Politics & Pie: A Tasty Way to Explore CMIST Courses
By Jess Regan
Twice a year, the faculty and staff of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) invite students from around campus to enjoy an event we call Politics & Pie. Quite simply, it is an informal opportunity to speak to CMIST professors and advisors about the upcoming course offerings while enjoying delicious pie. It is also an occasion for students to talk to others in the program who have already attended the courses or have similar interests.
During the event, we were able to showcase several new courses we are rolling out for the fall 2024 semester. This fall, we are excited to introduce six new courses.
With the arrival of international security and technology specialist Nadiya Kostyuk as an assistant professor this fall, we are adding a course on cyber conflict which will complement our new Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Security, and Technology curriculum. Kostyuk’s Click. Hack. Rule: Understanding the Power & the Peril of Cyber Conflict dives into the three distinct layers of the Internet: the cyber-physical layer, the software layer, and the application layer. Students will explore the role of cyber capabilities in international warfare, espionage, coercion, and diplomacy, as well as their application to domestic objectives, such as surveillance and repression.
Assistant Professor Joshua Schwartz, who joined the CMIST faculty this past fall, will be teaching two new courses. The first, An Introduction to Technology and War, will explore the history of military technology and its impact on warfare and international politics. Each week students will examine a different military innovation, using those same innovations to analyze major political science theories or debates.
His second course, Popcorn and Politics: American Foreign Policy at the Movies, unpacks how movies can influence our world beliefs, as well as our understanding of politics and history. Students will leave this course with a greater understanding of foreign policy decision-making, the causes of war, and the role of morality in international politics.
Also introducing two new courses is Jonathan Cervas, who will be taking on a new role as assistant teaching professor in the fall. With the 2024 election approaching, Cervas's fall courses will bolster students' critical thinking skills, helping them analyze key political issues that will shape the future of the United States. In Democracy’s Data: Analytics and Insights into American Elections, students will have the opportunity to use both historical and contemporary data sets to engage in data collection, statistical analysis, and interpretation in order to better understand voter behavior, political strategies, and the impact on elections.
Cervas’s course, American Political Divides and Great Debates, delves into the complexities of political division in the U.S. and explores dynamic topics such as the 2nd Amendment, immigration, and abortion rights. In addition to critical readings, students will participate in live debates and in-depth discussions encouraging them to view arguments from various perspectives and argue stances they may otherwise disagree with.
Focusing on a national and global perspective, Assistant Professor Daniel Silverman’s new course The Politics of Antisemitism will explore the long-standing prejudice of antisemitism in the context of contemporary international politics. Students will tackle the question of how to define antisemitism and identify current trends in, as well as the political consequences of, prejudicial attitudes and behaviors. Grounded in empirical research from both political and social science literature, this course takes a much-needed critical look at antisemitism.
Politics & Pie provided the perfect opportunity to explore new CMIST courses as well as favorites returning in the fall. If you were not able to attend this semester’s event, you can still learn more about the courses through our faculty videos and descriptions on our website. To schedule a one-on-one appointment to review our fall courses, undergraduate students may reach out to CMIST Deputy Director of Academic Affairs Emily Half and graduate students should contact Graduate Program Manager Mark Gardner.
(Image 1, left: CMU students enjoy pie; right: Jacquelyn Hopkins; Image 2, left: Prof. Forrest Morgan talks with students; Image 3, students speak with Profs. Jonathan Cervas and Nicole Kliewer; Image 4, left: students chat with Prof. Ignacio Arana; right: Prof. Dan Silverman is teaching a new course, The Politics of Antisemitism, this fall; Image 5: students talk with Deputy Director for Academic Affairs Emily Half; Image 6: from left to right: Profs. Josh Schwartz, Dan Silverman, Ignacio Arana, Nicole Kliewer, John Chin, and Jonathan Cervas)