War and Strategy Wargames

Catalog description

Immerses students in the art and science of wargaming as a method for developing strategic judgment and operational understanding. Through a series of structured war games--ranging from historical campaigns to future scenarios--students integrate theory, history and practice to test plans, evaluate risk and explore decision making under uncertainty. Features four major wargaming events conducted primarily at ASU's Washington, D.C. Decision Theater, a state-of-the-art facility designed for immersive decision simulations: two games of historical hex-and-counter operational wargames, focused on decision making, campaign design and command at the operational level of war; one matrix-style strategic wargame, exploring national policy and interagency competition in a realistic contemporary setting; and one future-scenario wargame, challenging teams to adapt to disruptive technologies, evolving doctrines and emerging domains of conflict. Builds on the theoretical and analytical foundations established throughout previous curriculum, emphasizing strategic coherence, critical thinking and professional collaboration.