{"id":2277,"date":"2025-06-12T17:38:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T17:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/?page_id=2277"},"modified":"2026-04-14T16:03:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T16:03:45","slug":"debates-in-u-s-foreign-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/?page_id=2277","title":{"rendered":"Travel Course: Debates in U.S. Foreign Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Course Description:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-large-font-size wp-container-content-69bc4bdf\"><strong>Dates<\/strong>: May 31 &#8211; June 6, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-large-font-size\"><strong>Course Number<\/strong>: POLS 2990, 2 credits<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-large-font-size\"><strong>Program Fee:<\/strong> $2,545<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Included in the Program Fee:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>6 hotel nights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Museum &amp; activity admission fees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>24\/7 emergency support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some meals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2014with Democrats supporting the former and Republicans the latter\u2014but that distinction has become less clear in recent decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-uvmgreen-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-6c6b7575a2e7bbbeaae636580ef7a806\"><strong>Application Deadline: January 27, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/qualtrics.uvm.edu\/jfe\/form\/SV_6J8ysCGlCfiQkXY\" style=\"border-radius:16px\">Apply now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100 is-style-outline is-style-outline--2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" style=\"border-radius:16px\">Syllabus (coming soon!)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Itinerary Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/The_Brookings_Institution_53822779298-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2284 size-full\" style=\"object-position:50% 50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/The_Brookings_Institution_53822779298-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/The_Brookings_Institution_53822779298-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/The_Brookings_Institution_53822779298-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/The_Brookings_Institution_53822779298-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/The_Brookings_Institution_53822779298-1568x882.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Think Tank Visits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Accompanied by Professor Henne, you will visit and conduct meetings with representatives of think tanks around Washington. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">International Spy Museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1335\" src=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/spy2019-kittner-building-0001.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2283 size-full\" style=\"object-position:50% 50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/spy2019-kittner-building-0001.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/spy2019-kittner-building-0001-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/spy2019-kittner-building-0001-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/spy2019-kittner-building-0001-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/spy2019-kittner-building-0001-1568x1047.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2136\" height=\"1419\" src=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/photo-of-smithsonian-american-art-and-portraiture-museum-interior-courtyard-09-copyright-havecamerawilltravel-com.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2282 size-full\" style=\"object-position:50% 50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/photo-of-smithsonian-american-art-and-portraiture-museum-interior-courtyard-09-copyright-havecamerawilltravel-com.jpg 2136w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/photo-of-smithsonian-american-art-and-portraiture-museum-interior-courtyard-09-copyright-havecamerawilltravel-com-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/photo-of-smithsonian-american-art-and-portraiture-museum-interior-courtyard-09-copyright-havecamerawilltravel-com-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/photo-of-smithsonian-american-art-and-portraiture-museum-interior-courtyard-09-copyright-havecamerawilltravel-com-2048x1361.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/photo-of-smithsonian-american-art-and-portraiture-museum-interior-courtyard-09-copyright-havecamerawilltravel-com-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/photo-of-smithsonian-american-art-and-portraiture-museum-interior-courtyard-09-copyright-havecamerawilltravel-com-1568x1042.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2136px) 100vw, 2136px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smithsonian American Art Museum &amp; other museums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The Smithsonian<\/em>&nbsp;<em>American&nbsp;Art Museum<\/em>&nbsp;is home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American&nbsp;art&nbsp;in the world. You&#8217;ll also have time to explore the Smithsonian&#8217;s other museums. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill-element\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jazz in the Sculpture Garden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Gallery of Art&#8217;s beloved concert series&nbsp;<em>Jazz&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Garden<\/em>&nbsp;brings live music, picnics, and sangria to the Sculpture&nbsp;Garden.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"1875\" src=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/JazzInTheGardenDC.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2281 size-full\" style=\"object-position:50% 50%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/JazzInTheGardenDC.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/JazzInTheGardenDC-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/JazzInTheGardenDC-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/JazzInTheGardenDC-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/JazzInTheGardenDC-1568x1176.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cost Breakdown: <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>UVM Tuition<br><\/strong><em>UVM Summer courses are charged by credit hour.<\/em><\/td><td><strong>Vermont Residents<\/strong>: $950 for 2 credits<br><strong>Out-of-State Residents<\/strong>: $2,492 for 2 credits<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>Program Fee<br><\/strong><em>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.<\/em><\/td><td>$2,545<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><tfoot><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">Total Billable Amounts (paid to UVM):<\/td><td>Tuition + $2,545<\/td><\/tr><\/tfoot><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>Estimated Out of Pocket Expenses<br><\/strong><em>Meals not included in the program fee, supplies, ground transportation not included in the program fee<\/em>.<\/td><td>$211<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\"><strong>Airfare<\/strong><br><em>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. <\/em><\/td><td>$300<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><tfoot><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-right\" data-align=\"right\">Total Estimated Out of Pocket Costs:<\/td><td>$511<\/td><\/tr><\/tfoot><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:20% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"717\" height=\"717\" src=\"http:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/Peter-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2279 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/Peter-5.jpg 717w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/Peter-5-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Peter Henne,  Associate Professor, Department of Political Science<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Professor Henne&#8217;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\u00a0<em>Islamic Politics, Muslim States and Counterterrorism Tensions<\/em>, (Cambridge University Press, 2017), analyzes how Muslim states&#8217; 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.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uvm.edu\/cas\/polisci\/profile\/peter-s-henne\">Learn more &gt;&gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignfull is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-bottom is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-primary-uvmgreen-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-7b63b0329ce05c1586cbaf7ac554cf68\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700;line-height:0.2\">Still have questions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:500;line-height:1.5\">Email <a href=\"mailto:cas.discovery@uvm.edu\">cas.discovery@uvm.edu<\/a> &#8212; our team would be happy to assist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-50 has-custom-font-size is-style-outline has-regular-font-size is-style-outline--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/\" style=\"border-radius:100px\">CAS Experiential Learning Home Page<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"423\" src=\"http:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2024\/06\/UVM_CAS_Stacked-G.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-763\" style=\"width:auto;height:80px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2024\/06\/UVM_CAS_Stacked-G.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2024\/06\/UVM_CAS_Stacked-G-768x301.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:75px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/?page_id=2277\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Travel Course: Debates in U.S. Foreign Policy&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7574,"featured_media":2278,"parent":2026,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2277","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","entry"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/US-Hauptstadt-Vier-Gruende-fuer-eine-Reise-nach-Washington-D-C-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/files\/2025\/06\/US-Hauptstadt-Vier-Gruende-fuer-eine-Reise-nach-Washington-D-C-600x573.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7574"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2277"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3240,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2277\/revisions\/3240"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2026"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.uvm.edu\/cas-experiential-learning\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}