Course on Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts
Online course of 300 h in Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts. 6 modules covering Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Zotero. Dedicated tutor and enrolment open.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the fundamentals of nuclear deterrence theory.
Analyse the main nuclear crises of the Cold War.
Examine historic false alarms and accidents and their causes.
Assess the role of proliferation in regional conflicts.
Compare the main arms control treaties.
Draw lessons for crisis prevention and strategic stability.
Produce a rigorous historical analysis based on primary sources.
Who it's for
- Non-proliferation analyst looking to specialise in Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts.
- Nuclear history researcher looking to specialise in Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts.
- Arms control adviser looking to specialise in Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts.
- International security policy analyst looking to specialise in Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts.
- Historical archives documentalist looking to specialise in Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts.
- Crisis management consultant looking to specialise in Case Studies in Historical Nuclear Conflicts.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into international organisations.
What you'll work with
- Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
- Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
- Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM, 1972)
- INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, 1987)
- New START Treaty (2010)
- Treaty of Tlatelolco (nuclear-weapon-free zone)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1The Manhattan Project and the 1945 decision1.2Hiroshima and Nagasaki: documented effects1.3US monopoly and the first Soviet test1.4Minimum deterrence versus extended deterrence1.5Mutually assured destruction and strategic stability1.6Game theory applied to deterrence1.7Key works by Brodie, Schelling and Kahn1.8The nuclear triad and second-strike capability1.9Primary sources and declassified archives1.10Workshop: analysing a declassified document from 1945
2.1The Berlin Blockade and the doctrine of massive retaliation2.2The Korean War and the debate on nuclear use2.3The 1954-1958 Taiwan Strait crisis2.4The Cuban Missile Crisis: timeline2.5The ExComm and decision-making2.6Submarine B-59 and the risk of escalation2.7The hotline and communication channels2.8The 1969 Sino-Soviet Ussuri conflict2.9The Yom Kippur War and the DEFCON 3 alert2.10Case study: reconstructing the thirteen days of the Cuban crisis
3.1The 1979 NORAD test-tape incident3.2Petrov's 1983 Soviet false alarm3.3Exercise Able Archer 83 and Soviet perception3.4The 1995 Norwegian rocket and the nuclear briefcase3.5The 1966 Palomares accident3.6The 1968 Thule accident3.7The 1961 Goldsboro incident3.8Lessons on command and control3.9Perrow's normal accident theory3.10Case study: causal analysis of the 1983 incident
4.1The nuclear programmes of India and Pakistan4.2The 1999 Kargil crisis4.3The 2001-2002 India-Pakistan crisis4.4The South African programme and its dismantling4.5The Osirak strike and the Begin doctrine4.6The North Korean programme and the 1994 Agreed Framework4.7The Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)4.8The A. Q. Khan network and illicit trade4.9Nuclear risk in the war in Ukraine4.10Case study: escalation at Kargil and crisis management
5.1The 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)5.2The Partial Test Ban Treaty5.3SALT I, SALT II and the ABM Treaty5.4The INF Treaty and the 2019 withdrawal5.5START, SORT and New START5.6The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons5.7Verification and confidence-building measures5.8Nuclear-weapon-free zones5.9Ethics and international humanitarian law5.10Workshop: treaty negotiation simulation
6.1Selecting the case study6.2Research question and hypotheses6.3Review of primary and secondary sources6.4Detailed timeline of the crisis6.5Analysis of actors and perceptions6.6Escalation and de-escalation factors6.7Counterfactuals and risk assessment6.8Lessons for managing current crises6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake period, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The software used is Zotero, NVivo, Gephi, Excel avanzado, in free, academic or trial versions. Testing is studied through real procedures from analysis of declassified documentary sources, comparative case studies, historical debate seminars. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus a final capstone project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the fundamentals of nuclear deterrence theory.
Analyse the main nuclear crises of the Cold War.
Examine historic false alarms and accidents and their causes.
Assess the role of proliferation in regional conflicts.
Compare the main arms control treaties.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- A level of English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with Zotero, NVivo, Gephi, advanced Excel. Free, academic or trial versions are used, and your tutor will point out a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the capstone project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state-accredited degree.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.
Related programmes
Uranium Enrichment Course: Techniques and Regulations
Online 300-hour course in uranium enrichment: techniques and regulations. 6 modules covering the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), IAEA INFCIRC/153 (comprehensive safeguards agreements)…
Course in Non-Nuclear Radiation Accident Cases
Online 300-hour course in non-nuclear radiation accident cases. 6 modules covering IAEA GSR Part 3 (radiation protection and safety of radiation sources), the IAEA Code of…
Course in Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Materials
300-hour online course in destructive and non-destructive testing of materials. 6 modules covering ISO 6892-1 (tensile testing at room temperature), ISO 148-1 (Charpy impact test) and…
More in Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies
All Nuclear Engineering & Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships