For Students - Fall 2008 & After

The Security Studies Program (SSP) curriculum offers six concentrations: Intelligence, International Security, Military Operations, Science and Technology, Terrorism and Substate Violence, Unconventional Weapons and Non-Proliferation, and U.S. National Security Policy. In addition, students interested in a particular region or functional area may work closely with the SSP Director to create a customized concentration. Examples are Conflict Management and Peace Studies, Homeland Security, and Economics and Security.

Intelligence. Students studying in this concentration focus on both the theory and practice of intelligence in the United States, as well as in other countries. Courses closely examine the intelligence cycle, the limits of intelligence collection, problems of intelligence analysis, foreign intelligence, military intelligence, and the intelligence-policy nexus. In addition to helping prepare students for careers in the intelligence community, this concentration educates students working with intelligence issues in the military, in other government jobs, or in government-related industries.  For courses in the intelligence concentration, click here.

International Security. Students in this concentration will examine the broad range of issues that affect security in the world today. Topics range from non-proliferation to terrorism to infectious disease, all of which are examined from an international perspective. This concentration will prepare students for a broad range of careers, including with foreign governments, with international organizations, in private companies that focus on security, and other research and policy institutions.  For courses in the international security concentration, click here.

Military Operations. Students enrolled in this concentration pursue an in-depth examination of American and other militaries and how they have functioned over time. Courses include explorations of conventional military operations, the use of air power, military analysis, net assessment techniques, and the interaction between civilian and military officials, among other issues. Students will develop the expertise necessary to pursue an array of careers related to the use of military force and its assessment, both within the US and foreign governments and outside them. For courses in the military operations concentration, click here.

Science and Technology. This concentration addresses both technical literacy for novices as well as policy formation for technical experts to provide students a conceptual framework for understanding relationship between technology and security. Students expand their working knowledge of technologies such as nuclear weapons, missile defense systems, satellites, and encryption. These students are uniquely skilled to bridge the technology and policy communities. Many apply this education in the U.S. Departments of Energy, Defense, and Homeland Security, as well as in the intelligence community and private sector.  For courses in the science and technology concentration, click here.


Terrorism and Substate Violence. Students in this concentration study the motivations and operations of terrorist and insurgent groups, the dynamics of civil wars, and form policy to counter these challenges. Courses examine sources of terrorism, terrorist tactics, key terrorist groups like al-Qa'ida and the Lebanese Hizballah; counterinsurgency, ethnic conflict, and post-conflict stabilization missions, among other issues. Students in this concentration pursue careers in US and Foreign governments, the private sector, or relief communities that must analyze these conflicts and pursue careers to fight violent groups or ameliorate civil wars. For courses in the terrorism and substate violence concentration, click here.


Unconventional Weapons and Non-proliferation. Students in this concentration examine nuclear, chemical, biological, and other unconventional weapons and understand the dynamics of their acquisition and use. Courses include in-depth explorations of unconventional weapons, exploring both their political and military uses as well as their technical characteristics. Students will also learn about U.S. and international policy responses to counter the challenges these weapons pose. Students in this concentration are prepared for positions in US and Foreign governments that assess or work to counter such weapons systems and for careers with international organizations that must manage these problems.  For courses in the unconventional weapons and non-proliferation concentration, click here.


U.S. National Security Policy: Study in this concentration provides students with the conceptual and substantive background necessary to identify and analyze U.S national security issues and to formulate the policy options to successfully address these challenges. This concentration is particularly relevant for students seeking careers in the U.S. State Department, the Defense Department, on Capitol Hill, and with organizations that support those institutions such as the Congressional Research Service and research institutions.  For courses in the U.S. national security policy concentration, click here.

Area Security Courses

Economics Courses