Admission Requirements

Application deadline

Apply by May 20, 2022 to begin in the fall 2022 semester.

You can complete this program 100% online, in seated classes (Washington, D.C.) or a hybrid of both.

Get started

Apply to this program through a central application: GradCAS. Review the sections below before you begin.

Entrance requirements

To be considered for admission to the Doctorate of Defenses and Strategic Studies (DDSS), a student must meet the requirements listed below.

  1. Completion of the baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  2. Cumulative GPA of 3.00 over the last 60 hours of academic work taken.
  3. A personal philosophy statement that addresses the applicant's professional career goals and how the program will help accomplish these goals.
  4. Two letters of recommendation from graduate faculty or professionals acquainted with the student’s academic work or research and analytical skills.
  5. A brief C.V.
  6. 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).