Course builds students' skills in "the art of getting things done". Students will establish the critical leadership & team-building competencies that distinguish highly effective leaders. We will introduce frameworks that will enhance student's: resilience; team leadership skills; capacity for thriving in times of adversity; emotional intelligence; interpersonal skills (including conflict resolution & negotiation skills) & decision making.

The adjustment from HS to college is filled with turbulent transitions and with opportunities for discovery, growth, and development of critical life skills. Course focuses on development of broad skills to create fulfilling lives and successful careers after college, especially in 4 areas: (1) development of emotional resilience skills, (2) development of life management skills, (3) intro to leadership concepts, and (4) establishment of small communities of students.

This course examines the problems and issues confronting American national security policymakers and the factors that influence the policies that emerge. Types of questions we will address include: What threatens those interests? How should the U.S. defend those interests? What kind of military should we build? Should the U.S. enter alliances with other countries? The course is organized along an historical time line.

NGOs play a growing role in shaping U.S. public policies. Skepticism of federal policymaking has opened opportunities for policy entrepreneurs to challenge well-funded private sector lobbies in shaping the agenda. This seminar will examine tactical options and key case studies to equip future NGO activists. We'll look at best practices from both national and local NGO campaigns, think tanks and grass roots organizations competing to make policy

Students put into practice leadership skills & competencies through experiential learning preparing them for a lifetime of civic engagement as policy makers & citizens. Course emphasizes opportunities to use learned frameworks to evaluate real-world applications & will help students identify opportunities to engage in public life regardless of their chosen profession. Course serves as a bridge between the Batten education & life after graduation.

Explore US mental health policy & analyze effectiveness of policies to address behavioral health needs. Examine how US Fed govt perceives mental illness, impact of science on policy initiatives & why US remains in state of crisis. Topics include: COVID, Social Determinants of Health, institutionalization vs community based svcs, impact of adverse childhood experiences, PTSD & military, brain science, financing mental health svcs & opioid crisis.

This course will provide a solid foundation of insights into how Congress works, essential for aspiring public policy advocates. Topics investigated include historical precedents for policymaking, the process of Congressional decision-making, and power dynamics in Congress. We will also identify and develop the leadership skills and tactics of successful advocates, placing recent controversies and public policy issues in an historical context.

How can we understand patterns of human development around the world? More specifically, how does politics affect health, prosperity and security? Through this course, you will become a critical consumer of explanations for human development and you will learn how to propose and evaluate development initiatives with a keen understanding of the importance of political factors.

In this course students will learn how to create change in the public policy arena by understanding political actors, their interests, and the institutions they inhabit. Students will learn how issues move through the policy process, at which points they are most amenable to influence, and how to create and use professional work products to influence them.

"This course offers an exploration into the evolution of constitutional rights, liberties, and justice from 1953 to the present day, focusing on the tenures of Chief Justices Warren, Burger, Rehnquist, and Roberts. Emphasis is placed on landmark Supreme Court cases and the distinct personalities and leadership styles of the aforementioned Chief Justices. Students will examine the means by which the Constitution can be ""changed,"" such as through interpretation, convention, or societal shifts. By the end of the course, students should be able to critically engage with constitutional debates, understand the evolving nature of rights and liberties in the U.S., and appreciate the significance and power of the Supreme Court in shaping American society."