M.A./Ph.D. Program with the Department of Government

Students in the M.A./Ph.D. program are required to take a total of 60 credit hours of course work with up to 24 credits double-counting toward both the M.A. in Security Studies and Ph.D. in International Relations.  Students should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and the representatives of the joint programs to work out specifics of their curriculum.

Students accepted to the M.A./Ph.D. program must also attain proficiency in relevant languages and research methodologies and successfully complete and defend a dissertation to be awarded the Ph.D.


Joint M.A. in Security Studies Requirements
  • Theory and Practice of Security (SEST-500) in the first semester in the program (waived for students in the joint degree program provided that they enroll in GOVT-551 and GOVT-724);
  • Grand Strategies and Military Operations (SEST-501) in the first semester in the program;
  • Analytical Methods for Security (SEST-502) prior to enrolling in the Thesis Seminar (waived for students in the joint degree program provided that they enroll in GOVT-501);
  • The core course in the chosen area of concentration in the first or second semester of the program;
  • Three additional courses in the chosen concentration;
  • Thesis Seminar (SEST-700) in the final semester in the program (summer graduates see exception below);

    Students in the joint degree program are not required to enroll in the Thesis Seminar.  They may submit an equivalent paper (usually 30-40 pages in length) to the program in fulfillment of this requirement.  Arrangements must be made with the SSP Academic Counselor prior to the student's final semester in the M.A. program.

    The Thesis Seminar must be taken in the final semester except for students graduating in the summer who must take the seminar in the spring of their last year.
  • One course in each of the following three substantive areas:
    • Area Security Studies;
    • Economics and Security;
    • Science and Technology
  • One SSP-approved free elective.

    Please be aware that some courses may cross count allowing students to complete more than one free elective.  Students with questions regarding the distributional allocation of a course should ask the SSP Academic Counselor prior to registering.
Comprehensive Exam

Students must pass a comprehensive examination to graduate from the program.  The comprehensive exam tests broad substantive knowledge of national and international security problems along with the student's analytic abilities.  The exam poses questions that address each of the primary concentrations.  Students take the comprehensive examination during the final semester in the program.