Security Studies Degree Program

Security Studies is an interdisciplinary major that provide students who earn a major in Security Studies will have the skill set necessary for job placement in the national security bureaucracy of the United States government, national/homeland security organizations in the private sector, think tanks or for placement in national security or homeland security graduate program.  Specifically, the student will be able to identify common threats to national security, homeland security, understand policy creation and implementation, legal justifications and limits in the security sphere, think critically about possible threats and reactions to national security breaches, and be well versed in foreign policy objectives of the United States. It is designed to allow students to meet many of the College’s learning goal, such as research and communication skills, within the major. Secondly, it allows for a broad look at what security means at the national and global levels. This includes traditional topics like American Foreign Policy, but also allows students to explore differences in homeland, national and global security—as well as explore political, legal, historical and philosophical bases and implications of security.

Because they want to serve their country, whether in the military, intelligence, or diplomatic services; because they are concerned about the domestic and international threats that the United States and our allies face; and because they are interested in understanding and addressing the complexities of these issues in a wide range disciplines.

Moreover, studying Security Studies at Westminster offers two key benefits. Westminster draws an incredible array of speakers, as well potential employers and other post-graduation options. It is not uncommon to meet current or retired generals, admirals, intelligence officers—as well as professors from leading programs in national security. The second benefit is at the program level. Westminster College teaches both skills and context in its Security Studies program. A Security Studies major will have wrestled with political implications, or historical lessons, or moral quandaries of security policies before they graduate, not merely accumulated a specific skill. Moreover, this educational model means our students often earn internships at the highest levels, including the State Department, US Marshals and other security agencies. So, Westminster Security Studies students graduate with real world experience, a high-quality education, and have the skills necessary to compete in the job market and to secure the future of nation and peoples.

A major in Security Studies provides a good foundation for both employment and advanced study in a variety of fields. Our students have gone directly into positions within national, state, and private intelligence services; positions in the State Department; local police departments; commission into the U.S. Army; and other directly applicable positions. In addition, several Security Studies majors have gone to top graduate and law schools, and then moved into security based positions.

The Security Studies major is conducive to professionalization norms for four very specific reasons. First, our core faculty have experience in national security and have taught in a renowned homeland security graduate program. In addition, these faculty members also publish frequently—and use this experience to coauthor with majors, open research opportunities to students, and help students network prior to graduation. And, the professors in the major are regularly recognized for their teaching excellence by their students and colleagues. In addition, the major allows for significant internship experience, and have placed students into internships with the State Department; the FBI; National Defense University; the US Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies; and other security institutions. Third, Security Studies majors have access to a national honors society and membership to two national security and foreign policy sources, which in turn allows students to read—and publish—in outlets not widely accessible to students on other campuses. Finally, as noted above, Westminster is a destination for national security speakers, and Security Studies majors have unprecedented access to those speakers.

All Security Studies students choose one of the following three “tracks” based on their interests: Homeland Security; National Security; and Cybersecurity. All students complete the required core classes. Beyond that, students interested in working in the Department of Homeland Security; federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies; and similar positions are encouraged to select the Homeland Security track. Students interested in positions in the military/Department of Defense; national intelligence agencies; international diplomacy; national security think tanks; international non-governmental organizations such as Human Rights Watch; or other global and national security-related employment are encouraged to select the National Security track. Finally, students that wish to secure the nation’s cyber-capabilities, whether in the private or public sector, are encouraged to select the Cyber Security track. Please note that students with interest in law schools or graduate school will also find significant opportunity to build the necessary foundations for success in these post-graduation plans, as well.

Many of our students combine a major in Security Studies with the study of a different field. There are several courses that would allow students to receive credit toward their Political Science major and other majors as well, but Security Studies majors have double majored in fields as diverse as Spanish, English, Philosophy, Psychology, Accounting, Computing and Digital Technology, and many other majors on campus.