National Security Innovation Program
National Security Innovation is a University 3-credit hour course in collaboration with the Department of Defense that teaches students to work with the Defense and Intelligence Communities to rapidly address the nation's emerging threats and security challenges.
Experience Washington D.C.
This week-long learning experience will allow students to meet with government officials and policymakers who will offer insights and outlook on national and global affairs. In addition, the program includes conversations with Fortune 500 executives, financiers, international business leaders, distinguished medical professionals, and prominent Americans with diverse backgrounds. Travel and accommodations will be arranged through the course. This is a mandatory component of the course. All costs will be covered.
Course Details
This course will utilize methodologies and materials from the National Security Innovation Network's "Hacking for Defense Program" to help students identify, work through and provide possible solutions for contemporary, real-life issues in national security. Examples of previous projects include working with the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center to standardize policy related to integrating advanced technology to ensure a more resilient and capable military force.
In the process, students will learn about institutional stakeholders involved in military, diplomatic, intelligence, and other national security-related fields. They will develop a greater understanding of the policies they pursue and some of the challenges they confront in developing and implementing these policies.
Students will also advance their networking skills as they connect with representatives of these organizations, including during a week-long trip to Washington, D.C., to facilitate direct student contact with some of these institutional actors and enhance students' understanding of the policymaking environment in the federal government.
The innovative coursework will involve a blend of traditional readings, asynchronous resources, and student work-product will include weekly reaction papers to the assignments and project briefs, a final presentation to the project sponsor, and a student-produced video documenting their progress and attainment of learning goals.
- Course Number: POLS 30371
- Instructor: John Soares
- Credit Hours: 3 (general elective)
- Maximum Enrollment: 12
- Campus: Main Grade
- Mode: Standard Letter
- Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors of all majors in all Colleges.
Apply
The application period for the National Security Innovation course is currently closed. The information provided is for reference purposes only for future applicants.
Submit a Google Slide Deck (5 slides maximum) and lighting talk video (3-minutes or less) to answer the question, "What is national security?" to enroll in this course and be entered to win a cash award. Download the Google Slides template for instructions.
Eligibility
This summer session course is open to all rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors of all majors in all colleges with a minimum 3.0 GPA and an interest in , policy, national security, technology, and/or entrepreneurship. No prior experience in national security policy or design thinking required.
Before applying to the National Security Innovation course, please confirm course times and availability, as participation includes a week-long trip to Washington D.C.
Need More Information?
For questions about the National Security Innovation course, get in touch with our team at the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Email OMVA about the National Security Innovation Program
Teaching Team
This course is taught and facilitated by a team that offers students a rich interdisciplinary learning experience.
- LtCol Regan Jones, Notre Dame Global
- John Soares, Department of History
- Amanda Leary, Moreau First Year Experience
- Patrick Gibbons, Mendoza College of Business
Previous Student Projects
The class is divided into teams, with each team responsible for addressing a problem put forth by a Department of Defense or Intelligence Community collaborator. Each team has a leader, and students work together to conduct interviews, produce and test solutions, and prepare a final presentation to be submitted to the class and challenge collaborator at the end of the term.
Explore innovative projects from previous student teams in the National Security Innovation course:
- National Security and Publicly Available Information Challenge Team
- The Future of the Defense Workforce Challenge Team
- Key Global Influencers and Measures of Effectiveness Challenge Team
Department of Defense
Military and government civilian leaders understand and appreciate the global missions of the Department of Defense and the most pressing challenges that threaten our national security. From inside the Pentagon, the challenge collaborators meet with student teams virtually for one-hour each week to frame the challenge and share resources that inform the team's activities. The teaching team facilitates these meetings to ensure they are productive conversations.
These collaborators also host the student teams inside the Pentagon for a full day of meetings with principal staff during their week-long trip outside the classroom in Washington D.C.