Before you apply
If you're in one of the following programs:
- Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT APNE)
- Ft. Leonard Wood
Please contact us before applying.
If you're in one of the following programs:
Please contact us before applying.
Decide the semester you want to start and apply by one of the following dates:
Semester | Date |
---|---|
Fall | August 1 |
Spring | December 1 |
Summer | May 1 |
Admission is competitive.
This program operates in Fairfax, Virginia, and is certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
Department of Defense and Strategic Studies
9302 Lee Hwy, Suite 760, Phone 703-218-3565
dss1@missouristate.edu
The primary objective of the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies program is to provide professional, graduate level academic education and training for students planning careers in the fields of national security policy, international security affairs, defense analysis, arms control, and education. In essence, this is a graduate international studies program with emphasis on security problems, strategic interests, and U.S. policy and policy-making. It is a program in public affairs.
The Defense and Strategic Studies program offers two options:
To remain in the program, the student must maintain, by the completion of the second semester, a minimum GPA of 3.00 in DSS courses and in all graduate work, and make satisfactory progress toward the MS degree.
Admission to the program requires a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours, a satisfactory Graduate Record Examination score (e.g., 290 or higher combined score on the verbal and quantitative), and letters of recommendation from undergraduate faculty or professionals acquainted with the students academic work or research and analytical skills. A relatively low GRE score may be compensated by an impressive undergraduate GPA and strong letters of recommendation.
Demonstrated graduate-level performance through a minimum of nine hours may compensate for GRE or undergraduate GPA weaknesses.
Core Requirements. All students will take two core courses: Seminar on Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control, DSS 601 (3); and Seminar on International Security Affairs, DSS 632 (3). A minimum of 30 additional seminar hours would be selected by the student from the other DSS courses offered.
For the DSS/General option, the full array of elective courses is available.
For the DSS/WMD option, electives from the DSS course offerings that focus on WMD topics are required. See Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Graduate Certificate.
Research. A student will be required to complete either the Thesis option or the Non-thesis option.
Our faculty reviews your application and decides whether to admit you.
You’ll usually learn your admission status within one month after you’ve applied.
Apply through GradCAS. Contact the Office of International Services if you have questions.