This course will utilize a combination of lectures, discussion, and activities to explore the political, economic, and strategic issues, both international as well as domestic, involved in the spread of weapons of mass destruction since the end of the Second World War. The course will begin by characterizing the relationship of technology to society before focusing on weapons, with particular emphasis on nuclear weapons.
Learning outcomes include the following:
- Analyzing the diffusion of technology in a global setting
- Exploring and understanding the political, economic, and strategic dimensions of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
- Knowledge of the history of nuclear weapons including
- Design
- Science
- History
- Ability to explain academic and strategic arguments related to the
- Supply side dimensions of nuclear proliferation
- Demand side dimensions of nuclear proliferation
- Ability to analyze the contours of global nuclear
- Coercion
- Compellence
- Deterrence
- Arms Control
Non-proliferation
There no required text you need to purchase. Class readings will be available online through 1) GT Library, 2) Via online access through direct link or via Google search, 3) Posted to Canvas. Access to various readings will be demonstrated in class and you are expected to proactively verify your ability to obtain the readings prior to the class discussion date. If you have any issues finding or obtaining reading, please get in touch with me. Sometimes readings may become unavailable and I will adjust the syllabus accordingly by assigning alternatives or altering the plan. At the end of each Thursday class, I’ll help you focus on how to prioritize and approach the readings for the next week. I know, at first glance, the amount of reading materials may seem overwhelming, but I promise you can learn how to manage, prioritize, and create strategies to help you absorb the material quickly and efficiently to prepare for class discussions!
You will be graded on a variety of work and your participation. The expectation is you will ask questions, participate in discussions based on lecture material and assigned readings. The rest of your grade will be assigned based on your performance across three assignments. 1) We will discuss how to review and evaluate an academic paper. You will find an academic paper relevant to the study of technology and/or WMD and write a 2 page evaluation. We will discuss what the evaluation consists of and what the specific grading criteria for the assignment will be several weeks ahead of it being due. 2) There will be a midterm that will consist of an in-class multiple choice portion tentatively set for 19 Feb and a take-home portion of four short answer and/or essay questions. The take home portion of the midterm will be distributed (via Canvas) on 23 Feb and be due via email to me before 5pm on 27 Feb. The midterm date may change based on how the class progresses. We will discuss this during the first few weeks and finalize the date well ahead. 3) Lastly, you will have a final paper and grad students will also have a presentation. The final paper is due during finals week, and grad students will also need to prepare a presentation related to their paper that will happen during the last few class periods. The topic will need to be approved by me. We will discuss the specific form and criteria for the final paper during the first few weeks of class. I will require an outline of your final paper to be submitted, likely by week 10 of class, to ensure you are on track to complete the final paper/presentation.
Assignment
Date
Weight
Participation and attendance
Ongoing
20%
Academic Article Critique
Before class 27 March
25%
Combination in-class and take home midterm
Due Before Class 19 Feb (tentatively scheduled)
30%
Final Paper/presentation
Paper Due During Finals Week, grad presentations during the last few class periods
25%
Extra Credit Opportunities
During the semester, there may be opportunities for extra credit. For example, these opportunities could consist of attending local events or lectures pertinent to course topics and presenting your experience and what you learned to class via a short briefing. This sort of extra credit or other extra credit opportunities will be offered at my sole discretion.
Grading Scale
Your final grade will be assigned as a letter grade according to the following scale:
A
90-100%
B
80-89%
C
70-79%
D
60-69%
F
0-59%
Each class assignment will be given a grade on scale above and weighted accordingly to produce your final grade for the class. We will discuss the grading criteria associated with each assignment in the first few classes and well ahead of due dates.
Attendance is necessary but in cases where you are not able to attend class, please email tchaudhary@gatech.edu as soon as possible so we can discuss exceptional circumstances ahead of your absence. In cases where we are unable to discuss your absence beforehand, please schedule time for us to discuss the absence outside of class time as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodation can be arranged for various circumstances, however, please do not abuse my good nature and that of your fellow students. You can miss up to two classes (but not those where you are scheduled to present) for any reason before your grade is impacted, though I reserve the right to revisit this policy depending on both individual and overall class participation and performance.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.
This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area.
Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.
This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
- How do I understand human experiences and connections?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
- Intercultural Competence
- Perspective-Taking
- Persuasion