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The International Security Studies program exposes future decision makers and analysts to security challenges faced by the United States and the global community. We designed the program for both military and civilian personnel seeking careers across a wide range of security-related fields, including intelligence, foreign policy analysis, foreign service, and military careers. The program is also useful for those seeking a career in government, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations with interests in international affairs.
As contemporary security goes beyond military capacity and force, our courses cover a wide variety of topics, including armed conflict, terrorism, foreign policy, and the environment, as well as a number of regions around the globe, including Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, Latin America, and the United States.
The ISS program is fully online, and all courses are 8-weeks long to accommodate students working full-time or part-time while engaging with the ISS program.
For more information, please visit our website at https://iss.sbs.arizona.edu/
School of Government and Public Policy
The School of Government and Public Policy was formed in 2009 by combining two highly ranked programs – Political Science and Public Administration and Policy - and bringing them under a single roof. Located in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, SGPP is one of the largest schools at the University of Arizona and is uniquely situated to serve as a new model for public affairs education by promoting high-caliber research, teaching, community outreach, and civic leadership.
By offering leading programs in political science, international relations, public policy, and public management, SGPP prepares students for leadership positions in the public and nonprofit sectors.
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Arizona International Direct - Online
Arizona Online - Online
To be admitted into the ISS master's program, we require:
The application consists of:
No standardized tests are required for the department, however the Graduate College requires proof of English proficiency for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language. Please see the Graduate College for more.
The ISS program is eligible for federal financial aid and several different military programs. Please contact the Veterans Office for further details.
Domestic Applicants:
International Applicants:
International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.
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The Masters of Arts in International Security Studies requires 34 graduate credit hours, which includes 11 regular courses and the final professional colloquium. All courses are electives; there are no required courses or concentrations.
All students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
All ISS courses, with the exception of the capstone (POL 695A) are consdiered elective courses.
PA 561A: Climate Change: Science, Policy, and Security
PA 579: Intelligence and U.S. National Security
POL 511A: The Psychology of Group Conflict and Cooperation
POL 516A: Strategic Nonviolent Conflict
POL 519: Terrorism and Counterterrorism
POL 520A: How Terrorism Ends
POL 521A: Transnational Organized Crime and National Security
POL 528A: Democracy and Peace
POL 530A: Dynamics of Civil Wars
POL 540A: Global Political Economy
POL 542A: European Politics and Society
POL 544A: International Relations of Sub-Saharan Africa
POL 545A: Security in New Democracies
POL 546A: Politics of Islamism
POL 548A: Politics and Security in Central Asia
POL 550A: Research Design in the Social Sciences
POL 551: Russian Foreign Policy
POL 553A: Media and International Affairs
POL 555: American Foreign Policy
POL 556A: Issues in Cybersecurity and Cyberwar
POL 557A: The Politics of Cybersecurity
POL 558A : Politics in the Digital Age
POL 559A: Comparing US and EU Democracy Promotion Policy in the MENA region
POL 561A: Concepts of Human Rights and Security
POL 562A: Natural Resources and International Security in Latin America
POL 563A: Gender as a Component of International Security
POL 564: International Relations of East Asia
POL 565A: International Politics of the Middle East
POL 567A: Emerging Powers in the Global System
POL 569A: Armed Conflict
POL 578A: Geospatial Intelligence – Foundations and Concepts
POL 580A: Mexican National Security
POL 581A: Domestic Politics and American Foreign Policy
POL 582A: International Law and Organizations
POL 588A: The Politics of Energy Security
Please see our course list for more information
For select students, a 4-unit thesis is an option instead of doing the capstone course (POL 695A).
The thesis can be approved by the program director after the student has completed half of the required course work (18 units/6 courses).
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
| Program-level Information | |
|---|---|
| Application Acceptance Rate | 81.55% |
| Avg. Time-to-degree (years) | 2.26 |
| Department-level Information | |
| Enrollment Percent Male | 63.48% |
| Enrollment Percent Female | 36.52% |
| Enrollment Percent International | 0% |
| Enrollment Percent URM | 30.43% |