MASTER OF ARTS IN

NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES

Requirements (46 units)

Students should purchase a CSUSB Bulletin during the Academic Year they are accepted into the M.A. program for the most up-to-date requirements and obligations.

Students are strongly encouraged to take a course of study in a second language. A second language, particularly in a strategic language with a high degree of proficiency, can receive a hiring bonus; but any competency in a second language can make the student more attractive to federal agencies. Language study does not count towards graduate credit.

The Master of Arts in National Security Studies is a professionally oriented, interdisciplinary, graduate-level program housed within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The program is intended for evening students primarily and, therefore, classes are predominantly scheduled between 6 and 10 p.m.

Prerequisite courses (12 units)

1. MATH 110. College Algebra (4)
2. PSCI 203. American Government (4)
3. PSCI 484. National Security Policy (4)

Degree Requirements (46 units)

Core courses (16 units)

1. PSCI 600. Theory and History of Strategy (4)
2. PSCI 601. Strategic Systems and Strategic Thought (4)
3. PSCI 602. International Security (4)
4. Four units chosen from:

MATH 611. Operations Analysis (4)
PSCI 609. International Relations Theory (4)
PSCI 624. Politics of National Security (4)

Note: MATH 611 requires a prerequisite of a statistics course.

Field (12 units)

Students must take either A or B in consultation with their faculty advisor, courses to be selected from the list below and approved by the program director:

A. Regional Area of Concentration (12 units)

Eurasia
Middle East or

Others, to be arranged between faculty advisor, students and approved by the NSS Director. 

B. Functional Area of Concentration (12 units)

Intelligence
Terrorism or

Others, to be arranged between faculty advisor, students and approved by the NSS Director. 

Electives (16-18 units)

Eighteen units chosen from among courses not used for either the core or field requirements listed below.

ECON 630. International Economic Issues (4)

ENG 631. Approaches to Professional Writing (4)

HIST 521. The Soviet Union (4)

HIST 556. Foreign Relations of the United States (4)

MATH 611. Operations Analysis (4) (if not taken as part of the core requirements)

PSCI 540. Seminar in Comparative Politics (4) when the topic is Central Asian Politics, Eastern Europe, or Middle East Politics

PSCI 581. Political Economy of Russia (4)

PSCI 590. Seminar in International Relations (4) when the topic is Political Intelligence, Seapower, or International Terrorism

PSCI 604. Seminar in International Law (4)

PSCI 605. Topics in Strategy (4) (maximum of 8 units allowed)

PSCI 609. International Relations Theory (4) (if not taken as part of core requirement)

PSCI 611. Regional Security of Eurasia (4)

PSCI 613. Middle East Security (4)

PSCI 621. Strategic Intelligence (4)

PSCI 622. Arms Control (4)

PSCI 624. Politics of National Security (4)

PSCI 625. American Foreign Policy (4)

SSCI 695. Directed Graduate Studies (2 or 4) for a maximum of (10)

SOC 606. Sociology of Terrorism (4)

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 10 quarter hours of acceptable post baccalaureate credit taken at an accredited institution of higher learning may be applied toward the requirements for the M.A. in National Security Studies. Selected Department of Defense courses (War College, Command and Staff College and Squadron Officers School) have been approved for transfer credit. Determination of acceptability of transfer credit requests is made upon receipt of official transcripts by the Office of Records, Registration and Evaluations and upon recommendation of the director of national security studies.

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