Global Security Studies Graduate Certificate
Learn the skills to be an authority in the global security space. With global dynamics constantly changing, security threats are always a pressing issue affecting everything from the work we do to the way we travel and interact. That’s why we designed our Global Security Studies graduate certificate to provide an in-depth understanding of the field as well as the knowledge to map out how global security needs could develop into the future.
Program Overview
The Global Security Studies graduate certificate equips students to understand international politics, evaluate security threats, and engage in complex dialogue.
This program is designed for both currently enrolled graduate students and new students looking to enhance their professional credentials. You will learn about topics such as nuclear security science, international law and politics, arms control, and more, preparing you for careers in industry and government.
If you’re interested in forging interdisciplinary knowledge that prepares you to tackle pressing issues in cybersecurity, terrorism, and U.S. national security, then this certificate will set you up for success. You will graduate with advanced analytical and risk assessment skills, allowing you to communicate complex concepts with clarity and precision.
Why Study Global Security Studies?
Our program emphasizes learning from diverse perspectives and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. With guest speakers from various sectors—government, business, and even the sciences—frequently invited to speak to students, you will learn from leading experts in their field, gaining real-world knowledge and expertise.
Additionally, our courses emphasize examining U.S. and global security threats from historical, political, sociological, economic, and geographical lenses, meaning you can fuse knowledge from various disciplines into a unique interdisciplinary framework.
Our faculty are also committed to mentoring and helping students succeed in whatever their personal and professional goals are, embodying the Volunteer spirit.
What Can You Do with a Graduate Certificate in Global Security Studies After Graduation?
A graduate certificate in Global Security Studies opens doors to a wide range of careers by giving students the analytical tools they need to evaluate U.S. and global security threats. By promoting a collaborative discussion on conflict processes, international law, U.S. national security institutions, and more, students come out of this program with the skills to model threats and think critically about past events and future possibilities. Students also engage with well-versed experts who have a wide range of backgrounds in areas such as business, science, and government to help students grasp the complexities of U.S. and global security.
After graduation, many of our alumni go into fields such as the U.S. government, media, international business, politics, and more. In government, you could work as a diplomatic security agent, foreign service officer, or counterterrorism analyst, with employers like overseas aid agencies or intelligence and law enforcement. Internationally, you could become a geopolitical risk consultant, global investigator, or business continuity planner, taking your skills into more strategic roles. You could also go into media and journalism as a global security correspondent or news security manager, or politics as a political risk analyst, legislative assistant, or political party officer.
Whichever field you decide to pursue, this program will prepare you for the world of global security and give you the tools you need to be successful in your area of work.
Featured Courses
NE 530 Nuclear Security Science and Analysis
This course teaches students to understand nuclear threats, the evolution of nuclear threats to present day, and issues and strategies in detecting nuclear threats. Issues and approaches for nuclear security concerns, both state-level (e.g., nonproliferation and deterrence) and asymmetric concerns (e.g., nuclear smuggling and nuclear terrorism) will be explored, as well as exercises in applied nuclear security scenarios.
POLS 548 Public Policy Process
Students will learn theoretical, formal, and empirical analysis of the roles, functions and decision-making processes of public policymakers, including legislative, executive, and judicial actors.
POLS 571 Foundations of Security Studies
In this course, students will analyze decision making in security affairs. Topics covered include deterrence theory, crisis stability, nuclear strategy, and the political uses of military coercion.
POLS 684 International Law
This course provides the analytical tools necessary to evaluate the legality of events under international law. Presents the law relevant to politics, such as the use of force, human rights, war crimes, international courts, principles of jurisdiction, and air, space and sea law.
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