National Security Studies (MA)

This program is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is available online and at select U.S. campuses, but it is not available at the St. Louis main campus. Please see the Campus Locations and Offerings section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the major actors, issues, threats, institutions, principles, techniques, laws and terminology in modern national security. 
• Assess the ethical, legal and political implications of national security policy and decision-making.
• Apply theories and techniques of national security to current issues in the field.
• Create a research product that synthesizes knowledge and skills in the area of national security studies.

Program Curriculum

36 Credit Hours

The 36 credit hours required for the master of arts (MA) degree in national security studies must include the following courses:

• NTSC 5000 Introduction to National Security Studies (3 hours)
• NTSC 5100 Research Methods in National Security Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• NTSC 6000 Capstone in National Security Studies (3 hours)
  or NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies* (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement* (0 hours)
• Four courses (12 hours) from one of the available program tracks
• Two course electives (6 hours) from other tracks in the program
• Two courses (6 hours) from any graduate courses at Webster University

*Students taking NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies (6 hours) must also register for INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement (0 hours). INTL 6900 acknowledges successful completion of all thesis requirements including conforming to university and departmental guidelines, as well as depositing the thesis in the University library. The six credit hours for NTSC 6250 are drawn from the 3 hours reserved for the NTSC 6000 capstone and 3 elective credit hours in the program.

International, Regional, National Security Track

• INTL 5400 International Political Economy (3 hours) 
• INTL 5550 War and Diplomacy (3 hours)
• INTL 5890 Terrorism in World Politics (3 hours)
• INTL 5560 US Foreign Policy (3 hours)
  or INTL 5570 Comparative Foreign Policy (3 hours)
• INTL 5585 Food and Water Security (3 hours)
• INTL 5595 Energy Security (3 hours)
• INTL 5600 Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5625 Middle East Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5635 Western European Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5645 Asian Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5655 African Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5665 South and Central Asia Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5675 Central and Eastern European Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5685 Latin American Area Studies (3 hours)
• NTSC 5200 National Security Policy Development (3 hours)
• NTSC 5300 National Security Decision-Making (3 hours)
• NTSC 5860 Issues in National Security Studies (3 hours)
• NTSC 6500 Internship (3-6 hours) 

**Students completing INTL 5590 and three INTL electives from this track qualify for a graduate certificate in international and regional security, where the certificate is available. No more than two area studies courses (INTL 56XX) can count toward the certificate. To gain the certificate, students must pay a second graduation fee.

Cybersecurity Operations Track

• CSSS 5000 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 hours)
• CSSS 5120 Cybersecurity Infrastructures*** (3 hours)
• CSSS 5130 Cybersecurity Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence*** (3 hours)
• CSSS 5140 Cybersecurity Strategic Operations (3 hours)
• CSSS 5160 Encryption Methods and Techniques*** (3 hours)
• CSSS 5210 Cybersecurity Law and Policy*** (3 hours)
• CSSS 5220 Cybersecurity Threat Detection*** (3 hours)
• CSSS 5250 Use and Protection of Space Assets (3 hours)

***Students completing these five courses (with one course counting as an open elective) and CSSS 5230 (also counting as an open elective) qualify for a graduate certificate in cybersecurity - threat detection, where the certificate is available. To gain the certificate, students must pay a second graduation fee.

Criminal Justice Track

• CRIM 5050 Organization and Administration of Criminal Justice (3 hours)
• CRIM 5060 Policing and Law Enforcement (3 hours)
• CRIM 5070 Institutional and Community Corrections (3 hours)
• LEGL 5450 American Constitutional Law (3 hours)

Students completing these courses qualify for a graduate certificate in administration of justice, where the certificate is available. To gain the certificate, students may pay a second graduation fee.

Not all of the courses listed above will be available to all students at all locations. If a required course is waived, the student must choose an elective course from this major. 

The required courses and electives listed in this core may be taken as directed studies, subject to the conditions stated in the Directed Studies section under Academic Policies.

Dual Degree Option: MA in National Security Studies/MS in Criminal Justice

48 Credit Hours

Upon completion of the 48 credits, two separate diplomas are issued at the same time. The two degrees cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

Required Courses

• CRIM 5000 Ethics and Decision Making in Criminal Justice (3 hours)
• CRIM 5100 Theories of Crime and Justice (3 hours)
• LEGL 5480 Criminal Actions (3 hours)
• NTSC 5000 Introduction to National Security Studies (3 hours)
• NTSC 5100 Research Methods in National Security Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• CRIM 6000 Capstone (3 hours)
  or NTSC 6000 Capstone in National Security Studies (3 hours)
  or NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies* (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement* (0 hours)

*Students taking NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies (6 hours) must also register for INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement (0 hours). INTL 6900 acknowledges successful completion of all thesis requirements including conforming to university and departmental guidelines, as well as depositing the thesis in the University library. The six credit hours for NTSC 6250 are drawn from the 3 hours reserved for the NTSC 6000 capstone and 3 elective credit hours in the program.

Electives

• 4 courses from the Criminal Justice Track in the MA in national security studies
• 4 courses from the International and Regional Security Track in the MA in national security studies
• 1 additional course drawn from electives in either the MA in national security studies or the MS in criminal justice

Dual Degree Option: MA in National Security Studies/MS in Cybersecurity Operations

54 Credit Hours

This program is only available at select U.S. locations.

Upon completion of the 54 credits, two separate diplomas are issued at the same time. The two degrees cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

Required Courses

• CSSS 5000 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 hours)
• CSSS 5110 Cybersecurity Communications (3 hours)
• CSSS 5120 Cybersecurity Infrastructures (3 hours)
• CSSS 5130 Cybersecurity Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence (3 hours)
• CSSS 5140 Cybersecurity Strategic Operations (3 hours)
• CSSS 5160 Encryption Methods and Techniques (3 hours)
• CSSS 5180 Social Engineering (3 hours)
• CSSS 6000 Practical Research in Cybersecurity (3 hours)
• NTSC 5000 Introduction to National Security Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• NTSC 5100 Research Methods in National Security Studies (3 hours)
• NTSC 6000 Capstone in National Security Studies (3 hours)
  or NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies* (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement* (0 hours)

*Students taking NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies (6 hours) must also register for INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement (0 hours). INTL 6900 acknowledges successful completion of all thesis requirements including conforming to university and departmental guidelines, as well as depositing the thesis in the University library. The six credit hours for NTSC 6250 are drawn from the 3 hours reserved for the NTSC 6000 capstone and 3 elective credit hours in the program.

Electives

• 2 elective courses chosen from the MS in cybersecurity operations
• 4 electives chosen from the International and Regional Security Track of the MA in national security studies

Dual Major Option: National Security Studies/International Relations

51 Credit Hours

Upon completion of the 51 credits, a single degree is awarded with two major concentrations. The two programs cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

Required Courses

• INTL 5000 Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
• NTSC 5000 Introduction to National Security Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives (3 hours)
  or NTSC 5100 Research Methods in National Security Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• INTL 6000 Capstone in International Relations (3 hours)
  or NTSC 6000 Capstone in National Security Studies (3 hours)
  or INTL 6250 Thesis* (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement* (0 hours)
  or NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies* (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement* (0 hours)

*Students taking INTL 6250 Thesis or NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies (6 hours) must also register for INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement (0 hours). INTL 6900 acknowledges successful completion of all thesis requirements including conforming to university and departmental guidelines, as well as depositing the thesis in the University library. The six credit hours for INTL 6250 or NTSC 6250 are drawn from the 3 hours reserved for the NTSC 6000 capstone and 3 elective credit hours in the program.

Electives

• 4 additional courses (12 hours) from the International and Regional Security Track in the MA in national security studies
• 4 courses (12 hours) from electives in other tracks in the MA in national security studies
• 2 courses (6 hours) from the Comparative Politics Cluster of the MA in international relations
• 2 elective courses (6 hours) in the MA in international relations

Sequential Degree in National Security Studies

Students can complete a sequential degree in national security studies by completing 27 credit hours, including:

• NTSC 5000 Introduction to National Security Studies (3 hours)
• NTSC 5100 Research Methods in National Security Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• NTSC 6000 Capstone in National Security Studies (3 hours)
  or NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies* (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement* (0 hours)
• 4 courses (12 hours) in one of the available tracks in the MA in national security studies
• 1 elective (3 hours) from any course in the MA in national security studies

*Students taking NTSC 6250 Thesis in National Security Studies (6 hours) must also register for INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement (0 hours). INTL 6900 acknowledges successful completion of all thesis requirements including conforming to university and departmental guidelines, as well as depositing the thesis in the University library. The six credit hours for NTSC 6250 are drawn from the 3 hours reserved for the NTSC 6000 capstone and 3 elective credit hours in the program.

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119 

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are admitted to their graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. Students are advanced to candidacy status after successfully completing 12 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In specialized programs, courses required as prerequisites to the program do not count toward the 12 credit hours required for advancement.