This course examines how advances in computer science, robotics, biotechnology and other emerging technologies are being applied to organized violence. Emphasized are the ways that lethal uses of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), warbots with artificial intelligence, cyber-attacks, and other emerging technologies are changing or will change the character of war and the societies that enact it. Special attention is given to the ethical and legal dilemmas these technologies present to citizens, states, and the international community, assessing both the harm and the good that they make possible.

The purpose of the Experiential Learning: Political Science option is to give students first-hand experience in an appropriate organization or study abroad program that meets the needs of the student’s career objectives. Students are closely supervised at the host organization, developing their pre-professional skills while learning the organizations programs, agenda and methods.