The core curriculum is composed of seven required courses (19 credit hours total), split between four sections of study.

FOUNDATIONS OF SECURITY STUDIES (3 CREDIT HOURS)

HISTORY AND SECURITY OF PIVOTAL REGIONS (6 CREDIT HOURS)

Students will take at least two courses on the history of regions of central importance to international affairs. Chose any two of the following course offerings.

Note: Special Topics courses listed as HIST 860 also fulfill this requirement.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND TRANSACTIONAL SECURITY (6 CREDIT HOURS)

METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN (4 CREDIT HOURS)

These interdisciplinary courses are intended to prepare students to do research in security studies and assist them in executing a research project. HIST 810 / POLSC 810 covers theories, methods,and research design; HIST 815 / POLSC 815 is the culminating experience of the MA program and involves the research and writing of a publishable quality research paper of roughly 30 pages in length.

Note: Students must take HIST/POLSC 810 before taking HIST/POLSC 815.

Generally, students are free to choose their elective courses, though it is advisable to discuss with those choices with their major professor before enrollment to ensure they will be approved by the student's supervisory committee. It is preferred that students choose political science or history courses at a 700-level or above to fulfill their elective credit hours. Courses from other departments or below the 700-level, need to be approved by the supervisory committee.

RESIDENCY AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students in this accelerated degree program should observe the following general course hour guidelines:

• A minimum of a 3.0 GPA in courses included in Program of Study
• A minimum of 18 hours in residence
• A minimum of 18 hours in Political Science
• A minimum of 18 hours of courses numbered 700 or above.
• A maximum of three hours of "non-class" seminars or courses (readings, problems, internships)
• Students must be enrolled for a minimum of 1 credit hour the semester they expect to graduate
  
  

POLICY ON COMPETENCY REVALIDATION

If a student's program of study includes any course credits more than six years old at the time the student is about to complete all degree requirements, the final examination will normally include an examination over the body of course work listed on the program of study. The form and content of this examination is determined by each Master's program which may impose additional requirements for revalidating the student's competency in the supporting course work. In a Master's program for which such a revalidation examination may be inappropriate, an exception to this policy may be sought from the Dean of the Graduate School.