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.

Banner Code: PP-MA-INLS

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 36

International Security Core Courses

BIOD 760National Security Technology and Policy3
GOVT 540International Relations3
GOVT 745International Security3
Select one of the following:3
POGO 511Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government3
or GCP 501 Data Analysis for Global Political Economy
PUBP 504Grand Strategy3
PUBP 505Politics and Practice of International Security Policy3
PUBP 506Ethics and the Use of Force3
Total Credits24

Electives

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)

Select four courses of the 15 elective credits within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following: 112
BIOD 610Advanced Topics in Global Health Security (Specific topic approved by advisor)1-4
BIOD 722Examining Terrorist Groups3
BIOD 725Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction3
POGO 740Cyber Conflict and International Security3
POGO 750Topics in Policy and Government (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor)1-3
PUBP 570Policy Writing Fundamentals3
PUBP 710Topics in Public Policy (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor)1-3
PUBP 754Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy3
1

Additional courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor. 

Concentration in Peace Operations (PO)

Select four courses of the 15 elective credits within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following: 112
PUBP 650International Conflict and Crisis Response3
PUBP 651Peace and Stabilization Operations3
PUBP 652Strategies for Peace and Stabilization Operations4
PUBP 655State- and Institution-Building4
PUBP 710Topics in Public Policy (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor)1-3
PUBP 751International Police Operations3
1

 Additional courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor. 

Concentration in Transnational Challenges (TC)

Select four courses of the 15 elective credits within the area of concentration. Preapproved courses include the following: 112
BIOD 722Examining Terrorist Groups3
POGO 740Cyber Conflict and International Security3
POGO 750Topics in Policy and Government (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor)1-3
PUBP 710Topics in Public Policy (Specific Topic Approved by Advisor)1-3
PUBP 751International Police Operations3
PUBP 763Illicit Trade3
PUBP 764Transnational Crime and Corruption3
PUBP 765Human Smuggling and Trafficking3
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 major and an MA in International Security with a reduced number of overall credits and within a reduced time frame, sometimes within five years. 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 Graduate Admission Policies for general information on graduate admission to George Mason University. Specific information on application requirements and deadlines may be found on the Schar admissions 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:

GOVT 540International Relations3
POGO 511Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government3
PUBP 504Grand Strategy3
PUBP 506Ethics and the Use of Force3

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).