Courses & Seminars
Consistent with the methodology of the established DoD RCs, the TSC School for Arctic Security Studies has a number of Arctic-Security focused seminars (ranging from approximately 4 to 60 hours of classroom instruction (and leveraging virtual and in-person methodologies). Seminar and course offerings will be programmed and conducted from an overall wide variety of topics such as the following:
Arctic Regional Security Orientation Course (ARSOC):
ARSOC is a five-day, 35-hour, virtually presented (at the present time) executive education course designed as an Arctic fundamental program for U.S. and Allied & Partner nation’s mid- to senior-career security practitioners. The course supports and creates communities of interest to provide opportunities for personnel to achieve a basic understanding of the current challenging Arctic security dilemmas and shape internal U.S. and international thinking. The course provides opportunities for participants to gain insight to inform for Arctic security analysis, survey practical solutions, and advance relationship building that supports the rules-based order in the Arctic.
Register for ARSOC
Arctic Multi-Domain Legal Course (AMLC):
AMLC is a three-day, 21-hour course that examines the most relevant Arctic legal frameworks, instruments, and concepts in the sea, air, space, and cyber domains. It situates the discussion in the context of current challenges, including Russian legal updates concerning the Northern Sea Route and continental shelf claims; search and rescue operations in the Arctic; marine pollution response; Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloons; intercepting aircraft; using space to control and secure operations in the Arctic; and cyberattacks.
The Arctic is undergoing tremendous transformation. Whether driven by dynamic operational environments and other aspects of geophysical change, global economic competition, or geopolitics, the current and emerging challenges require Arctic practitioners and security professionals to understand the legal mechanisms governing this region to adequately prepare for and meet these challenges.
Register for AMLC
Arctic Crisis Logistics Course (ACLC):
ACLC is a three-day, 21-hour course virtually presented (at the present time) executive education course examining the challenges in Arctic crisis logistics. The Arctic is experiencing rapid changes to the landscape and surrounding environment, threatening the delicate balance of geopolitics required to maintain Arctic security.
Within this course, learners will explore the impacts of harsh Arctic environmental conditions on infrastructure, seasonal changes, transportation, and technology integration in planning and investigate their effect(s) on the political balance.
Register for ACLC
Forthcoming Classes
Arctic Operational Environment Security Dilemma (ACSD):
ACSD is oriented as a General/Flag officer and Senior Executive Service level compressed and interactive small group/desk-side tabletop course for 3-6 hours. The TSC “Arctic and Regional Operational Environment Security Dilemma” addresses the strategic implications of Arctic and regionally associated operational environment security challenges via an interactive tabletop developmental experience, scoped for a small interactive group or as a desk-side course, designed for the senior leader with limited opportunities and time to engage on the Arctic.
This course is oriented to support awareness and understanding of Arctic security challenges that are operational environment-oriented or occur because of intentional or unintentional actions by U.S. strategic competitors–the PRC and the Russian Federation–and other non-U.S. aligned states or sub-state organizations.
Arctic Domain Awareness for the Security Practitioner Course (ADASPC):
ADASPC is a three-day, 21-hour, in-person course that provides advance practical knowledge of Arctic Domain Awareness for defense and security practitioners. Participants will be provided with advances in government and industry science and technology at a practical/user level to increase the literacy of domain awareness terminology for the Arctic Region.
Arctic Operational Risk Course (AORC):
This five-day, 35-contact hour executive education course examines the complex operational risks inherent in Arctic security activities across all domains. It focuses on how practitioners can assess, mitigate, and manage risks unique to the Arctic’s challenging environment, characterized by extreme weather conditions, limited infrastructure, and constrained transportation networks. The curriculum incorporates local and place-based knowledge to enhance risk assessment and decision-making capabilities.
Arctic Infrastructure, Technology, and Energy Course (AITEC):
AITEC is a three-day, 21-hour course that examines the strategic, environmental, and economic dimensions of Arctic development, focusing on energy resources, shipping routes, and the geopolitical landscape. It aims to equip participants with a nuanced understanding of Arctic energy dynamics, including the challenges of extreme conditions, the strategic importance of the region, and the role of international cooperation. Through a blend of theoretical analysis and practical case studies, learners will explore sustainable solutions, infrastructure projects, and the balance between military readiness and environmental stewardship.
Understanding the Arctic Operating Environment Course (UAOEC):
UAOEC is a three-day, 21-hour executive education course specifically oriented to support Arctic security and defense practitioners in better understanding the aspects of the dynamic operational environment in and across the Arctic region. This course examines the physical and geopolitical ramifications across the Arctic region. It also describes the impact of the operational environment on Arctic resources and its effects on the political balance in the Arctic.
Arctic Fundamentals Course (AFC):
AFC provides an asynchronous curriculum examining the operational environment of the Arctic region to enhance force readiness and strategic awareness. Through three mission-focused modules, participants develop capabilities essential for Arctic operations. Module 1: Arctic Geophysical Environment establishes Arctic geography’s tactical and operational constraints. Module 2: Arctic Nations and Regional Stakeholders analyzes key regional actors and their strategic interests, including local populations with generational experience in Arctic environments. Module 3: Security and Operations addresses warfighting challenges specific to the Arctic domain, emphasizing the unique capabilities and knowledge required for successfully operating in extreme conditions.
NATO in the North Course (N2C):
N2C is a three-day, 21-hour course that examines NATO’s evolving role and presence in the Arctic region amid rapidly changing security dynamics. The curriculum analyzes how recent developments, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, increased Chinese regional activity, and the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, have fundamentally altered Arctic security considerations. The course explores how these changes affect NATO’s core tasks of deterrence and defense, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security, while examining the growing importance of resilience in Arctic operations.
Arctic Lawfare and Strategic Competition Course (ALSCC):
ALSCC is a five-day, 35-hour course specifically addresses how state and non-state actors use law as an instrument of warfare (lawfare) in the Arctic region. As the Arctic security environment evolves, competitors increasingly leverage legal mechanisms, territorial claims, and institutional frameworks as tools to advance their strategic interests while potentially constraining U.S. and allied operations. The course examines how lawfare manifests in the Arctic through extended continental shelf claims, disputed maritime passages, scientific research rights, and strategic infrastructure development. Particular attention is given to how Russia and China employ legal strategies to establish advantageous positions in the Arctic, and how security practitioners can recognize and respond to such approaches while maintaining U.S. interests and supporting the rules-based international order.
Transatlantic Arctic Futures Course (TAFC):
TAFC is a three-day, 21-hour executive education course that examines potential trajectories of Arctic change through 2035, focusing on disruptive shifts across multiple domains that will shape transatlantic security relationships. The curriculum analyzes how converging factors – including dynamic operational environments, technological advancement, resource development, changing maritime access, and evolving geopolitical dynamics – may fundamentally alter Arctic security considerations. Using scenario-based analysis, participants explore how these transformative changes could affect North American and European security interests, partnerships, and operations in the High North. The course emphasizes practical approaches to building resilient transatlantic relationships that can adapt to multiple possible futures while maintaining regional security and stability.
Arctic Strategic Competition Dynamics Course (ASCDC):
ASCDC is a three-day, 21-hour executive education course examines how strategic competition between major powers shapes Arctic security dynamics, with particular focus on the evolving nature of great power relations in the High North. The curriculum analyzes how China’s “pacing challenge” and Russia’s aggressive posture, manifested in their “no limits friendship,” affects Arctic stability through coordinated activities across multiple domains – including military operations, economic initiatives, technological development, and gray zone actions. Special attention is given to how this strategic partnership challenges established regional norms and institutions while creating new security dilemmas for Arctic states. The course explores how Allied and Partner responses, including NATO expansion, economic sanctions, and emerging security arrangements, are reshaping Arctic security architecture. It also examines how other Arctic-interested states navigate these dynamics through various approaches to alignment and nonalignment.
Arctic Indigenous Peoples Knowledge and Partnership Course (AIPKPC):
The AIPKPC is a three-day, 21-hour course designed to enhance operational effectiveness in the Arctic by equipping personnel with knowledge of the region’s human terrain. The course examines the historical and contemporary role of Indigenous Peoples across seven Arctic nations, their contributions to domain awareness, and their adaptive strategies for successful operations in extreme environments. It emphasizes mission-relevant knowledge, including environmental awareness, logistical insights, and regional engagement protocols critical for Arctic operations.
Arctic History and Cultural Dynamics Course (AHCDC):
The AHCDC is a three-day, 21-hour course that examines the strategic history of the Arctic through the lens of geopolitical competition, regional stability, and historical interactions among the eight Arctic nations. The curriculum explores the operational implications of historical expansion, trade routes, and regional conflicts, including comparisons among Russia’s strategic movements toward Alaska and European engagements with Sami Peoples. By analyzing past interactions, the course provides critical context for current security dynamics and cooperative frameworks essential to Arctic operational readiness.
