International Security (M.A.)
Faculty
John Davis, Assistant Professor of International Security Studies
Description
The International Security Studies Master of Arts Program equips students with a strong foundation to confront the ever-changing fast paced and challenging international security environment. With an emphasis on traditional and emerging transnational security threats, students are prepared for analytical, operational, and leadership careers in international security in the public and private sectors.
Degree Requirements
The MA ISS is structured around Core, Concentration, Elective, and Research components.
There are currently five concentrations available in the MA ISS Program. Students may elect to choose up to two concentrations, or they can take six electives. The available concentrations are:
The Intelligence concentration equips students with analytical skills to assess long-standing traditional and non-traditional threats. Additionally, this concentration examines the need and use of a legal/ethical framework to understand the international security environment. Finally, the concentration informs students about the critical intelligence concepts (process of collection, dissemination, consumption, assessment and feedback) required in policymaking and execution.
Terrorism represents one of the more diverse concentrations within the ISS program. In this concentration students examine the counterterrorism strategies that were implemented during the Clinton, Bush, and Obama administrations to confront the Al Qaeda transnational terrorist network. Additionally, students are offered an in-depth exploration of terrorism in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia.
The Africa and International Security concentration explores a number of critical issues: the impact of weak and failed states, the proliferation of safe havens and the expansion of terrorist-related violence, the link between piracy in Somalia and Al Shabab, and the response by regional organizations to local food, resource, environmental and human security threats.
The Middle East and International Security concentration examines the peace negotiations that governed the historic Arab-Israeli and the intractable Israeli-Palestinian disputes. On another level, the concentration exposes students to Iraq’s fledgling democratic experiment; Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons and the consequent regional instability, and it informs students about the on-going “unfinished revolutions” and the impact these tumultuous changes have had on regional stability.
The Gender and International Security concentration provides students with a systematic approach to the gendered causes, costs, and consequences of violent conflicts and the links between gender and human conceptions of security.
Core Courses (15 credit hours)
Topics covered in the core classes include but are not limited to: (1) the history of the field, (2) competing conceptions of security, (3) the role of theory, (4) the use of force by state and non-state actors, (5) the role of regional and international organizations, (6) the impact of globalization on security, (7) the emergence of new rivals to the United States, (8) how states deal with transnational crime and transnational terrorism. The objective of the core courses is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental issues that impact international security.
ISS 501
ISS 505
ISS 511
ISS 515
ISS 521
Concentrations
Terrorism Concentration:
ISS 621
ISS 625
ISS 629
Intelligence Concentration:
ISS 631
ISS 635
ISS 640 Strategic Intelligence, Policymaking and ExecutionExamines intelligence as an instrument for the prism of policy execution. Through the extensive employment of case studies and theory, this course examines the available instruments and how those instruments interact with policymaking and execution. Additionally, the course examines the legal/ethical framework of their use in the international security environment. Formerly ISS 640 - Strategic Intelligence and US Security.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
Gender and International Security Concentration:
ISS 661 Gender and International SecurityThis course provides a comprehensive examination of the intersection of gender and security. In this evolving aspect of security, students taking this course will have the opportunity to survey a host of issues to include: the role of feminist theory and security, gendered approaches to human trafficking, exploration of the impact of war on women, the role of gender and the evolution of environmental security, the incorporation of gendered concerns during the period of peacekeeping operations, and the course examines the displacement of refugees and the capture of non-combatants through the lens of gender. Having completed this course, students will be able to employ gender as an important analytical tool in understanding security, and finally, students will have a greater appreciation of the multiple gender issues that illustrate the synergy between security and gender politics.
Prerequisites: ISS 500
Credits: 3
ISS 665
ISS 667
Africa and International Security Concentration:
ISS 645
ISS 653
ISS 655
Middle East and International Security Concentration:
ISS 651 Middle Eastern Culture, Language, and ReligionsThis course provides an introduction to Middle Eastern and Arabic language, religion and culture as a foundation for understanding today's Arab world. This course provides students with an introduction to Arabic language, the Muslim religion, and an appreciation of Arab political and economic structures, literature and art in the light of recent political, economic and social changes. Students will be able to utilize information about the culture, languages and religions of the Middle East to develop culturally alert policy decisions and conduct threat assessments of existing and emergent groups.
Prerequisites: ISS 500, ISS 530
Credits: 3
Core: Regional Studies Elective
ISS 662
ISS 675
Elective Courses (18 credit hours)
Electives may be selected from among any ISS courses in the catalog and also approved cross-listed courses in the SPS catalog. Electives may also be taken from other schools in the Washington Consortium with prior permission or accepted as transfer credit in accordance with the policy on acceptance of graduate transfer credit.
ISS 530 International Law & Global Security
ISS 550 Democratization, Development and International SecurityScholars have incessantly argued the strategy of ""Democratic Peace theory""-the theory that suggests that although democratic states often participate in wars with non-democratic states, historically they do not wage war against fellow democratic states-is central to the protection of U.S. security interests around the world. Within and outside of this group of scholars many have suggested the theory has another valuable component-development. Divided into several parts, this course evaluates democratic peace theory and tests its utility covering the contemporary of period (1980 to the present). Second, the course surveys the role of democratic development in select regions of the world and evaluates the extent to which U.S. security was enhanced. Finally, there are two significant questions that will be addressed in this course: To what degree did the promotion of democracy around the world, particularly in those countries where Islam is present, produced unintended consequences that caused or led to instability that threatened U.S. regional security interests? How did U.S. decision makers respond to these threats to American security? Formerly ISS 550 - Democratization and US National Security.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
ISS 601
ISS 605
ISS 611
ISS 621
ISS 629
ISS 635
ISS 640 Strategic Intelligence, Policymaking and ExecutionExamines intelligence as an instrument for the prism of policy execution. Through the extensive employment of case studies and theory, this course examines the available instruments and how those instruments interact with policymaking and execution. Additionally, the course examines the legal/ethical framework of their use in the international security environment. Formerly ISS 640 - Strategic Intelligence and US Security.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
ISS 645
ISS 651 Middle Eastern Culture, Language, and ReligionsThis course provides an introduction to Middle Eastern and Arabic language, religion and culture as a foundation for understanding today's Arab world. This course provides students with an introduction to Arabic language, the Muslim religion, and an appreciation of Arab political and economic structures, literature and art in the light of recent political, economic and social changes. Students will be able to utilize information about the culture, languages and religions of the Middle East to develop culturally alert policy decisions and conduct threat assessments of existing and emergent groups.
Prerequisites: ISS 500, ISS 530
Credits: 3
Core: Regional Studies Elective
ISS 660 Intelligence and International TerrorismThis course will examine the role intelligence and law enforcement play in combating international terrorism. Particular attention will be given to assessing the threat potential of terrorist groups, disrupting networks, interdicting financial and personnel flows, and other aspects of combating global terror networks.
ISS 661 Gender and International SecurityThis course provides a comprehensive examination of the intersection of gender and security. In this evolving aspect of security, students taking this course will have the opportunity to survey a host of issues to include: the role of feminist theory and security, gendered approaches to human trafficking, exploration of the impact of war on women, the role of gender and the evolution of environmental security, the incorporation of gendered concerns during the period of peacekeeping operations, and the course examines the displacement of refugees and the capture of non-combatants through the lens of gender. Having completed this course, students will be able to employ gender as an important analytical tool in understanding security, and finally, students will have a greater appreciation of the multiple gender issues that illustrate the synergy between security and gender politics.
Prerequisites: ISS 500
Credits: 3
ISS 665
ISS 670 Narco-Terrorism
ISS 675
ISS 681
ISS 682
ISS 683
ISS 684
ISS 685
ISS 686
ISS 687
ISS 688
Research (6 credit hours)
The research component includes ISS 680 for 3 credit hours; and ISS 690, a thesis under directed study for 3 credit hours. The thesis may optionally be substituted by additional elective coursework requiring substantial analytical written products.
ISS 680 Research MethodsThis course focuses on the fundamentals of research and analysis at the graduate level. The course will cover research design, strategies for data collection, hypothesis testing, forms of reasoned argument, problem of fallacies, and the process of producing a written thesis.
3 credits
ISS 690 Master's ThesisStudents will produce a Master's thesis under the guidance of a faculty advis or. During the course of a semester students are expected to propose research topics based on their course work or outside interests. Additionally, the topic may be derived from professional experiences or current events. Class meetings are designed to provide guidance in the clarification of issues, the collection of data, and the assembly of various parts of the document or paper and preparation for defense or the presentation of the final paper. Students may enroll in the course only after completing 36 credits, three of which must include the Research Course (ISS 680).
3 Credits
ISS 698 Independent StudyCourse Description: Allows students the opportunity to develop an appreciation and understanding of a program-related topic in an area of new learning through research conducted under the direction of a faculty member. Requires approval of Program Chair.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Approval of Program Chair
ISS 699 International Security Studies InternshipProvides students with the opportunity to analyze, assess and evaluate theoretical and practical concepts in the context of the professional work environment through on-the-job training and approved field-work study programs, under the joint direction and supervision of a faculty member and work-site supervisor.
Pre-requisite: Approval of faculty supervisor or program chair.
3 credits
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