Nuclear weapons are reshaping global politics. Learn the science, treaties, and technologies that keep—or break—the peace.

Nuclear weapons are back at the center of global politics. Arms control treaties are expiring without replacement, AI is changing how states monitor each other, and the wars of today carry nuclear undercurrents that weren't present a generation ago.

This course gives you the technical and policy tools to understand and engage with that landscape. You'll learn the physics behind nuclear weapons, fuel cycles, and delivery systems; analyze the major arms control treaties and what it actually takes to verify them; and evaluate how emerging technologies like machine learning are reshaping both the opportunities and risks in nuclear monitoring.

The course is built around real cases, tabletop exercises, and the challenge of communicating technical findings to decision-makers who don't necessarily share your background. No prior policy experience is required, but you will leave able to bridge both worlds.

Open to graduate and advanced undergraduate students across engineering, science, and policy programs.

Course meets M/W 11:00-12:15 in Coolbaugh Hall 210