The BA/BS in National Security Studies (NSS) will provide an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for public and private sector national security careers through acquisition of subject matter expertise and analytical skills. This baccalaureate degree program will expose students to the wide variety of critically important security challenges and issues faced in the twenty-first century such as: terrorism and cyber security, nuclear proliferation and weapons of mass destruction, piracy and global pandemics, sovereignty and the use of force, and civil liberties and the rule of law. Students will also acquire skills such as critical thinking, writing, briefing, and analysis techniques specifically tailored for the national security field, but applicable in many others. Whether students are interested in counterterrorism, homeland security, intelligence gathering and analysis, foreign relations, law and politics, diplomacy, or international development, the NSS BA/BS will provide insight and skills needed to succeed in these professions.
Graduation Plan
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
Plan of Study Grid First Year |
Semester 1 |
ENGL 1010
| Introduction to Academic Writing CC
or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | 3 |
HIST 1700 | American Civilization AS | 3 |
| 3 |
HLTH 1100
| Personal Health and Wellness TE
or Fitness for Life TE | 2 |
| 3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 |
Semester 2 |
ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning QL | |
| Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra QL | |
| Introduction to Statistics QL | |
| Introduction to Statistics with Algebra QL | |
| College Algebra QL | |
| College Algebra with Preliminaries QL | |
| 3 |
POLS 1100 | American National Government AS | 3 |
| 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Second Year |
Semester 3 |
| 3 |
PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
NSS 2010 | Introduction to National Security WE | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Semester 4 |
| 3 |
POLS 2100 | Introduction to International Relations SS | 3 |
| 2 |
| 4 |
| 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Third Year |
Semester 5 |
NSS 3050 | US Intelligence Community | 3 |
NSS 301R | National Security Area Studies | 3 |
NSS 4210 | Law of War WE | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Semester 6 |
NSS 4250 | National Security Career Strategies | 3 |
NSS 4300 | Intelligence Cycle and Collections | 3 |
NSS 4400 | Statecraft and Strategy | 3 |
POLS 3680 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Fourth Year |
Semester 7 |
POLS 4500 | International Conflict and Security | 3 |
NSS 4600 | National Security Law | 3 |
NSS 475R | Current Topics in National Security | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 |
Semester 8 |
NSS 4990 | National Security Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 1 |
| 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 |