If you major in Politics & Public Affairs (PPA) and want to understand how to tackle big, realworld challenges, you can participate in the Grand Strategy Program. Grand Strategy looks at how nations combine everything from diplomacy and economics to technology and global cooperation to solve problems and shape the future. At Denison, the Grand Strategy Program connects big picture thinking with hands-on experiences.

In the Grand Strategy Program, you’ll study world events past and present, travel with faculty during off campus programs, explore study-abroad options, and take part in internships customized to your interests. Along the way, you’ll work with classmates who bring diverse perspectives to the table, helping you build the kind of teamwork and analytical skills that employers value across all fields.

The Grand Strategy Program includes four components beyond the PPA major, consisting of:

  • Two courses beyond the requirements for the PPA major: Foundations of Grand Strategy/PPA 351 and Applied Grand Strategy/PPA 352
  • An off-campus Immersive Grand Strategy experience, such as the Denison DC Grand Strategy Experience 
  • An off-campus internship that advances/enhances is related to your PPA major concentration and feeds into the study of Grand Strategy

This program is only available for students completing the PPA major, though components of the program may be open to students outside the major.

Whether you’re imagining a career in government, law, nonprofits, business, journalism, or something entirely different, the Grand Strategy Program strengthens your ability to think broadly, analyze deeply, and tackle complex problems with confidence. It’s designed to prepare you not just for your first job — but for leadership in a complex and rapidly changing world.

“We must be prepared, taught, inspired, and mentored to see, to foresee, and hear and heed, the ‘warning shots’ that will herald not only the future challenges to the nation, but most importantly, those opportunities that come hand-in-hand with the challenges. Our study of Grand Strategy helps to build and grow within us that kind of confident foresight of thought for future action.”

Scott Smitson, Professor of Practice of Grand Strategy