Master of Arts in Security Studies

Who should apply?

The graduate Security Studies Program (SSP) provides you with an expansive curriculum, opportunities for in-depth research and engagement in critical dialogue on security issues to protect the world. We welcome recent graduates who can apply recent theoretical undergraduate education to practical policy applications. However, if you are more experienced, this program will enhance your practical knowledge with critical thinking, analytical writing and theory-based solutions. Many of our students have mid- to long-term experience in the military, intelligence and defense contracting sectors.

If you currently work or intern in the field, we accommodate, support and encourage your part-time study. The majority of classes and social events take place in the evening so that you can participate equitably in a rich student experience. A range of courses offered in the summer term allow you to complete the program in just two years as a part-time student. Depending on life’s other demands, you can also modulate from full- and part-time status on a semester-by-semester basis.

Curriculum

Our 36-credit curriculum sits at the intersection of theory and practice. Courses cover diverse security issues equipping you with a substantive background in the modern security environment’s theories, methods and issues. With about 80 different courses offered each semester, you can choose to gain a more general security background or specialize in your particular area of interest.

Career paths

As a graduate of the Security Studies Program, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue an impactful career across a variety of sectors and, our School of Foreign Service Graduate Career Services team will help you get there. SSP students have gone on to fill key positions in the U.S. and foreign governments, the defense industry, the private sector, research institutions and non-governmental and international organizations.

“I have many good memories of SSP but I especially enjoyed the crisis simulations we had in class. It was the best way to apply the knowledge you get from classes and understand what it’s like to be a policymaker.”

Anna Danau, SSP’13

“What I learned in the classroom assisted me in establishing a framework to my studies. However, the real learning involved attending events with guest speakers, and gaining access to world-class experts while also engaging them in dialogue.”

Héloïse Wiart, SSP’21

“SSP is an environment of learning and to gain the greatest amount of knowledge, you will need to be willing to be uncomfortable and to sometimes get it wrong. But years later, when placed in a similar position in a real situation, you can take comfort that you have experienced something similar before and lean on it when you make a decision or recommendation.”

Tom Ogden, SSP’10

“What I learned in the classroom assisted me in establishing a framework to my studies. However, the real learning involved attending events with guest speakers, and gaining access to world-class experts while also engaging them in dialogue.”

Nathan Gwira, G’20

“On a daily basis, when dealing with issues of international security today and relations between Sweden and other states and organizations, I often mentally refer back to the many things learnt during my time at Georgetown. The factual knowledge and analytical tools I picked up there serve as frames of reference and a stable foundation for my own analysis and for the work I produce.”

Eddy Fonyódi, SSP’10

1 of 5

in the world for international relations master’s programs

#1

2024 Foreign Policy Magazine

employed or not seeking employment within six months of graduation

97%

SSP Class of 2024