MA in Global Security Studies
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
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 | |
Energy and Environmental Security | ||
Climate Change and National Security | ||
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.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses - Customizable | ||
Select one the following: | 3 | |
Fundamentals of Quantitative Methods | ||
Quantitative Methods | ||
Historical Methods | ||
Total Credits | 3 |
Strategic Studies Concentration
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
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
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 |