Splash Biography

Saul Goodman. Harvey Specter. Perry Mason. Atticus Finch. The legal world, as nuanced and as fascinating as it can be, has long captivated popular culture. But what does it look like in practice? This course intends to answer that question through the avenue of constitutional law. We will begin by examining the structure and role of the Constitution. We will then move to understanding the authority of the Supreme Court, describing how a case gets to the Supreme Court, and reading and understanding Supreme Court opinions. We will end class by writing a basic case brief together and identifying several landmark Supreme Court decisions.

James Bond. Ethan Hunt. Jack Ryan. The world of intelligence and espionage has long captivated popular culture. But what does intelligence actually look like? More importantly, what does it mean? Is it more than just wearing a suit, rappelling down a skyscraper, and looking at a stack of manila folders? This course intends to answer those questions and demystify the cloak-and-dagger work of spycraft. In doing so, its intention is that you will develop a keen understanding of intelligence and espionage in the real world. We will look at how spies conduct their work by examining the intelligence process. We will also study key players in the world of espionage, namely the members of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Lastly, we will discuss the history of modern espionage by looking at several case studies, followed by an analytical simulation where students will play the role of analysts, receive “intelligence,” and make assessments based on that knowledge.

James Bond. Ethan Hunt. Jack Ryan. The world of intelligence and espionage has long captivated popular culture. But what does intelligence actually look like? More importantly, what does it mean? Is it more than just wearing a suit, rappelling down a skyscraper, and looking at a stack of manila folders? This course intends to answer those questions and demystify the cloak-and-dagger work of spycraft. In doing so, its intention is that you will develop a keen understanding of intelligence and espionage in the real world. We will look at how spies conduct their work by examining the intelligence process. We will also study key players in the world of espionage, namely the members of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Lastly, we will discuss the history of modern espionage by looking at several case studies, followed by an analytical simulation where students will play the role of analysts, receive “intelligence,” and make assessments based on that knowledge.