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Global Security Studies Master’s Degree (M.S.)

This online degree addresses the issues critical for an understanding of today’s complex international environment in which state and non-state actors interact.

The program will enhance students’ analytical skills in political culture and comparative security policy.

The global security studies curriculum covers such issues as:

  • Rogue states
  • Weak and failing states
  • Terrorism
  • Human rights
  • Energy security
  • Peacekeeping and stability operations
  • Homeland security
Online Only

Degree

Master of Science in global security studies

Careers

This degree addresses the growing need for graduate-level study of national security issues to develop skills for military, intelligence, non-profit, think tank, government and non-governmental employees.

Program Highlights

  • Classes are 100 percent online and in an eight-week format.

  • Faculty includes nationally recognized experts in regional security affairs, terrorism and human rights, military and political issues, intelligence, cybersecurity, rogue nations, and grand strategy and national security.

  • Course materials are designed to improve students’ critical thinking and analytical skills in strategic culture, foreign policy and international security studies.

  • ASU recognizes military service and will maximize training and career experience.

Admission Requirements

  • All college and university transcripts
  • An essay of no more than 750 words discussing an important issue of national security

Prerequisites

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.75 or better, including all grades on repeated courses, or hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Required overall GPA may be waived on a case-by-case basis by the department chair.

Application Deadlines

Spring: Dec. 1

Fall: Aug. 12

International Student Spring: Nov. 1

International Student Fall: June 20

You are strongly encouraged to register for the first and second eight-week sessions simultaneously, before the first eight-week session begins.

Degree Plan

  • Degree Requirements
    Required Courses Hours
    SEC 6302 Introduction to Security Studies 3
    SEC 6309 Grand Strategy and National Security 3
    SEC 6312 Globalization and International Security 3
    Specialization Area
    Course Hours
    Prescribed Electives 9

    Students must choose nine semester credit hours from the national security or nine semester credit hours from the regional security specialization area

    Electives*
    Course Hours
    Electives 18

    Elective hours may be taken from the national security or regional security specialization area, or in some combination of each.

    *Thesis Option

    Students wishing to take the thesis option will be required to take the 9 hours of required courses, 9 hours of prescribed electives, a course for writing the thesis (SEC 6699), and an additional 12 semester credit hours of electives. The additional 12 semester credit hours must be taken in either the national security or regional security or in some combination of each.

    *Non-Thesis Option

    Students wishing to take the non-thesis option will be required to take the 9 hours of required courses, 9 hours of prescribed electives, and an additional 18 semester credit hours of electives. The additional 18 semester credit hours must be taken in either the national security or regional security or in some combination of each.

    Areas of Specialization

    National Security Affairs
    Elective courses include: Hours
    SEC 6310 Civil-Military Relations 3
    SEC 6313 Intelligence and National Security 3
    SEC 6314 Terrorism and National Security 3
    SEC 6315 Rogue Nations and National Security 3
    SEC 6316 Peacekeeping and Stability Operations 3
    SEC 6317 Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation, and National Security 3
    SEC 6318 Weak and Failing States and National Security 3
    SEC 6319 Homeland Security Studies 3
    SEC 6320 Human Rights and National Security 3
    SEC 6321 Energy Security Studies 3
    SEC 6322 Transnational Issues and National Security 3
    Regional Studies
    Elective courses include: Hours
    SEC 6323 Security Issues in Europe I 3
    SEC 6325 Security Issues in Europe II 3
    SEC 6327 Security Issues in Asia I 3
    SEC 6329 Security Issues in Asia II 3
    SEC 6331 Security Issues in Latin America I 3
    SEC 6333 Security Issues in Latin America II 3
    SEC 6335 Security Issues in The Middle East I 3
    SEC 6337 Security Issues in The Middle East II 3
    SEC 6341 Security Issues in Africa I 3
    SEC 6343 Security Issues in Africa II 3

  • Carr Academic Graduate Scholarships

    Carr Academic Graduate Scholarships are ASU’s premier scholarships for graduate students. Awards are based on undergraduate GPA. Students are considered for the Carr Academic Graduate Scholarship upon their acceptance into the College of Graduate Studies and Research. No application is required.

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