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Curriculum 694
Updated August 15, 2011
Security Studies is a multidisciplinary field based on the traditional academic disciplines of Political Science, History, and Economics. The doctoral program in Security Studies seeks to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to do work of the highest professional quality in these areas, with emphasis on understanding the challenges and characteristics of modern security and defense policy. Successful completion of the program normally requires three years of full-time study beyond the Master’s degree, including the completion of a doctoral dissertation of sufficient scope and quality to constitute an original and independent contribution to knowledge.
Admissions Requirements and Procedures: Admission to the PhD program in Security Studies is available to officers of all the U.S. armed services, civilian federal employees, a limited number of Department of Defense contractors, and to individuals sponsored by selected allied nations. Civilians interested in a career in government service may also apply under the auspices of the National Security Institute (NSI), information on which is available here. All applicants must possess a Master’s Degree in Security Studies or a closely-allied field (Political Science, History, Economics, etc.) by the time doctoral instruction begins.
Admissions decisions for military officers, international applicants, and DoD-affiliated civilians are made twice per year. Deadlines are March 15 (for a decision in late March) and September 15 (for a decision in late September). Consideration of applications from non-DoD civilians is currently suspended.
Applicants should submit a statement describing their research interests and qualifications for doctoral work, along with the following supporting materials:
- A completed application form, which may be obtained online here, or by emailing the NPS Admissions Office at grad-ed@nps.edu.
- Certified transcripts of all prior graduate and undergraduate work. Transcripts of work completed at NPS are not necessary.
- Scores from the Graduate Record Examination, taken within the last five years.
- At least two (2) letters of recommendation, either from former professors or from others in a position to judge the candidate’s academic potential.
- All applicants must provide an expository writing sample, chosen to demonstrate their ability to do high-quality academic work.
- Attestation by the student's sponsoring agency or nation that it is committed to tuition and salary support during the student's residence at NPS.
- International applicants who are not currently enrolled at NPS, and whose native language or language of prior instruction is other than English, must submit current results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English.
Domestic applicants should forward the materials to the NPS Director of Admissions. International students should forward theirs to the International Graduate Programs Office.
Writing samples should be forwarded additionally in electronic form to the NPS Director Admissions. All relevant postal and email addresses are provided below.
General Degree Requirements: Doctoral study may commence in any academic quarter. The NSA doctoral program requires approximately one year of formal course work and directed reading beyond the Master’s degree. Required courses include a core sequence of seminars in strategic theory, international relations, international political economy, comparative politics, and American foreign policy. These are supplemented by a program of reading intended to prepare the student to take the qualifying examination. Additional courses, chosen to assist students in developing their dissertation topic, or to satisfy specific sponsor requirements, will be incorporated based on individual circumstances. Such work must include a field of concentration (curricular electives) comprised of four or more related courses in a single topical (e.g., WMD proliferation, terrorism) or regional specialty (e.g., Middle East, Eurasia).
Degree Candidacy and Dissertation Research: Doctoral students are admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. following successful completion of written and oral qualifying examinations, and the submission of a satisfactory dissertation proposal. All three requirements will normally be met no later than the end of the fifth quarter in residence. Students admitted to candidacy for the degree are thereafter expected to be engaged full-time in dissertation research and writing. Once a dissertation has been submitted the candidate must defend it before a board comprised of the dissertation committee, a representative of the Academic Council, and other interested observers.
Points of Contact for Additional Information
Questions about academic requirements should be addressed to:
Professor Mohammed Hafez
Department of National Security Affairs
1411 Cunningham Road, Bldg. 302
Monterey, CA 93943
831-656-2066
mmhafez@nps.edu
Admissions materials for domestic applicants, as well as questions about admissions and related administrative issues, should be addressed to:
Ms. Susan Dooley
Director of Admissions
Naval Postgraduate School
1 University Circle, He-022
Monterey, CA 93943
831-656-3093 / DSN 756-3093
grad-ed@nps.edu
Questions about service-related matters should be addressed to:
Program Officer
Department of National Security Affairs
1411 Cunningham Road, Bldg. 302
Monterey, CA 93943
831-656-2067
nsaprogramofficer@nps.edu
Admissions materials for international applicants should be addressed to:
Colonel Gary Roser, USMC (Ret.)
Assistant Dean for International Programs
School of International Graduate Studies
1 University Circle, He-047D
Monterey, CA 93943
831-656-2186 / DSN 756-2186 / Facsimile 831-656-3064
Groser@nps.edu
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