U.S.-China Strategic Competition Cohort

Led by instructors Eric Brown and Kyuri Park

This Global Scholars Program cohort will explore the past, present, and possible futures of United States-China relations—including what the deepening competition between the world’s two biggest economies could mean for the future of international order.

After thirty years of cooperative and mutually beneficial relations, ties between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the U.S. have rapidly deteriorated in the last decade.

The resulting strategic competition has many facets—political, economic, technological, diplomatic, moral, ideological, and military. This rivalry bears directly on many countries and affects hundreds of millions of human beings; it encompasses the Eurasian Supercontinent and the vast “Global South,” the oceans and outer space, the character and style of the constructed or “Built World” which we live in, as well as the future of government and its proper ends.

How have we arrived at this current state of affairs?

How should we think about, in all its complexity, the contemporary and potential scope of the U.S.-PRC competition—what the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy describes as a “contest over the future of our world”? Indeed, what forms might this contest plausibly take in the years or even decades ahead, and what might it mean for the world at-large?

These are hard questions, not easy to answer—or unanswerable. But thinking clearly and knowledgeably about them is important for living well in the time in which we find ourselves.

*Academics

Coursework in the U.S.-China Strategic Competition cohort totals 15 credits spread over 3 semesters (fall, spring, summer):

Fall Semester

U.S.-China Relations: Past, Present, and Alternative Futures (3 credits): In the fall, we will explore the past, present and possible futures of the U.S.-China competition—and what the strategic competition could mean for world order as a whole.
*Tentative, China's Engagements with the World: Past, Present, and Future Directions (3 credits, COLL 300): During the Winter study abroad program in China, GSP students will learn about the philosophy behind, history of, and contemporary institutional structure supporting China’s economic engagements with its neighboring countries, and the rest of the world. How is China’s strategic worldview about its role in the global order informed by these historical links? What steps are its leaders taking now, and contemplating for later, to implement their vision? Students will travel abroad to China as a part of this course.

*This course occurs in January over students' Winter Break, but falls on students' fall transcript

Spring Semester

Competitive World-Craft in the 21st Century (3 credits): In this research-intensive Spring course, the cohort will explore in greater depth the sources of the contemporary era of “competitive world-craft.” Our readings and class discussions will focus on geo-economics—the new era of “competitive development”—and on learning about how to analyze and assess strategic competitions. This course includes a week in Washington, D.C. over students' Spring Break.

Summer Semester

Internship Course (6 credits): one of three internship options:
- Washington, D.C.
- International
- E-internship

Pre-requisites/Co-requisites

To ensure all students have a common baseline, you will also need to have taken - or be concurrently enrolled during the program - in at least one of the following courses in “Core” and at least one of the following in “Methods.”

*Other Core/Methods classes outside of the above list will be considered upon request.

Core (either prior to program start or concurrently enrolled during fall semester)

GOV 204 Introduction to International Politics
PUBP 201 Introduction to Public Policy
ENSP 101 Introduction to Environmental Science and Policy
INRL 300 International Relations in Disciplinary Perspectives
SOCL 205 Global Social Problems
SOCL 313 Globalization and International Development

Methods (either prior to program start or concurrently enrolled during spring semester)

DATA 146 Intro to Data Science
CSCI 140 Programming for Data Science
CSCI 141 Computational Problem Solving
GIS 201 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis
Any social sciences methods course
Any statistics course

Graduating Seniors

As a graduating senior, you have two options for the summer internship course:

August diploma:
- Use the Registrar's Notice of Candidacy for Graduation form (pdf) to indicate that you will receive your diploma in August instead of May.
- Walk through the graduation ceremony in May.
- Successfully complete the Global Scholars Program internship course.
- Receive your diploma in August.
Post Baccalaureate Status:
- Use the Registrar's Non-Degree Seeking (pdf) form to indicate that you plan to take W&M courses after graduation.
- Use the Registrar's Notice of Candidacy for Graduation (pdf) form to indicate that you will receive your diploma in May.
- Walk through the graduation ceremony in May and receive your diploma.
- Successfully complete the Global Scholars Program course.
- Financial aid does not apply in this scenario.
- (Find more detailed instructions)

*All classes are tentative pending Educational Policy Committee and/or International Studies Advisory Committee approval

Program Cost & Scholarships

Total cost (including airfare and some meals abroad) is expected to be $13,500 for in state students and $15,000 for out of state students. Scholarships will be available for all eligible students based on need and for any student participating in an unpaid internship experience. Students will be encouraged to apply for scholarship funding after being accepted into the program and must have a FAFSA on file with the Office of Financial Aid to be considered.

Note: Cost variability is based on fluctuating study abroad costs. Final costs will be determined before the fall 2024 semester.

Internship Searches

The Global Scholars Program is not a placement program. Instead, program staff and faculty will work with scholars to find and secure internships that meet the scholar's academic and career interests. Staff and faculty will review application materials, conduct mock interviews, and guide students throughout the process of applying. Scholars will also have access to W&M's vast alumni network to help find organizations/positions that fit scholars' professional interests. E-internships will be facilitated via the Global Research Institute.