For Students Matriculating Spring 2008 and Before

In advance of matriculation to the program, Security Studies Program (SSP) students must choose one of the following academic concentrations:

  • U.S. National Security Policy;
  • International Security; or
  • Technology and Security.

Students may also design customized concentrations, such as the study of intelligence. Students who wish to design a customized concentration must receive written approval in advance from the SSP Director.

Specific Course Requirements

To receive an M.A. in Security Studies students must complete:

  1. A minimum of six courses (18 credits) sponsored by the SSP (usually designated "SEST") as a part of their course of study. Occasionally, an SSP course will be designated “INAF" (for example, INAF-546 and INAF-612). Students with questions regarding the program designation of a course should ask the SSP Academic Counselor before registering;

  2. Theory and Practice of Security (SEST-500) in the first semester of the program;

  3. The core course in the chosen area of concentration in the first or second semester of the program (either SEST-510, SEST-530 or SEST-550);

  4. Three additional courses in the chosen concentration;

  5. The Research Seminar in the chosen concentration (either SEST-710, SEST-730 or SEST-750);

    The Research Seminar is the capstone to the M.A. program. The Research Seminar is devoted to the production of a major research paper, usually 30-40 double-spaced pages in length. Students are expected to make useful contributions to the understanding of the issue they are researching.

    The Research Seminar must be taken in the final semester (students graduating in the summer must take the seminar in the spring of their last year). Students may not substitute seminars offered by other programs for the SSP research seminar requirement.

  6. At least one course in each of four substantive areas that is NOT the students chosen concentration:
    • U.S. National Security Policy;
    • International Security;
    • Technology and Security; 
    • Area Security Studies; and
    • Economics and Security.
  7. Two SSP-approved free electives.

Comprehensive Examinations

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 three primary concentrations. Students take the comprehensive examination during the final semester in the program.