The Command and Staff College (CSC) Preparatory Knowledge Program is designed to provide students with introductory knowledge to better prepare them for the upcoming academic year. These recommendations are spread across the CSC’s various course areas, focus areas, and based on student feedback or staff recommendations.
This course develops the student’s ability to provide ethical and effective leadership to large organizations by studying the concept of professional ethics, moral development and decision making, the principles of organizational behavior, and leadership in a variety of contexts and operational environments, with a focus on leading change. Additionally, this course develops the student’s ability to communicate, both in the written form and orally, in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
Tier 1: Humility is the New Smart - Hess,Ludwig
VIDEO PODCAST *BOOK
Tier 2: The Armed Forces Officer
*BOOK
Tier 3: Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman
VIDEO PODCAST BOOK
*DoD Library Account Required - will be issued upon arrival at MCU.
This course develops the student’s ability to understand the enduring nature and changing character of war, the evolution of great power competition and conflict, the spectrum of conflict, and the practice of operational art by analyzing theories and the conduct of war from the early modern era until today.
Recommended Materials
Tier 1: The Use and Abuse of Military History - Howard
VIDEO ARTICLE
Tier 2: The History of Operational Art - Wilson C. Blythe
ARTICLE
This course will analyze the “complex and uncertain security environments” that CSC graduates will confront as “commanders and staff officers in service, joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational organizations….” Using historical and contemporary case studies, the course will explore the concept of security through various lenses with special attention given to the role of the United States in the global arena.
Tier 1: Should Military Officers Study Policy Analysis? - Nikolas K. Gvosdev
This course develops the student’s ability to analyze and apply joint and marine corps doctrine by examining key documents, emerging doctrinal concepts, the global security environment, the roles of defense and military stakeholders, and their cultures as they affect the planning and execution of the full spectrum of joint operations.
Tier 1
United States Army
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
United States Air Force
United States Space Force
United States Coast Guard
Tier 2
Joint Publication (JP) 5-0: Joint Planning Executive Summary
This course develops the student’s ability to apply the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) to operational problem solving when participating in an Operational Planning Team (OPT) in order to develop solutions for large, expeditionary forces engaged in joint conventional warfare.
Tier 1: Warfighting
VIDEO BOOK
Tier 2: MCWP 5-10 Marine Corps Planning Process, Chapters 1 & 2, pp 9-17 to Cmdr's Intent then stop
BOOK
Tier 3: MCDP-5: Planning
The Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) IMI modules are used by the CSC Distance Education Program, to both teach students about MCPP as well as to conduct a planning exercise. These modules provide a self-paced resource for inbound students new to MCPP or Marines needing a refresher on MCPP.
Tier 1: MCPP Overview
Operational Design/IPB
Problem Framing
COA Development
COA Wargaming
COA Comparison and Decision
Orders Development
Transition
*The Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) IMI modules are used by the CSC Distance Education Program, to both teach students about MCPP as well as to conduct a planning exercise.
Tier 1: Think Again-Grant
Tier 2: The Medici Effect-Frans Johansson
VIDEO PODCAST
*DoD Library Account or purchase required.
Tier 1: How to Read a Book-Adler
Tier 2: Strategic Reading I
VIDEO
Tier 1: How to Write a Lot (Chapters 2 and 3)-Silvia
BOOK Variety
Tier 2: Elements of Style-Strunk-White 4th Edition
Tier 3: Marine Corps University Communication Style Guide
Tier 1: The Craft of Research-Booth*
Tier 2: The Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science-Stephen Van Evera*
*Individual purchase or library access required.