Global Security Studies, Master of Arts

MA in Global Security Studies

globalsecurity.jhu.edu

The curriculum of the JHU Master of Arts in Global Security Studies is designed for students who are looking to develop or expand their expertise regarding the security challenges of the 21st century. Students confront the complexities of today’s security environment with the latest policy and theoretical tools for analysis and action. Particular strengths of the program are energy and environmental security; irregular warfare; intelligence; cyber and space strategy; and the economic aspects of war.  

Courses draw from the best in academia and policy making in order to offer students the cutting edge in intellectual preparedness for career advancement. Classes are designed to maximize individual attention, encourage student contribution, build analytical skills, and provide the tools for engaging in original research.

This is a 12-course program, with classes offered in the evenings at the Washington, DC Center of the Johns Hopkins University (near Dupont Circle) and online. The degree can be pursued at a part-time or a full-time pace, on-site or online, or in both modes. All undergraduate majors are welcome. 

Admissions Criteria for all Advanced Academic Programs 

PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

A 5-page, double-spaced essay on the following question:

“America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to Freedom and independence of all.” — John Quincy Adams

This quote reflects the trends in American national security for much of the nation’s history. Are the implications that can be drawn from the statement consistent with the demands of American national security in the 21st century? Discuss this problem with regard to some recent policy issues or political events, citing at least three references.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• Five required core courses
• Two customizable core courses
• Five elective courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses - Required:
AS.470.603	Introduction to Global Security Studies 1	3
AS.470.605	Global Political Economy	3
AS.470.692	Military Strategy & National Policy	3
AS.470.851	Qualitative Methods in Social Science	3
AS.470.855	Research Study Seminar	3
Core Courses - Customizable
Select one of the following:		3
AS.470.773	Energy and Environmental Security
AS.470.601	Climate Change and National Security
AS.470.657	Energy, Security, and Defense
Total Credits		18

¹

This class should be taken in your first semester.

Research Study Courses

This program does not require a thesis. However, it does require the completion of a rigorous research study of journal article length. The research study should make use of the techniques learned in the courses in the methods sequence below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses - Customizable
Select one the following:		3
AS.470.854	Fundamentals of Quantitative Methods
AS.470.709	Quantitative Methods
AS.470.853	Historical Methods
Total Credits		3

Strategic Studies Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AS.470.606	U.S. Security in a Disordered World	3
AS.470.611	Introduction to Terrorism Studies	3
AS.470.630	Congress and the Making of Foreign Policy	3
AS.470.632	Security Issues in South Asia	3
AS.470.633	Transnational Organized Crime: Gangsters of the Global Underworld	3
AS.470.640	Challenges of Transnational Security	3
AS.470.653	Russian National Security Policy	3
AS.470.654	Deterrence & Crisis Stability in the New Era of Geopolitical Competition	3
AS.470.657	Energy, Security, and Defense	3
AS.470.659	Radicalization and Deradicalization in Terror Networks	3
AS.470.668	The Politics and Process of American Foreign Policy	3
AS.470.676	From al-Qaeda to Islamic State: Understanding the Roots of the Global Jihad Movement	3
AS.470.679	Armed Social Movements: Terrorism Insurgency and Crime	3
AS.470.685	The Challenge of Change: Innovation in Military Affairs	3
AS.470.697	Intelligence and Counterterrorism	3
AS.470.704	Strategies in Insurgent and Asymmetric Warfare	3
AS.470.706	American Military History from the World Wars to Today	3
AS.470.713	Resisting Tyranny: Strategic Nonviolent Conflict	3
AS.470.725	China's Impact on Global Security	3
AS.470.740	Cyber Policy, Strategy, Conflict and Deterrence	3
AS.470.744	Trade and Security	3
AS.470.745	Terrorist Financing Analysis and Counterterrorist Finance Techniques	3
AS.470.746	Iran: Security Policy of a Revolutionary State	3
AS.470.748	The Art & Practice of Intelligence	3
AS.470.750	Modern Conflict in the Middle East	3
AS.470.751	Politics and Security in the Middle East	3
AS.470.756	Understanding Modern War	3
AS.470.760	Comparative Intelligence Systems	3
AS.470.767	Defense Policy	3
AS.470.789	International/Non-Governmental Organizations and Civil Society in Conflict Zones	3
AS.470.792	Social Science in National Security and Intelligence	3
AS.470.775	Great Power Competition	3
AS.470.777	Technology and Terrorism	3
AS.470.778	Conflict, Security, and Development	3
AS.470.784	Technology of Weapons of Mass Destruction	3
AS.470.785	Nuclear Proliferation and Non-Proliferation	3
AS.450.781	The Global Cold War	3
AS.480.661	International Public Relations and Public Diplomacy	3
AS.473.600	The Art & Practice of Intelligence	3
AS.473.601	Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy	3
AS.473.605	Strategic Culture Analysis	3
AS.473.609	Introduction to Intelligence in the Five Eyes Community	3
AS.473.646	Covert Action and National Security	3

Energy and Environmental Security Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AS.470.601	Climate Change and National Security	3
AS.470.657	Energy, Security, and Defense	3
AS.470.663	Human Security	3
AS.420.604	Hydrology & Water Resources	3
AS.470.773	Energy and Environmental Security	3
AS.420.605	Maritime Law and the Environment	3
AS.420.606	Climate Justice	3
AS.420.608	Oceanic & Atmospheric Processes	3
AS.420.612	Sustainability Science: Concepts and Challenges	3
AS.420.614	Environmental Policymaking and Policy Analysis	3
AS.420.624	Ocean Stewardship and Sustainability	3
AS.420.644	Sustainable Cities	3
AS.420.650	International Environmental Policy	3
AS.420.665	Climate Change on the Front Lines: The Study of Adaptation in Developing Countries	3
AS.420.668	Sustainable Food Systems	3
AS.420.676	Global Scarcity in Freshwater Systems: Crisis and Solutions	3
AS.420.679	International Water: Issues and Policies	3
AS.425.602	Science of Climate Change and its Impact	3
AS.425.603	Climate Change Policy Analysis	3
AS.425.637	International Climate Change Policy	3
AS.425.645	Global Energy Policy	3
AS.425.647	Energy and Water Security in South Asia	3
AS.425.652	Nuclear Energy: Technology, Policy, and Regulations	3

Economic security concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AS.470.601	Climate Change and National Security	3
AS.470.633	Transnational Organized Crime: Gangsters of the Global Underworld	3
AS.470.651	Corruption and Democratic Governance	3
AS.470.657	Energy, Security, and Defense	3
AS.470.663	Human Security	3
AS.470.689	NGOs in Development and Global Policy-Making	3
AS.470.724	Managing Dangerous Futures: Global Political Risk Analysis	3
AS.470.725	China's Impact on Global Security	3
AS.470.744	Trade and Security	3
AS.470.745	Terrorist Financing Analysis and Counterterrorist Finance Techniques	3
AS.470.766	Economic Growth:The Politics of Development in Asia, Africa and Beyond	3
AS.470.778	Conflict, Security, and Development	3
AS.420.605	Maritime Law and the Environment	3
AS.420.606	Climate Justice	3
AS.420.624	Ocean Stewardship and Sustainability	3