Admission Requirements
Application deadline
Next semester for doctoral program admission consideration: Fall 2024.
Application dealine: April 5, 2024 to begin in the Fall 2024 semester.
The Defense and Strategic Studies Professional Doctorate (DDSS) degree program is
now accepting applications for a fall 2024 semester start. Applications MUST be submitted
via the GradCAS application portal (https://gradcas2024.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login) with all required materials by April 5, 2024. Please direct all DDSS program questions
to JulieJeffrey@MissouriState.edu.
Important Notice for International Students
Effective immediately (April 1, 2024), the Missouri State University School of Defense
and Strategic Studies programs are not eligible for and will NOT be approved for F-1
student applications. The School of Defense and Strategic Studies programs will continue
to accept applications from international students to participate in online asynchronous
and virtual ZOOM and/or MS Teams evening classes from their home countries.
You can complete this program via online asynchronous couses and/or virtual courses
via ZOOM or MS Teams.
Get started
Apply to this program through a central application: GradCAS. Review the sections
below before you begin.
Doctor of Defense and Strategic Studies
This program operates in Fairfax, Virginia, and is certified by the State Council
of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
John Rose, Program Director
9302 Lee Hwy, Suite 760, Phone 703-218-3565
DSS1@MissouriState.edu
Program description
The Doctor of Defense and Strategic Studies (DDSS) program provides knowledge and
skills in the field of international security studies with an emphasis on countering
the threat posed by Weapons of Mass Destruction to U.S. and allied national security.
This program will prepare national and international security professionals to work
in various settings, including civilian and military public service, non-governmental
“think tanks,” and commercial defense industry. Graduates specialize in various global
or regional international security issues and are able to assess specific security
challenges, formulate prospective options for addressing those challenges, and identify
the prospective policy and other requirements needed to help implement those options
to strengthen U.S. and allied security conditions.
Entrance requirements
To be considered for admission to the Doctorate of Defenses and Strategic Studies
(DDSS), a student must meet the requirements listed below.
- Completion of the baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 over the last 60 hours of academic work taken.
- A personal philosophy statement that addresses the applicant's professional career
goals and how the program will help accomplish these goals.
- Two letters of recommendation from graduate faculty or professionals acquainted with
the student’s academic work or research and analytical skills.
- A brief C.V.
- Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 79 (internet-based)
on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a 6.0 on the International
English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Retention requirements
Consistent with Graduate College policy, students may not accumulate more than 9 hours
of grades below a B- and remain in the program
Degree requirements (30 or 66 hours)
Foundation Courses (36 hours)
Foundation courses may be taken from the school’s master’s degree program (courses
listed below). Students who hold a master’s degree in a related field can be admitted
with advanced standing and may not be required to complete additional foundation courses.
- DSS 601 Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control
- DSS 632 Seminar on International Security Affairs
- DSS 700 Strategy and U.S. Defense Policy
- DSS 707 Congress, National Security, and WMD
- DSS 710 Seminar on International Terrorism and Security
- DSS 719 Strategic Culture
- DSS 720 Internship Training in DSS Policy
- DSS 721 Missile Defense, Proliferation and Contemporary Warfare
- DSS 722 Emerging Strategic Challenges
- DSS 723 Counterproliferation
- DSS 725 Seminar on Instruments of State Power
- DSS 727 Chemical and Biological Warfare
- DSS 796 Directed Reading and Research in Defense and Strategic Studies
- DSS 797 Special Topics: Cyber Warfare/Security
Core Courses (15 hours)
- DSS 720 Internship Training in DSS Policy (3 hours)
- DSS 801 Advanced Nuclear Strategy, Deterrence, and Arms Control (3 hours)
- DSS 832 Advanced Survey and Writing in International Security Affairs (3 hours)
- DSS 896 Doctoral Capstone Project (6 hours)
Advanced Seminars (15 hours)
Advanced seminar courses focus on application of foundational knowledge. Students
work with their advisor to choose courses that are relevant for their focus of study.
Course options are listed below.
- DSS 702 Seminar on Regional Security Problems
- DSS 705 NATO Security Issues
- DSS 708 Seminar on Contemporary Security Issues in the Former USSR
- DSS 713 Intelligence, Counterintelligence, and Covert Action
- DSS 724 Leadership in National Security Policy
- DSS 726 Chinese Military Power
- DSS 728 Terrorism: Advanced Research Topics
- DSS 737 Advanced Studies in Chemical and Biological Warfare
- DSS 797 Special Topics: Security Challenges in Latin America
- DSS 840 Seminar on National Security Strategies
Guidance to doctoral program applicants
Applicants to MSU’s doctoral program in Defense and Strategic Studies should adhere
to the following guidance:
- Letters of Recommendation: Letters of Recommendation should be submitted on the letterhead of the organization
of the person writing the letter if possible. At a minimum, letters must contain their
writers’ contact information and be signed. Recommenders should be advised that they
may be contacted by DSS as part of the evaluation process. Ideally, letters should
be written by the applicant’s former professors and/or by individuals who supervise
the applicant professionally or once did.
- Personal Statements: Personal Statements of no more than 500 words should summarize the applicant’s academic
and professional background and explain how the applicant intends to apply a professional
doctorate in Defense and Strategic Studies in their professional pursuits. Personal
statements should be carefully composed and consistent with accepted manuals of style.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required, but applicants are encouraged to take the GRE to demonstrate their
readiness for top-level graduate education.
- Applicants can expect to receive a call from a member of the faculty admissions board to discuss their background,
goals, and expectations of the doctoral program.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in previous college-level work is required for admission to the doctoral program.
Historically, the average GPA of admitted students has been closer to 3.5.