The Master of Arts in National Security Studies provides executive-level education in national and international security policy with concentrations in homeland security, intelligence analysis, cyber security, terrorism studies, and regional security studies. This online master’s program provides practical knowledge often needed in the defense industry, military, U.S. and foreign governments, and the private sector.

The program includes a solid foundation in agency operations and theory, and studies the complex problems found in today’s uncertain security environment. You will be taught by experienced faculty who remain active in the national security arena, helping to ensure relevancy in this continuously expanding field.

Graduates of the program can be found across the national and international security community as civilian and military leaders, policymakers, action-officers, analysts, instructors, and consultants. This program also provides a strong academic stepping stone for our doctoral programs in global security and strategic intelligence.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:

  • Appraise classic and contemporary theories, strategies, doctrines, and procedures related to the causes, conduct, and termination of armed conflict and the maintenance of peace.
  • Assess and predict traditional and non-traditional threats to national and international security.
  • Compare the structures, functions, capabilities, and activities of national and international security community members.
  • Conduct advanced research and compose professional and academic analyses on issues critical to national and international security.

Degree at a Glance

Core Requirements18
Select one of the following concentrations:12
General Concentration
Cyber
Homeland Security
Regional Security Studies
Security and Intelligence Analysis
Terrorism Studies
Final Program Requirements3
Elective Requirements3
Total Semester Hours36

Degree Program Requirements

Core Requirements (18 semester hours)

NSEC503U.S. National Security 13
SSGS500Research Design and Methods3
NSEC501Institutions of National Security3
NSEC504International Security3
NSEC610National Security and Globalization3
NSEC613Current and Emerging Threats to U.S. National Security3
Total Semester Hours18

Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from the General Concentration, Concentration in Cyber, Concentration in Homeland Security, Concentration in Regional Security Studies, Concentration in Security and Intelligence Analysis, or Concentration in Terrorism Studies.

General Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)

This general concentration allows you to select from more than two dozen different concentration courses offered within this program, enabling you to create your own focused area of study.

Select 4 courses from the following:12
CMRJ526
Drug Cartels and the Narcotics Threat
HLSS502
Homeland Security and Defense
HLSS505
Security Risk Management
HLSS522
Weapons of Mass Destruction and the New Terrorism
HLSS523
Domestic Terrorism and Extremist Groups
INTL501
Strategic Intelligence
INTL502
Collection
INTL507
Intelligence Operations
INTL508
Intelligence Analysis
INTL613
Intelligence and Homeland Security
INTL646
Transnational Crime and Narcotics
INTL652
Terrorism: Assessing the Past to Forecast the Future
IRLS600
Strategic Geography and Geopolitics
IRLS603
Politics and War
IRLS613
International Negotiation
IRLS631
Government and Security in Korea
IRLS655
Latin American Security Issues
IRLS660
Seminar in Middle East Politics and Security
ISSC630
Advanced Cybercrime Analysis
ISSC631
Cyber Ethics: Privacy and Intellectual Property
LSTD517
Law, Ethics and Cybersecurity
MILS671
The Non-State Soldier
NSEC506
Cyber Policy and Practice in National Security
NSEC608
Regional Security Cooperation
NSEC611
Covert Action and National Security
NSEC612
National Security and Diplomacy
NSEC614
Political Psychology of Terror Groups
SSGS595
Internship Program
Total Semester Hours12

Concentration in Cyber (12 semester hours)

Analyzes the cyber discipline from a multidisciplinary perspective. Topics include: current cyber policy and strategy for non-practitioners in a national security framework; laws related to intellectual property, civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, and cybersecurity; and the privacy, ethical, economic, and societal issues that face today’s information-entrenched society.

Objective

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Analyze the cyber discipline from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)

LSTD517Law, Ethics and Cybersecurity3
NSEC506Cyber Policy and Practice in National Security3
ISSC630Advanced Cybercrime Analysis3
ISSC631Cyber Ethics: Privacy and Intellectual Property3
Total Semester Hours12

Concentration in Homeland Security (12 semester hours)

Explores contemporary threats to the U.S. and the organizations, capabilities, and activities of America’s homeland defense community. Covers the efforts to prevent, prepare, and respond to the use of weapons of mass destruction, the role of risk management in the prevention of loss, and the development of drug cartels and their organization, production, and distribution networks.

Objective

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Appraise the contemporary threats to the United States; and the organizations, capabilities, and activities of the national defense community.

Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)

Select 4 courses from the following:12
CMRJ526
Drug Cartels and the Narcotics Threat
HLSS502
Homeland Security and Defense
HLSS505
Security Risk Management
HLSS522
Weapons of Mass Destruction and the New Terrorism
HLSS523
Domestic Terrorism and Extremist Groups
INTL613
Intelligence and Homeland Security
Total Semester Hours12

Concentration in Regional Security Studies (12 semester hours)

Examines the forces reshaping world politics and analyzes the institutions that are fostering new forms of global governance. Topics include the role of diplomacy in national security policy development and implementation, and the strategic, operational, and tactical elements required for conducting peace operations.

Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)

NSEC608Regional Security Cooperation3
Select 3 courses from the following:9
HIST572
History of East Asia
HIST573
History of the Middle East
HIST670
History and Culture of Latin America
IRLS613
International Negotiation
IRLS615
Peacekeeping: Structure and Process
IRLS631
Government and Security in Korea
IRLS655
Latin American Security Issues
IRLS660
Seminar in Middle East Politics and Security
IRLS662
Middle Eastern Culture
MILH669
Arab-Israeli Conflict: Contemporary Politics & Diplomacy
NSEC612
National Security and Diplomacy
Total Semester Hours12

Concentration in Security and Intelligence Analysis (12 semester hours)

Covers advanced security and intelligence analysis methods used to convey issues critical to national and international security. Examines the forces reshaping world politics, analyzes the institutions that are fostering new forms of global governance, and discusses the current structure, function, capabilities, and contributions of individual U.S. national intelligence community members.

Objective

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Apply advanced security and intelligence analysis methods in composing professional and academic analyses on issues critical to national and international security.

Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)

Select 4 courses from the following:12
INTL501
Strategic Intelligence
INTL502
Collection
INTL507
Intelligence Operations
INTL508
Intelligence Analysis
IRLS600
Strategic Geography and Geopolitics
NSEC608
Regional Security Cooperation
Total Semester Hours12

Concentration in Terrorism Studies (12 semester hours)

Evaluates the causes of and threats from domestic and international terrorism, as well as the organizations, capabilities, and activities of the international security community in the global war on terrorism. Also analyzes U.S. and international policies for combating terrorism, terrorist tactics worldwide, and the scope of terrorism.

Objective

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Appraise the causes of and threats from domestic and international terrorism and the organizations, capabilities, and activities of the international security community in the Global War on Terrorism.

Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)

Select 4 courses from the following:12
HLSS522
Weapons of Mass Destruction and the New Terrorism
HLSS523
Domestic Terrorism and Extremist Groups
INTL650
Counterterrorism
INTL652
Terrorism: Assessing the Past to Forecast the Future
MILS671
The Non-State Soldier
NSEC614
Political Psychology of Terror Groups
Total Semester Hours12

Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)

NSEC699National Security Studies Capstone 13
Total Semester Hours3

 Elective Requirements (3 semester hours)

Select any graduate courses not already taken to fulfill the requirements listed above.3
Total Semester Hours3