For Students Matriculating Fall 2008 and After

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

  • Intelligence;
  • Military Operations;
  • Science and Technology;
  • Terrorism and Substate Violence;
  • Unconventional Weapons and Non-Proliferation; or
  • U.S. National Security Policy.

Students may also design customized concentrations, such as the study of homeland security. 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. Strategic Studies and Military Operations (SEST-501) in the first semester of the program;

4. Analytical Methods (SEST-502) prior to enrolling in the Thesis Seminar;

5. The core course in the chosen area of concentration in the first or second semester of the program;

6. Three additional courses in the chosen concentration;

7. Thesis Seminar (SEST-700) in the final semester of the program (summer graduates see exception below);

The Thesis Seminar is the capstone to the M.A. program. The Thesis 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 Thesis 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 thesis seminar requirement.

8. At least one course in each of following three substantive areas:

  • Area Security Studies;
  • Economics and Security; and
  • Science and Technology;

9. 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 before registering.

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