Summer Immersion Courses – Berlin, Germany
Norwich Online is thrilled to announce that this summer 2026, we are holding two graduate-level courses with a one-week immersive in-person instruction in Berlin, Germany. These courses are available to current Norwich Online students
Hybrid Warfare
Throughout the course, participants will engage in an intensive, hands-on, cumulative exercise in which they will develop and test offensive and defensive hybrid campaign strategies, analyze information and influence operations, and apply structured frameworks for risk and escalation management. Topics include megatrends and concepts and theories of hybrid warfare, offensive and defensive toolkits, intelligence preparation, institutions and laws, mapping vulnerability, and the role of cyber and information operations in modern conflict.
Students enrolling in this course can take advantage of a unique opportunity to visit Norwich’s Berlin, Germany campus. While in Germany, participants will engage in a simulation exercise that applies hybrid warfare frameworks within a European context. This hands-on activity will help them hone their decision-making skills, enhance leadership abilities, and put into practice the knowledge gained throughout the course.
Following this exercise, students will participate in an after-action report to reflect on their performance in Berlin, including factors such as participation, leadership, decision-making, application of key principles, metacognitive awareness, and mastery of course objectives.
This innovative hybrid course is dedicated to the critical study of Hybrid Warfare and its application within today’s complex security landscape. The dynamic program spans 11 weeks, featuring 10 weeks of engaging, instructor-led asynchronous online learning and a week of immersive in-person instruction in Berlin, Germany.
Participants will delve into the multifaceted nature of hybrid conflict, exploring it as both a dynamic and contested field of scholarship and a practical toolkit used by both state and non-state actors to achieve strategic objectives without crossing the line into open warfare. Rather than portraying hybrid warfare as a rigid doctrine, this course emphasizes the themes of ambiguity, competitive strategies, and informed decision-making.
The deadline for applying for the summer seminar is April 30, 2026. Accepted students may use this seminar as a capstone replacement or elective, depending on eligibility and approval from the Academic Director. There is also a $3500 fee to cover the cost of the Berlin experience.
Graduate programs with eligible students include:
Global Strategic Leadership
In partnership with Helmut Schmidt University (HSU), this 11-week graduate seminar delves into strategic leadership in complex global environments and examines the growing threat of disinformation to global security.
Throughout the program, participants will enhance their skills in executive communication, decision-making under uncertainty, and cross-cultural leadership, all while gaining international academic experience. Plus, you will tackle real-world strategic issues related to global security and disinformation.
The program will conclude with an immersive, one-week in-person workshop in Berlin from July 28 to August 3. Here, you will join a dynamic German-American cohort, focusing on cross-cultural collaboration, virtual teamwork, systems thinking, and strategic leadership, all through the lens of national and international security. This is a unique chance to learn from global experts and build international relationships that will enhance your leadership skills.
Enrollment is limited to 10 Norwich students and 10 Helmut Schmit University (HSU) students. Graduate programs with eligible students include:
- Master of Science in Leadership (MSL), all concentrations – capstone replacement
- Master of Arts in Diplomacy (MDY) – course elective in the general concentration (starting Fall 2026) or course substitution for GD554 in International Management
- Master of Arts in International Relations (MIR) – course substitution for IR530 in the International Security concentration and regions of the world concentration
- Master of Arts in Strategic Studies (MASS)
- Master of Arts in Defense Policy
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Organizational Leadership Concentration: MSM, MPA, MBA – capstone or OL560 replacement
The deadline for applying for the summer seminar is April 30, 2026. Accepted students may use this seminar as a capstone replacement or elective, depending on eligibility and approval from the Academic Director. There is also a $3500 fee to cover the cost of the Berlin experience.
This is a unique opportunity to expand your global leadership abilities, gain hands-on experience in international security, and collaborate with peers from around the world.