Internships and Academic Seminars

Top Secret:
Challenges to National Security
in a Global Society
May 15–21, 2011
A special academic seminar
in Washington, D.C.
Early deadline – Guaranteed space
March 1, 2011
Final deadline
April 15, 2011
Apply online
www.twc.edu/topsecret

The Washington Center

for Internships and Academic Seminars
1333 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036–2205
www.twc.edu

Seminar Info: seminars@twc.edu
Internship Info: info@twc.edu
Telephone: 800-486-8921
Cover photo from Getty Images.
Fax: 202-238-7700

Visit our website at www.twc.edu/seminars to learn more about our programs.

Top Secret: Challenges to National Security in a Global Society May 15–21, 2011

With growing threats...

from terrorist groups, transnational networks, and rogue states, the United
States and allied countries must contend with a complicated set of direct
national security challenges—from weapons-of-mass-destruction terrorism
and proliferation to natural resource constraints. These threats have
emerged in, and are affected by, an environment of growing globalization,
technological innovation, and shifting geopolitical and economic power.
Such challenges have strained existing legal, political, and operational
norms in the United States and raised concerns about the shifting balance
between security, privacy, and civil liberties. These issues have presented
policymakers, courts, and the public with stark questions about what
measures can and should be taken to protect the nation.
Abroad, the new challenges stemming from terrorism and asymmetric
threats, dramatic demographic shifts, and the rise of new centers of power
have stressed existing alliances, forged new marriages of convenience, and
required reassessments of global power dynamics. In this context, the
United States finds itself addressing national security threats across the
globe as the sole superpower, with diminishing reach and leverage.

It’s Your Time Get the Answers

Explore the inner workings of the U.S. National Security
landscape with nationally recognized journalists, politicians,
political analysts, and scholars as your guides.
Expand your knowledge of American and international
politics through on-site visits to such places as Capitol Hill,
executive agencies, think tanks, trade associations, embassies,
and media organizations in Washington, D.C.
Engage and network with nationally and internationally
recognized public officials and business professionals to develop
your sense of civic engagement and enhance your leadership
skills and expertise.
• How should national security and American power be • How has modern weaponry and further advancements
viewed in light of a more globalized world, with the rise in robotics affected the future of war fighting and
of new powers and points of influence? policymaking?
• How should the U.S. address the rising power and • Should there be a recalibration of the balance between
influence of countries like China, Brazil, and India, security and individual rights in the face of potential
and the challenges presented by influential countries terrorism? If so, what protections need to be included?
like Russia?
• How should U.S. interests be defended or projected
• What role do international institutions and abroad? What tools does the U.S. government have at its
organizations play in this evolving global system? command and what others should it be developing?
• How should the U.S. and its allies address transnational • What role does the Internet play in national security?
threats presented by non-state actors? Should there be a rethinking of our reliance on the
Internet in an age of cyber vulnerabilities?
• How should the international community address the
problem of safe havens and under-governed parts of the • What role does the advent of social networking and Web
world? 2.0 technologies have on national security?
• What role should the U.S. government play in utilizing • What are the greatest challenges for the international
modern information technologies to influence private community? What role will resource constraints and
and public actors? competition have on national security?
Visit our website at www.twc.edu/seminars to learn more about our programs.

Seminar Information Faculty Director

• This seminar will explore: Partnership Rick Nelson
• The evolving international security environment; Director, Homeland Security
and Counterterrorism Program,
• The effects of increasing globalization, technological
Center for Strategic and International
advances, and demographic shifts; www.csis.org Studies
• The tradeoffs and tensions that have and will emerge The Washington Center is pleased to partner with the
as the United States and other countries grapple with Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for
immediate national security threats and long-term this seminar. CSIS is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization Rick “Ozzie” Nelson is Director of the Homeland
security challenges; that seeks to advance global security and prosperity by Security and Counterterrorism Program at the Center
providing strategic insights and practical policy solutions for Strategic and International Studies. He has authored
• The important role of non-state actors and networks in to decision-makers.
a global society. numerous reports and opinion pieces, including recent
studies on homegrown extremism in the U.S. and
Previous Speakers
Past TWC Seminar Participants international approaches to border security. Ongoing
Todd Hinnen “This seminar provided a once in a lifetime look at topics initiatives include a study on the future of al Qaeda and a
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Department of Justice paramount to the future of our world and nation. An experience series on U.S. national security strategy.
Michael E. Leiter you will remember for the rest of your life.”
Director, National Counter Terrorism Center A former Navy helicopter pilot, Nelson has over twenty
Timothy Pluta, Mesa Community College
Stuart A. Levey years of operational and intelligence experience. His
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence last military assignment was with the Joint Special
Tracy A. Reinhold “The sound bite from my experience would have to be from
Directorate of Intelligence, FBI Anthropologist Scott Atran: ‘The way to dismantle the power of Operations Command. He also served in Afghanistan.
Alec Ross your enemies is to make them your allies.’” He previously worked in the Directorate of Strategic
Senior Advisor on Innovation to Secretary Hillary Clinton Greg Jones, East Stroudsburg University Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism
David R. Shedd Center. Prior to that assignment, he served as associate
Deputy Director of National Intelligence “The program exposes you to many experts and viewpoints that director for maritime security in the Office of Combating
Peter Singer many never have access to.”
Director, 21st Century Defense Initiative, Brookings Institution Terrorism at the National Security Council, where he led
Kurt Young, Quinnipiac University the development of the National Strategy for Maritime
Kenneth L. Wainstein
Former Homeland Security Advisor to President Bush Security.
“The Washington Center is a great way to start finding where one
wants to end up working in life. Its classes and speakers are truly Nelson holds a B.A. in political science from the George
Past Site Visits inspiring and informational. Thanks to TWC I now know that I Washington University, an M.A. in national security
National Counter Terrorism Center want to go into the government sector of media, civil rights or cyber
studies from Georgetown University, and is a graduate
Federal Bureau of Investigation security.”
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
of the Naval War College. He currently is an adjunct
Ivana Gentile, Dominican University
lecturer at Georgetown University.
Seminar Details
Seminar Overview
The seminar format consists of major speakers who address
the entire group. Faculty leaders oversee small group
discussions and site visits to governmental organizations,
think tanks, embassies, etc. Program activities also include a
bus tour of Washington, D.C. a special evening event, such
as a dinner or reception, and other special activities.
Who should attend?
This seminar is designed for college students, recent
graduates, and faculty interested in the topic and related
fields of national security from either a liberal arts or
scientific perspective. Students in honors and leadership
programs and those majoring in related fields, including
those interested in areas such as civil liberties, social justice,
and ethics will find the topics and activities of the program
of great interest.
Special invitation to Science, Engineering,
Technology and Math majors (STEM)
With issues such as counterterrorism, cybercrime, nuclear
proliferation, weapons of mass destruction, chemical and
biological warfare, and the like at the forefront of today’s
headlines, there is a need to educate those aspiring to a career
in the STEM fields about the role these areas have in national
security. It is the intention of the seminar to explore the role of
government decision making and its policy implications that
require expertise in these fields. We will also look at the career
opportunities that exist in the field of national security and
related areas.
Apply today at www.twc.edu/topsecret
Eligibility and Credit Faculty Leaders
Faculty leaders, all of whom have a master’s or Ph.D. degree,
College students in good standing at their home institution,
are chosen for their exceptional teaching skills and are
recent graduates and faculty are eligible to apply for the
assigned to work with up to approximately fifteen students
program. For undergraduates, a Washington Center campus
for the duration of the program. They direct the small-group
liaison or a faculty sponsor who agrees to receive a student’s
discussions and serve as advisers for the seminar participants.
seminar evaluation must approve the application. Students are
They are responsible for providing a recommended grade
not required to receive credit, but the program is structured
for each student. Both students and faculty benefit from the
in a way that requires all students to fully participate and
to complete all assignments, regardless of their credit
mentorship relationship that develops during the seminar
experience. Faculty members who elect to serve as faculty
arrangements. Participants must be at least 18 years of age to
leaders for their student group (at least ten students required)
live in Washington Center housing.
also receive a stipend. For additional information, please
contact us at seminars@twc.edu.
Academic Standards and Faculty
In January 2010, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Top Secret: Challenges to National Security in a Global Society
Staff, spoke to Washington Center seminar students in a session covered
is designed to give students the opportunity to gain and
live by C-SPAN. (www.c-span.org)
apply their academic knowledge in a participatory learning
setting. The seminar is taught as a course, equivalent to one
to two credits for a one week seminar. Some institutions may
require additional work from students to reach a three credit
course level. Faculty leaders complete a written evaluation
and recommend a grade that is sent to each student’s
home institution. Evaluation is based upon attendance,
participation in large and small group sessions, completion of
assigned readings, quality of written assignments (structured
journal and essay), and demonstrated effort to achieve
established academic and professional learning objectives
commensurate with each student’s level. Actual credit and
grades are awarded by a student’s home institution through
each campus liaison or faculty instructor. The Washington
Center does not grant academic credit. Academic credit is not
required for participation.
Early deadline – Guaranteed space
March 1, 2011
Final deadline
April 15, 2011
Seminar Costs and Dates
How to Apply
To apply, please visit: www.twc.edu/topsecret and click
on the application link. Once you have created an account
and completed the general information, you must select or
fill in the name of a campus liaison or faculty sponsor who
must approve your application, if you are an undergraduate.
Upon approval, your application will be reviewed by The
Washington Center. If accepted, you will receive an invoice.
Full payment is required by April 29, 2011.
Faculty Fellows
College faculty are eligible to apply for the seminar as
faculty fellows. Participants pay for the program and fully
participate in program activities. Faculty members who
accompany ten or more students from their home institution
may either serve as a faculty leader or may participate in the
program, free-of-charge.
Housing
The price of the seminar includes housing in a shared, We incorporate these principles in pursuit of academic
professional-style apartment. There is no reduction in fees
for students not living in Washington Center housing.
Deposit
Students who are not coming as part of an organized group
with a faculty member are responsible for paying a $300 deposit
within ten business days of acceptance into the program. This
deposit will be applied toward the final invoice.
Refund policy: Based on confirmed written communication,
students may withdraw by the application deadline of April 15
with no penalty. There is no refund after April 15, 2011.
Deadlines Dates Cost* Future Seminars
January 2011
Early Deadline May 15–21, 2011 $1,755 Camp David III:
(space guaranteed) Check in May 15 Housing Negotiating the Road to Israeli–Palestinian Peace
March 1, 2011 Program Starts May 16 included An examination and simulation of the Middle East
Program Ends May 20 peace process.
Regular Deadline Check out by noon on
April 15, 2011 May 21 Inside Washington 2011
The New Congress and Politics and the Media
*Program fee does not include food, travel or personal expenses
Coming in 2012
Pricing Incentives* Campaign 2012: The Presidential Campaign Seminar Series
• Students in honors programs or colleges that
For more information, see www.twc.edu/seminars
belong to the National Collegiate Honors Council
(www.nchchonors.org) or are members of an honor
The Washington Center Legacy
society that is a member of the Association of College
Honor Societies (www.achsnatl.org) deduct $150 from At The Washington Center for Internships and Academic
Seminars, we have distinguished our experiential
cost of program.
education programs by instilling in our participants the
• Washington Center undergraduate alumni deduct $150 three pillars on which our institution was founded—civic
from the cost of the seminar. Post-graduate alumni engagement, professional development, and leadership.
receive a 50% scholarship, which is applicable for all May
excellence and thoughtful civic discourse to help prepare
2011 graduates. our society’s next generation of leaders, through full-
• For every ten students coming as a group from one time academic internships we offer in Washington, D.C.,
London, and Sydney and through one-and two-week
institution, the institution receives one full scholorship
academic seminars that discuss important issues of the
to be allocated according to the discretion of the day. (Visit our website at http://www.twc.edu to learn
campus sponsor. (Possibly $175 per student for one
more about our programs.)
week program.)
• Faculty Fellows deduct $150 from cost of program. The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We actively promote
*Awards are not cumulative; only the highest award is applied; for equal access to all our programs regardless of race, gender, religion,
those not accompanying a group from one institution, a $300 deposit national origin, sexual-orientation, age, physical challenge, or
within ten business days of acceptance is required in order to be veteran status. All Washington Center programs attempt to include
eligible for these incentives. a rich diversity of students in order to enhance the educational
experience of all participants.
The Washington Center Seminar Info: seminars@twc.edu
for Internships and Academic Seminars Internship Info: info@twc.edu
1333 16th Street, NW Telephone: 800-486-8921
Washington, D.C. 20036–2205 Fax: 202-238-7700
www.twc.edu