MSSS Degree Requirements

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Core RequirementsInternational SecurityHomeland Security PolicyScience & Technology SecurityEnvironmental Health & Occupational Safety
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For the non-thesis option you have to take five core courses, six elective courses from your area of emphasis, an internship course and successfully complete a comprehensive exam. For the thesis option you take five core courses, four elective courses from your area of emphasis, one internship course, and two thesis courses taken in two successive terms leading to the submission of a substantive research paper, and complete a comprehensive exam. In order to complete the MSSS in two years or as a full-time student you should take three courses per term. If you take fewer than six courses a year it will take you longer to finish your degree. The degree has to be completed within five years from the start date.

Your Core Requirements Are:

  • SECS 6000 – Security Studies Foundations (typically offered in Fall Term)
  • SECS 6155 – Changing Nature of National Security (typically offered in Fall Term)
  • *SECS 6260 – Intelligence and National Security (typically offered Spring Term)
  • SECS 6300 – Research Methods for Security Studies (typically offered in Fall Term)
  • SECS 6350 – Weapons of Mass Destruction (typically offered as a Summer Course)
  • SECS 6450 – Internship
  • **SECS 7000 – Thesis or Non-Thesis Option

*The core requirement has changed as of AC 2021/22 and will not affect students who have been admitted before AC 2021/22.

**Students may choose to bypass the thesis option by taking two additional courses (6 credits) in their Area of Emphasis. Students selecting the thesis option must complete a minimum of 6 credits of SECS 7000 Thesis coursework. Students pursuing the Area of Emphasis in Science and Technology Security, Computer Science Specialization must combine SECS 7000 Thesis (3 credits) with CSCI 7000 Thesis (3 credits) for the total of 6 credits of thesis.

Students must complete the above required course work plus one area of emphasis.

All students must also pass a comprehensive exam.

Your Elective Courses for the Area of Emphasis International Security Are:

  • HIST 6210 – War and Society
  • HIST 6260 – The United States and the Middle East, 1783 to the Present
  • INTL 6005 – Communications Across Cultures
  • INTL 6105 – Global Issues
  • INTL 6500 – International Problem Solving and Decision Making
  • INTL 6510 – Global and Multicultural Discourse
  • POLS 6080 – American Foreign Relations
  • POLS 6330 – Political Modernization and the Non-Western World
  • POLS 6360 – Causes of International War
  • POLS 6382 – Global Terrorism
  • POLS 6425 – War, Peace and Security in the Middle East
  • POLS 6430 – Seminar in International Politics
  • POLS 6440 – Seminar in International Organization
  • SECS 6250 – Policy and Practice of Security
  • SECS 6270 – Intelligence Analysis
  • SECS 6320 – Cyber Warfare and Security
  • SECS 6330 – Covert Action and Hybrid Warfare
  • SECS 6380 – The Art of Statecraft and International Security
  • SECS 6390 – Human Security
  • SECS 6420 – Globalization and Security
  • SECS 6430 – Special Topics Seminar

Your Elective Courses for the Area of Emphasis in Homeland Security Policy Are:

  • BIOL 6110 – Bioterrorism and Biosecurity
  • EHST 6010 – Fundamentals of Environmental Health
  • HIST 6260 – The United States and the Middle East, 1783 to the Present
  • JUST 5000 – Comparative Criminal Justice
  • JUST 6502 – Criminal Justice and Terrorism
  • JUST 6620 – Transnational Crime
  • PADM 6163 – Environmental Policy Analysis
  • PADM 6170 – Intergovernmental/ Interagency Relations
  • PADM 6220 – Leadership and Ethics in the Public Sector
  • PLAN 6015 – Hazards and Emergency/ Disaster Planning
  • POLS 6345 – Comparative Public Policy
  • POLS 6382 – Global Terrorism
  • SECS 6260 – Intelligence and National Security
  • SECS 6270 – Intelligence Analysis
  • SECS 6320 – Cyber Warfare and Security
  • SECS 6400 – The Foundation of Homeland Security and Defense
  • SECS 6430 – Special Topics Seminar
  • SOCI 5500 – Seminar in Population

Your Elective Courses for the Area of Emphasis in Science and Technology Security Are:

Computer Science Specialization

  • CSCI 5800 – Artificial Intelligence
  • CSCI 6100 – Cryptography and Information Security
  • CSCI 6130 – Networking and Telecommunication
  • CSCI 6300 – Cryptographic Protocols
  • CSCI 7000 – Thesis

Information Technology Specialization

  • ICTN 6823 – Information Security Management
  • ICTN 6865 – Fundamentals of Network Security
  • ICTN 6878 – Legal and Ethical Issues in Information Technology
  • IDIS 6515 – Logistical Security and Safety Management
  • ITEC 6011 – Technological Ethics, Diversity, and Leadership
  • ITEC 6050 – Technology Management Strategy
  • ITEC 6600 – Quality Systems

Your Elective Courses for the Area of Emphasis in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety Are:

  • EHST 6010 – Fundamentals of Environmental Health
  • EHST 6100 – Elements in Environmental Engineering
  • SAFT 6290 – Fire Protection and Prevention and Emergency Management
  • SAFT 6402 – Applied Safety Management
  • SAFT 6410 – Systems Safety and Risk Analysis

Degree Plan for Full-Time Students:

First Year

  • SECS 6000 – Security Studies Foundations
  • SECS 6155 – Changing Nature of National Security
  • SECS 6260 – Intelligence and National Security
  • Security Studies Elective Course
  • Security Studies Elective Course
  • Security Studies Elective Course

Second Year

  • SECS 6300 – Research Methods for Security Studies
  • SECS 6350 – Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
  • SECS 6450 – Security Studies Internship
  • Security Studies Elective Course
  • Security Studies Elective Course (or First Thesis Course)
  • Security Studies Elective Course (or Second Thesis Course)
  • Comprehensive Exam
Full-time students can complete the MSSS within two years and may take courses in this order. Part-time students would take only one or two courses per term and finish in three or four years.