Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

Department of History

Undergraduate Programs
Minor in Defense Studies and Leadership

The Minor in Defense Studies and Leadership, which is administered by the Department of History, provides students with a broad perspective on the military with analysis of all service branches of the Armed Forces from a historical and social scientific perspective. It also prepares current cadets for active duty service.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University.  With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in the Department of History.

Requirements for the Minor in Defense Studies and Leadership

Students must complete 22 credits from the following:
1. One course from each of the following groups (4 to 6 credits):
a. AS 111 Foundation of the United States Air Force I 1
MS 110 Army Leadership and Officer Development 1
b. AS 112 Foundation of the United States Air Force II 1
MS 120 Introduction to Army Leadership and Problem-Solving 1
c. AS 211 The Evolution of USAF Air and Space Power I 1
MS 210 Values and Ethics of Army Leaders 2
d. AS 212 The Evolution of USAF Air and Space Power II 1
MS 220 Army Doctrine and Team Development 2
2. One of the following groups of courses (6 credits):
a. AS 321 Air Force Leadership Studies I 3
AS 322 Air Force Leadership Studies II 3
b. MS 310 Leading and Problem Solving in Army Units 3
MS 320 Army Small Unit Tactics and Leadership 3
3. One of the following groups of courses (6 credits):
a. AS 421 National Security Affairs 3
AS 422 National Security Affairs and Preparation for Active Duty 3
b. MS 410 Adaptive Army Leadership 3
MS 420 Army Leadership in a Complex World 3
4. One of the following courses (3 credits):
HST 304 The American Civil War 3
HST 326 United States Foreign Relations Since 1914 3
HST 328 Military History of the United States 1900-Present 3
HST 390 History of International Relations 3
HST 414 World War II: Causes, Conduct and Consequences 3
5. One of the following courses (3 credits):
CJ 422 Comparative and Historical Criminal Justice 3
CJ 439 Homeland Security 3
CJ 473 Comparative Constitutional Law 3
PLS 140 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3
PLS 344 Politics of Developing Areas 3
PLS 362 American Foreign Policy and National Security 3
PLS 363 International and Domestic Political Conflict 3
PSY 255 Industrial and Organizational Psychology 3
SOC 331 Political Sociology 3