A comprehensive list of graduate degree in Security Studies offered by universities
nationwide:
School
Naval
Postgraduat
e School in
Monterey,
California
Degree/
Certificate
Awarded; Other
Disciplines
MA Security Studies
(Security Stabilization
and Reconstruction)
Interdisciplinary—
History, international
relations, comparative
politics, and economics.
Kansas State M.A. Security Studies.
(Ph.D. Security Studies)
University
Interdisciplinary—History
and Political Science
Target Population /
Incentives
Capstone
of Program
Distinctive Feature
US Participants:
Military officers;
Civilians from all
federal offices;
International
Participants: Senior
executives; Military
officers; Mid-career
program managers;
non-governmental
personnel; Policy
makers and legislators
Thesis
Requirement or a
comprehensive
exam
requirement.
Program divided into 3
tracks: Civil-Military
Relations;
Stabilization and
Reconstruction; and
Defense Decision
Making and planning
Intended for career
professionals in the
military and
international affairs
First 1/3 of
course: review
basic research
readings.
Second 1/3:
publishable
research paper
30-25 pages in
length
Masters Thesis,
specialized field
project or final
comprehensive
exam.
Maximum use of web
based courses; degree
can be achieved in one
calendar year; total of
30 academic hours.
New Jersey
City
University
Master of Science in
Professional Security
Studies
This program did not
give any information
about their intended
audiences or any
incentives offered.
Massachuset
ts Institute
of
Technology
Security Studies
Program—40 graduate
students enrolled.
Most of students are
doctoral candidates in
political science.
There was no
information that
discussed the
curriculum,
thesis or
comprehensive
exam as part of
the program
This program is
designed for students
who are pursuing a
career in the
international affairs,
intelligence, or national
security fields.
There didn’t
appear to be a
capstone course
for this program;
although there
was an advanced
writing course.
Courses are primarily
within MIT’s political
science department.
The Institute M.A. in Statecraft and
National Security Affairs
of World
Politics in
Philadelphia
Three areas of specialty:
national security,
corporate security, and
information
assurance/cyber
security. Total of 36
credit hours.
They have begun to
utilize web-based and
traveling courses to
reach a wider audience.
They also offer an
Independent Activities
Period (IAP) course
taught by officers from
several other colleges.
52 Credit hour program;
students may test out of
particular courses and
replace it with an
elective.
University of Masters of Science in
National Security and
Newhaven
Public Safety
National Security
Certificate
This program did not
give any information
about their intended
audiences or any
incentives offered.
Students may
choose from
capstone options
that include an
internship,
research project,
or thesis in
National
Security.
They have 250 students
enrolled in the program
with 50% enrolled parttime. The average age
for their students in 27.
Research
Seminar to be
taken in the area
of a
concentration in
their last
semester; also
requires the
passage of
comprehensive
exam. Students
are encouraged
but not required
to have an
internship.
Completion of
acceptable
comprehensive
final written and
oral
examinations; or
completion and
defense of an
original master's
thesis
Interdisciplinary—
Criminal Justice and
Political Science
Georgetown
University
Masters of Arts in
Security Studies
Interdisciplinary—U.S.
National Security Policy;
International Security;
Technology and Security;
Area Security Studies;
and Economics and
Security
Cal State,
San
Bernardino
Master of Arts in National
Security Studies
Interdisciplinary—did not
list other disciplines that
are in a partnership with
this program.
Program is relevant for
career personnel in
defense analysis and
related specialties, the
military services, the
civil service and the
intelligence community.
Additionally, those
holding a bachelors
with the higher
educational skills
necessary for entry into
the above mentioned
career fields or to
pursue doctoral studies.
Housed in the dept. of
criminal justice and
forensic science in
conjunction with the
dept. of political
science; operates at
several campuses
including Sandia
National Laboratories in
Livermore, California,
Albuquerque, New
Mexico and Arlington,
Virginia.
Numerous
concentrations
including U.S. National
Security Policy;
International Security;
and Technology and
Security. They also
offer many classes
where a student can
focus on a particular
region for study.
Students may choose
two subfields that
include Latin American
Regional Security; U.S.
Foreign Policy;
Instruments of National
Security Policy; Legal
Approaches to Security;
Intelligence Studies;
and Welfare Studies.
American
Public
University
M.A. in Homeland
Security
Interdisciplinary—
Emergency & Disaster
Management, Intelligence
Analysis & Operations,
Criminal Justice &
Security, and
Transportation &
Logistics.
American
Public
University
Master of Strategic
Intelligence
American
Public
University
Master of Arts in National
Security Studies
The Naval
Postgraduat
e School's
Department
of National
Security
Affairs
(NSA)
MA Security Studies
Interdisciplinary—
Methods/Statistics,
Intelligence Analysis and
Operations, and Criminal
Justice.
Interdisciplinary—
Research Methods,
National Security,
Security Analysis, and
Criminal Justice.
Interdisciplinary—
History, international
relations, comparative
politics, and economics
This program caters to
individuals who are
extremely busy. They
have a large, diverse
population from many
different countries.
The Master’s
Capstone
Seminar option
includes a thesis,
or a major
research project
or paper in lieu
of the final
comprehensive
examination.
36 semester hour
program offered
entirely online; they
offer classes that start
monthly and are either
on an 8 and/or 16 week
sessions.
This program caters to
individuals who are
extremely busy. They
have a large, diverse
population from many
different countries.
Final
comprehensive
exam or thesis
requirement.
This program caters to
individuals who are
extremely busy. They
have a large, diverse
population from many
different countries.
Final
comprehensive
exam or thesis
requirement.
This degree is
particularly tailored to
the intellectual needs
and institutional
requirements of the
U.S. armed forces and
related federal agencies
and departments.
Thesis
Requirement or a
comprehensive
exam
requirement.
Six concentrations:
competitive
intelligence,
intelligence analysis,
intelligence collection,
intelligence operations,
Middle Eastern studies,
and terrorism studies.
They also have an
option for students who
do not wish to seek a
concentration.
Six concentrations:
terrorism studies,
security and intelligence
analysis, Middle
Eastern studies,
homeland defense, and
Asian studies. They
also have an option for
students who do not
wish to seek a
concentration.
Provides professional
civil-military education
to both military officers
and civilian government
officials.
Participants in the
Security Studies
curriculum benefit from
a multinational mix in
the classroom.
Graduates, many of
them highly successful
in their careers, make
and sustain international
relationships.
Long Island
University
Master of Science in
Homeland Security
Management
This program appears to
be primarily within one
department (Homeland
Security Management)
but has various focuses
such as psychological and
sociological aspects.
National
University
Master of Science
Homeland Security And
Safety Engineering
Interdisciplinary—
chemistry, statistics, and
security and safety
engineering.
Penn State
Online—
World
Campus
Master of Homeland
Security in Public Health
Preparedness
Interdisciplinary-- disaster
planning and
coordination; agricultural
safety and biosecurity;
critical infrastructure
protection against disaster
and terrorist emergencies;
the political, legal,
psychological, and social
aspects of terrorism and
natural disasters; the
principles of hazard
analysis and incident
management with respect
to natural disasters, as
well as chemical,
biological, radiological,
and nuclear incidents
All courses are
delivered entirely
online in an
‘asynchronous’ format
that permits busy
professionals from
across the nation and
around the globe the
flexibility they want
and need in graduate
study.
Thesis
requirement that
takes two
semesters. Final
thesis class must
be taken in
student’s final
semester.
Candidates for the
program must possess a
Bachelor's degree in
engineering,
engineering technology,
physical sciences, or a
closely related area
from an accredited
university. Interested
students from other
disciplines may be
admitted to the program
but may be required to
complete additional
courses.
Busy professionals in
the field of health care
and in other disciplines
related to homeland
security.
SSE 610 A Safety and
Security
Engineering
Capstone Course
(Prerequisites:
SSE 602 through
SSE 609)
SSE 610 B Safety and
Security
Engineering
Capstone Course
(Prerequisite:
SSE 610A)
I couldn’t find
either a thesis
requirement or a
comprehensive
exam
requirement for
this program.
Masters program
expanded from a 15
hour certificate
program.
Online program.
Internship requirement
for those who do not
have in-depth work
experience in the
practical aspects of
Homeland Security
Mgmt.
54 quarter units
involving twelve
courses.
Eight campus locations
where this program is
available.
The only homeland
security degree offered
by a medical school in
the United States.
30 hour online program
San Diego
State
University
Master's Degree in
Homeland Security
Towson
University
Masters In Homeland
Security Management
Degree (M.S.)
Interdisciplinary—
colleges of Health and
Human Services;
Sciences; Professional
Studies and Fine Arts;
Arts and Letters,
Sciences, and Business
Interdisciplinary—
homeland security, risk
protection and
management, emergency
response, and crisis
communications
University of MA in Homeland
Security
Denver
Interdisciplinary—
international studies,
program training, and
statistics.
Ongoing or previous
work in Homeland
Security or military
settings are very
attractive in prospective
students, as it indicates
a level of appropriate
accomplishment and
maturity to deal with
the security of the
nation.
Thesis
requirement
Students admitted to the
program must have a
bachelor's degree in a
relevant field (for
example, political
science, health science,
information technology,
or others) and at least
three years postbachelor's experience
working in health,
information technology,
security, or related
areas.
Graduate
Project—The
extended project
offers a practical,
real-world
problem-solving
experience for
the student.
Students will
form working
groups to take on
a project from an
agency of
federal, state, or
local
government, or a
private business.
Masters thesis or
substantial
research paper
strongly
recommended.
Program is designed for
mid-career
professionals
(applicants need to have
at least seven years of
professionally related
work experience).
30 unit program
Students are strongly
encouraged to
participate in local and
regional readiness
exercises and to do
internships in areas such
as the County
Emergency Operations
Center, Red Cross, City
of San Diego Homeland
Security department,
and other government
and corporate groups
engaged in securing the
homeland. Students are
also encouraged to
participate in
International efforts to
understand nations and
challenges globally for
security and shared
homeland security
Entire program can be
completed online if the
student chooses.
6 units of
internship/project in
order to graduate.
Internship required.
60 credits—students are
expected to complete
program in 12 months.
Belmont
Abbey
College
Security Studies
National
Graduate
School
Certificate in Homeland
Security
Interdisciplinary—
research methods,
philosophy, and statistics.
Interdisciplinary—
homeland security and
quality systems
management.
The major will be ideal
for students who want
to pursue careers in
law, law enforcement,
justice, social work,
mediation, and
community
development.
Internship
requirement.
The program is well
suited to: Law
Enforcement
Professionals;
Transportation Security
Specialists; Emergency
Response Teams;
Health Care
Professionals; Military
Planners; Community
Service Administrators
The curriculum
is comprised of
four courses
which form an
integrated series
of modules
leading to
student devised
private, public or
military sector
project.
Senior Thesis
To be accepted as a
major in the CJSS
program students must
have taken six credit
hours of criminal justice
courses and have earned
not less than a “C”
grade in each of the two
courses. Students may
not declare a major until
this criterion is met.
Studies culminate in a
student devised
strategic, operational or
tactical Homeland
Security plan for
implementation in their
workplace. Courses are
scheduled on two
alternating weekends a
month, where weekends
are defined as Friday
night 6-10PM and
Saturday 8AM-5PM.
Courses are taken one at
a time in order and each
course lasts two
weekends.