Curriculum

The 40-credit-hour M.A. program in Security Policy Studies includes a Core Field and two Specialized Fields.

The Core field (9 credits) focuses on vital international security issues. All students take the following required courses.

Specialized Field I (minimum 9 credits) allows students to focus on contemporary security issues, defense, or to pursue a regional concentration.

Available fields include:

Transnational Security Issues

Intelligence

U.S. National Security Policy and Process

Political Psychology

Defense Policy and Defense Programs

Conflict and Conflict Resolution

Homeland Security Policy

Strategic Concepts and Military History

Science, Technology, and National Security Policy

Security and Development

Regional Security

Specialized Field II may be selected from the fields listed above, another relevant specialty offered by the Elliott School's other M.A. degree programs, or a tailor-made program defined in consultation with the Program Director.

An economics requirement to provide education in international economics.

A tool requirement to enhance professional qualifications, either in statistics or in a foreign language.

Four credits of skills courses, designed to provide practical skills and knowledge that students find useful to perform effectively in their careers. One credit of language coursework may count towards this requirement with approval of the program director.

A three-credit capstone course (IAFF 289), taken at the end of the program, that tests a student's abilities to address a policy problem using the skills and knowledge acquired in their course of study.