PUBPOL-877

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

Offered Fall 2026
PPS · Taught by Jentleson, Bruce · Last offered Fall 2025
Term
Instructor

Overview

Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that students generally rate the course well. Difficulty runs on the high side even without a single dominant complaint theme. Best for students who can handle a demanding pace without needing constant hand-holding.

DepartmentPPS
Terms offeredFall
Typical enrollment18–19
Semesters of data3
5.8
Hrs / week
30
Responses
55
Enrollment
55%
Response Rate

Evaluation Scores

Overall quality
Teaching, content, and experience combined.
4.5
12345
Intellectually stimulating
Challenges students to think deeply.
4.5
12345
Instructor effectiveness
Explains concepts and facilitates learning.
4.6
12345
Difficulty
Higher means harder.
4.2
12345

Feedback Analysis

Feedback Analysishigh
Analysis based on student evaluations
Based on 82 comments across 3 sections

Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that students generally rate the course well. Difficulty runs on the high side even without a single dominant complaint theme. Best for students who can handle a demanding pace without needing constant hand-holding.

Student Reports
How hard is the A?
Hard to get an A
Students repeatedly frame high grades as something you have to earn. This reads as hard to ace rather than casually easy, especially once the course pace or grading standards ramp up.
Homework Load
Heavy homework load
Homework load is one of the clearest friction points. Students repeatedly describe assignments, readings, or problem sets as time-consuming.
Lecture Load
Regular lecture load
Lectures matter here, but the evidence points to a fairly standard lecture burden rather than a course dominated by long or exceptionally dense lectures.
Strengths
Instructor ratings are strong even when the comments do not cluster around one obvious positive theme.
Tradeoffs
Difficulty runs high even when comments do not settle on one dominant complaint.
Best fit for
Best for students who can handle a demanding pace without needing constant hand-holding.

Student Responses

In this course, I developed several important knowledge areas and skills: 1. **Deep Understanding of Strategic Complexities in National Security:** The professor’s extensive knowledge helped me grasp the intricate strategies involved within the national security spectrum. His ability to clearly articulate the “why” behind concepts strengthened my fundamental understanding of complex budgeting and strategic processes. 2. **Critical Evaluation of Instructional Methods:** Through experiencing the course structure, I gained insight into the importance of effective organization and teaching methods. Observing the challenges with student-led presentations and inconsistent course materials highlighted the need for stronger instructor guidance and better alignment between coursework and instruction. 3. **Appreciation for Structured Learning and Expert Input:** I recognized the value that guest speakers and focused instructor-led sessions bring to a complex subject like this. Incorporating more expert insights would enhance learning by providing diverse perspectives and deeper engagement with the material.
Fall 2025 · Jentleson, Bruce
I have a much better understanding of the cost-benefit analysis that goes into Grand Strategy.
Fall 2025 · Jentleson, Bruce
Different national strategies used around the world, how to implement strategy yet keeps things simple, methodology behind policy and strategy
Fall 2025 · Jentleson, Bruce
This class could benefit from a section on leadership and cognition.
Fall 2025 · Jentleson, Bruce
- The Israeli-Palestinian War will very likely get worse before better. - How you diversify your sources and work backwards from a rebuttal mindset of original thought/biases helps mitigate active writing strains. - Presidential Administration NSS fluctuation changes priorities, but alliances and posture for geopolitical military influence continue to be bipartisan in many capacities.
Fall 2025 · Jentleson, Bruce

Rating History

Rating history
Error bars show \u00B11 std dev
TermInstructorOverallDifficultyHrs/wkEnrolled
Fall 2025Jentleson, Bruce4.24.05.118
Fall 2024Jentleson, Bruce4.74.46.119
Fall 2023Hart, Mark4.84.36.318

Instructor

Jentleson, BrucePPS
Also teaches
PUBPOL-506 POLITICS OF US FOREIGN POLICY4.3