MSECUR - Security Studies (MA)

This course will introduce students to major themes covered in the M.A. program of study. It is designed to provide students with foundations for the other core courses and so must be completed in the first term of student enrollment. Students will read key texts on international security, military history, and strategy, as well as works on the theory and research practice of history and political science. They will write essays on the assigned readings, participate in on-line synchronous and asynchronous discussions, and compose a final paper or take a final exam on the issues raised by the course.

This course is a rigorous exploration of interdisciplinary methods in history and political science.

Students will take at least two courses on the history of regions of central importance to international affairs. These courses may focus on East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, or other strategic areas.

Political Science will offer two courses. International Security will focus on traditional issues of the causes of war, deterrence, the relevance/role of international institutions, arms proliferation, the politics of international intervention, and conflict resolution. The second, Terrorism and Transnational Security, will cover security issues that have been given increasing emphasis over recent years. Examples include the unique context of security problems in the developing world, demographic developments and internal/external  conflict, environmental issues and their relation to security, economic globalization and security, post-conflict reconstruction, and humanitarian emergencies. Students will choose at least one of these courses to fulfill the program requirements.

This course is a study of research methods in history and political science culminating in a piece of original research in Security Studies.

Students completing the thesis option will take 24 credit hours of coursework consisting of the 18 credit hours of required courses and six credit hours of electives. They will also take six credit hours of Master’s Research in either Political Science or History.