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Studies & Degrees in International Security

International security is the part of international relations that studies threats to states and people and the ways governments and international organisations respond to them. It covers war and armed conflict, terrorism and political violence, intelligence, nuclear weapons, peacekeeping and conflict resolution, and newer topics such as environmental and human security. Massey University describes its programme as multidisciplinary: it draws on strategic studies, international relations, military studies, political science, area studies and political and human geography.

Students learn to analyse conflicts and security policies, to assess risk, to work with sources and data, and to write clear briefings and research reports. Typical questions, in Massey's words, are which geopolitical forces shape the security environment, what causes different types of political violence and whether state building works.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. Few universities offer the subject as a first degree; it is more often a track inside political science or international relations. San Diego State University has an interdisciplinary major in International Security and Conflict Resolution (ISCOR), set up in 1993 and housed in its Political Science Department. It has 15 units of preparation and 36 units of major requirements, with three areas of emphasis: conflict, justice and environment in the global system. Students must gain an international experience and finish with an internship or a senior thesis.
  • Postgraduate certificate and diploma. Massey University offers a Postgraduate Certificate in International Security of 60 credits, taken in 1 year part-time, and a Postgraduate Diploma of 120 credits, 1 year full-time.
  • Master's degree. Most specialised programmes are at this level. Massey's Master of International Security has 180 credits and takes 1 year and 6 months full-time, at level 9 of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. It ends with a 60-credit research report and can be taken with a specialisation in Counter-Terrorism or Intelligence. Entry requires a relevant bachelor's degree with at least a B- average, or the certificate or diploma; applicants with extensive professional experience in security agencies may also be admitted.
  • Doctorate. Research on security is done within doctorates in international studies or political science. The Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington offers a two-year Master of Arts in International Studies and a PhD for students who already hold a master's degree.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 4 active schools for international security: 2 in the United States, 1 in Spain and 1 in New Zealand. The two in the United States are San Diego State University and the University of Washington, in Seattle. Massey University, in New Zealand, teaches its international security qualifications by distance and online, and the master's degree is open to international students who study online from outside New Zealand.

In Spain the directory lists CEAS Internacional, in Palencia, the education division of the Corporación Euroamericana de Seguridad. It offers courses, conferences and seminars on security and risk management and issues its own certificates; ask the school what recognition they carry. Teaching at the other three schools is in English.

Careers

Graduates work for governments, armed forces, police and customs services, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and private risk consultancies. Massey lists roles in analysing regional politics, conflict resolution, customs and police work, defence forces, peacekeeping, policy analysis and risk management. The University of Washington names the US Department of State, the Department of Justice and the Department of Defense among the employers of Jackson School graduates, and San Diego State University gives an intelligence analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency as an example of an ISCOR graduate.

Official statistics do not count security analysts as one occupation. For political scientists, the nearest group in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics handbook, a master's degree is the typical entry qualification, the federal government employs 68 percent of them, and employment in the United States is projected to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Is international security a bachelor's or a master's subject?

Mostly a master's subject. A few universities, such as San Diego State University, have a bachelor's major; elsewhere students take a first degree in political science, international relations or a related field and specialise afterwards.

Can I study international security online?

Yes. Massey University teaches its Master of International Security by distance and online, and it is open to international students studying from outside New Zealand.

How long does the master's degree take?

Massey's master's degree takes 1 year and 6 months full-time (180 credits). The MA in International Studies at the University of Washington is a two-year programme.

What do I need to be admitted?

For Massey's master's degree, a relevant bachelor's degree with a grade average of at least B-, or its postgraduate certificate or diploma in the same subject. Applicants must also meet Massey's English language standards.