Course Description:
In this course you will learn about debates in US foreign policy through engagement with foreign policy think tanks in Washington, DC. Over the course of the week, you will meet with representatives of different think tanks, hear about their work, and raise questions about specific issues or their overall approach to US foreign policy. You will also engage with broader questions about US foreign policy, such as whether think tanks truly provide a real debate over foreign policy and whether new foreign policy paradigms are needed for our current era.
Dates: May 31 – June 6, 2026
Course Number: POLS 2990, 2 credits
Program Fee: TBA
Included in the Program Fee:
- 6 hotel nights
- Museum & activity admission fees
- 24/7 emergency support
- Some meals
Americans have debated US foreign policy since the country was first founded. Should the United States be involved in affairs beyond our borders, or focus on local concerns? Should human rights and democracy trump short-term security? Is it better to work in concert with allies and international organizations, or take direct action and encourage others to follow? US foreign policy has traditionally been divided between liberal internationalists and realists—with Democrats supporting the former and Republicans the latter—but that distinction has become less clear in recent decades.
In addition to meetings with think tanks and social time in DC, the course will involve pre-course reading on US foreign policy, readings drawn from each of the think tanks we meet, and two essays engaging with some of the above questions.
Application Deadline: January 27, 2026
Itinerary Highlights
Think Tank Visits
Accompanied by Professor Henne, you will visit and conduct meetings with representatives of think tanks around Washington.
International Spy Museum
The International Spy Museum is an independent non-profit history museum which documents the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of the intelligence field and espionage.
Smithsonian National Gallery of Art & other museums
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world.
Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
The National Gallery of Art’s beloved concert series Jazz in the Garden is back on May 23, bringing live music, picnics, and sangria to the Sculpture Garden.
Cost Breakdown:
| UVM Tuition UVM Summer courses are charged by credit hour. | Vermont Residents: $950 Out-of-State Residents: $2,492 |
| Program Fee Includes accommodations, group ground transportation, activities, entrance fees, and some meals. The amount billed to you by SFS on your Spring bill reflects the program fee minus $450 (non-refundable deposit) which you will pay upon acceptance. | TBA |
| Total Billable Amounts (paid to UVM): | Tuition + TBA |
| Estimated Out of Pocket Expenses Meals not included in the program fee, supplies, ground transportation not included in the program fee. | TBA |
| Airfare Estimated from BTV to DC Reagan. If you will be departing from or landing at different airport, your costs may be different. Estimated with 1 carry-on bag. | TBA |
| Total paid Out of Pocket: | TBA |
Peter Henne
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
Professor Henne’s research and teaching focus on the Middle East and global religious politics. He looks specifically at how states use religion in their foreign policies, and how ties between religion and state affect politics. His book Islamic Politics, Muslim States and Counterterrorism Tensions, (Cambridge University Press, 2017), analyzes how Muslim states’ relationship with Islam affects their counterterrorism policies; the study includes a large-n statistical analysis as well as in-depth case studies of Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. His current book project looks at unpredictable effects of religion in power politics.
Professor Henne has a Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Vassar College. He was also a fellow at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. Prior to UVM, Professor Henne worked in Washington, DC with the Pew Research Center, the National Consortium for Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, and as a consultant with the US government.