The program trains early to mid-career professionals who seek the analytical and substantive capabilities to address the security challenges of the 21st century. In addition to understanding the traditional military and diplomatic approaches that characterized the state-centric security framework of the last century, the program's core courses will provide a firm grounding with regard to public-private and international collaborative responses to emerging and unconventional threats, ranging from transnational crime, terrorism, illicit trade, proliferation of emerging technologies and WMD, and corruption to state fragility and ethnic and sectarian conflict.
Admissions
See Graduate Admission Policies for general information on graduate admission to George Mason University. Specific information on application requirements and deadlines for the MA in International Security program may be found on the Schar admissions website.
Completed applications for fall and spring semesters are reviewed on a rolling basis, with late applications considered on a space-available basis. Students may be admitted for nondegree study and apply a limited number of credits toward the master's degree should they choose to apply to the degree program later, in accordance with university policy.
Policies
Students admitted to a Schar program will be terminated from Schar upon receiving one grade of F and are no longer eligible to take courses in Schar. Per university regulation, students are terminated from the university after accumulating grades of F in two courses or 9 credits of unsatisfactory grades in graduate courses. For additional information, see Graduate Policies.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 36
International Security Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOD 760 | National Security Technology and Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 540 | International Relations | 3 |
| GOVT 745 | International Security | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| or GCP 501 | Data Analysis for Global Political Economy | |
| PUBP 504 | Grand Strategy | 3 |
| PUBP 505 | Politics and Practice of International Security Policy | 3 |
| PUBP 506 | Ethics and the Use of Force | 3 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 15 credits of electives in consultation with academic advisor. | 15 | |
Concentrations
If desired, a student has the option to declare one of three concentrations. Students without a concentration may select any courses from the concentrations listed below, or other courses as approved by the advisor or program director.
Concentration in Intelligence (IN)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses of the 15 elective credits within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following: 1 | 12 | |
| BIOD 610 | Advanced Topics in Global Health Security (Specific topic approved by advisor) | 1-4 |
| BIOD 722 | Examining Terrorist Groups | 3 |
| BIOD 725 | Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction | 3 |
| POGO 740 | Cyber Conflict and International Security | 3 |
| POGO 750 | Topics in Policy and Government (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor) | 1-3 |
| PUBP 570 | Policy Writing Fundamentals | 3 |
| PUBP 710 | Topics in Public Policy (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor) | 1-3 |
| PUBP 754 | Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy | 3 |
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Additional courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor.
Concentration in Peace Operations (PO)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses of the 15 elective credits within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following: 1 | 12 | |
| PUBP 650 | International Conflict and Crisis Response | 3 |
| PUBP 651 | Peace and Stabilization Operations | 3 |
| PUBP 652 | Strategies for Peace and Stabilization Operations | 4 |
| PUBP 655 | State- and Institution-Building | 4 |
| PUBP 710 | Topics in Public Policy (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor) | 1-3 |
| PUBP 751 | International Police Operations | 3 |
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Additional courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor.
Concentration in Transnational Challenges (TC)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select four courses of the 15 elective credits within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following: 1 | 12 | |
| BIOD 722 | Examining Terrorist Groups | 3 |
| POGO 740 | Cyber Conflict and International Security | 3 |
| POGO 750 | Topics in Policy and Government (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor) | 1-3 |
| PUBP 710 | Topics in Public Policy (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor) | 1-3 |
| PUBP 751 | International Police Operations | 3 |
| PUBP 763 | Illicit Trade | 3 |
| PUBP 764 | Transnational Crime and Corruption | 3 |
| PUBP 765 | Human Smuggling and Trafficking | 3 |
- 1
Additional courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor.
Bachelor's Degree (any)/International Security, Accelerated MA
Overview
Highly-qualified undergraduates in any major may apply to the accelerated MA degree program in International Security. If accepted, students will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in their current undergraduate major and a Schar School master’s degree within a reduced timeframe. More information on bachelor's/accelerated master's programs may be found in AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees.
Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. See AP.6.9 Requirements for Master's Degrees.
Admission
Please see the Graduate Admissions Policies for general information on graduate admissions to George Mason University. Information specific to the accelerated master’s program may be found on the Schar School BAM website.
To be considered for this accelerated master's program, applicants must have completed a minimum of 60 credits and have a minimum GPA of 3.60 in all coursework applied to the degree.
Accelerated Option Requirements
While undergraduate students, accelerated master's students may complete up to twelve graduate credits, all of which may be counted toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees. Any remaining credits may be held as reserve graduate credit and count only toward the master's degree. The courses are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GOVT 540 | International Relations | 3 |
| POGO 511 | Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government | 3 |
| PUBP 504 | Grand Strategy | 3 |
| PUBP 506 | Ethics and the Use of Force | 3 |
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in these courses and in coursework applied to their major.
Upon completion and conferral of the undergraduate degree in the semester indicated in the application, students must submit the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition Form to apply credits to the master's degree. Students must begin their master's program the semester immediately following conferral of the undergraduate degree (excluding summer).