance adjusted to provide research time.
This course provides cadets an opportunity for reading and analysis in depth in a topic area of special interest and timely relevance to their concentration. The course employs the seminar approach in which a senior faculty member meets with small groups to discuss assigned readings, and cadets present their own analyses to the group. Course directors develop topics and determine the semesters in which they will be offered. Department Academic Counselors then forward course offerings and descriptions to Social Science majors and those majoring in areas related to the senior studies topic. Topics will vary by year but recent senior studies include: Homeland Security, Advanced Terrorism, and Environmental Economics.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
These will vary by topic. Typically three analytical papers or projects of 3000-4500 words based on selected readings; class attendance adjusted to provide research time.
This course represents a unique opportunity for in-depth and integrated study. After electing to major in Political Science or Economics in Third Class year, the cadet will be paired with a tenured Associate Professor who provides individualized counseling and collaborative research guidance during Second Class year. During this period, the cadet chooses a particular area of interest for research in the appropriaote SS 49- course in the eighth term. At the beginning of the First Class year, the cadet is assigned a faculty advisor based on congruent research interests. Working in liaison with this advisor, the cadet designs and executes research in the selected area of interest. The objectives of this research are: (1) to synthesize and cohere the cadet's studies across core, area, and elective course work; (2) to apply methodological skills of research design, conceptual reasoning, analysis, and research gained to a selected area of substantive interest; (3) to extend the cadet's in-depth study of the selected area of interest beyond the level obtained in this course work; (4) to design and conduct focused research beyond the constrained opportunities in elective courses; and (5) to develop cadet skills in conceptual reasoning, critical analysis, and effective writing.
Lessons
0 @ 0 min (0.000 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
One research paper (minimum length of twenty typed, double-spaced pages).
