In August 2019 I began a new appointment at University of Texas San Antonio. I teach Academic Introduction and Strategies in the Social Science and Exploratory Pathways, and have recently designed a new Honors level course on the topic of the global community. These courses prepare new students for college and their careers while acquainting them with methods of inquiry and academic debates. I am also the Graduate Advisor of Record for University College, and provide courses for the new Graduate Certificate in National Security Studies.
I have also taught classes in international relations, comparative politics, and American politics. I previously taught International Security, American National Security, and Global Community at Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, I was a Teaching Mentor for the Teaching Assistant Orientation Program, a position in which I led small groups through teaching skills and feedback. I also taught International Security for the Open Society Foundation Summer School, a three week program that helps incoming Master’s students to acclimate to the American classroom environment. Prior to UTSA, I taught Ethics and International Relations, Comparative Civil-Military Relations, and American Intelligence Agencies at Gettysburg College, and International Security at Johns Hopkins University.
I prioritize applied knowledge and diverse perspectives in my classroom. Students in my courses participate in simulations of the U.S. national security political process, the transition to democracy from military rule, and more, as well as in debates, exercises in institutional design, and other activities that require the application of theoretical and empirical knowledge. My students will learn about a diverse range of theoretical perspectives, from established voices in the field to critical and more contemporary approaches.
Sample syllabi for my courses are available here:
Michael Newell 