Certificate in Security Studies

Focus in Homeland Security and International Security

The Department of Political Science's program in security studies imparts training in national and international security issues. It provides students with the substantive knowledge and analytic skills necessary to understand security issues. Courses cover:

  • Homeland and domestic security (Security and Intergovernmental Relations, Emergency Management Policy)
  • International security issues (Politics of Terrorism, National Security Policy, Conflict in International Relations, Politics of International Crises, Nationalism, US Foreign Policy, International Cooperation, International Organization, International Law)
  • Security in different regions of the world (Middle East Conflict, Security and Conflict in Asia, Politics in South Asia, International Relations in East Asia)
  • Human rights aspects (Politics of Human Rights, Constitutional Law)

Cognate courses are also available from departments outside Political Science.

Application Procedure

Students must submit the Security Studies Program Application after they have completed at least six courses including three core courses. Students should submit the Notification Of Completion form by the middle of the quarter that they expect to complete the required number of courses. These forms are available in the Department of Political Science, Crosley 1110, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0375; ph: 513-556-3300.

Certificate in Security Studies Curriculum

An undergraduate certificate requires ten courses (30 credit hours) with a 2.67 GPA, as follows:

A. One required course

  • POL 280/580 Approaches to International Politics

B. At least three courses from among the following CORE courses

  • POL 271/571 Middle East Conflict - 1 (or POL 272/572, Middle East Conflict - 2)
  • POL 284/584 National Security Policy
  • POL 285/585 Politics of Terrorism
  • POL 286/586 Security and Conflict in Asia
  • POL 287 /587 Politics of Human Rights
  • POL 326/626 Security and Intergovernmental Relations
  • POL 334/634 Emergency Management Policy
  • POL 367/667 Civil War and Political Violence
  • POL 383/683 Conflict in International Relations
  • POL 384/684 International Crisis Decision-making
  • POL 782/784 Proseminar in International Security

C. One Capstone course (recommended)

Students would write a substantial paper on security issues in their Senior Project class (POL 490), or in an Honors Thesis (POL 495, 496), Independent study (POL 410, 460, 480), or other approved course.

D. Additional courses from the following COGNATE courses

  • POL 232 Community Disaster Reconstruction
  • POL 264/564 Politics in South Asia
  • POL 283/583 International Cooperation
  • POL 288 International Law
  • POL 289 International Organization
  • POL 321/621 Constitutional Law: Federal System
  • POL 322/622 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights
  • POL 323/623 Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
  • POL343/643 Citizenship & Terrorism Modern Society
  • POL 368/668 Nationalism and Identity Politics
  • POL 382 /682 US Foreign Policy - Developing Countries
  • POL 386/686 International Relations in East Asia

Internship, Independent study, Senior Project, and Honors Thesis courses may count upon approval. Up to two courses from outside political science from among the following can also count toward the requirements:

  • AFAM 414 Politics in Postcolonial Africa
  • AFAM 451 Colonization and Nationalism in Africa
  • AFAM 452 Liberation Struggles
  • ANTH 320 Balkan Peoples
  • BIOL 333 Biotechnology: Social & Ethical Issues
  • COMM 466 Rhetorical Dimensions of Terrorism
  • GEOG 333 Geography and Politics
  • GEOG 580 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
  • GEOG 582 GIS Applications
  • HIST 422 The US and World War 2
  • HIST 438 War and American Society
  • HIST 442 Greek and Roman Warfare
  • HIST 485 Film and History of World War 2
  • HIST 520/521 US Civil War
  • HIST 528/529 War in the Modern World
  • HIST 543 World War 2 Military History
  • HIST 570 Modern Middle East
  • HIST 728 War and Revolution
  • LAW International Law
  • LAW National Security Law
  • JUDC 326 History of Palestine
  • JUDC 327 Modern Israel
  • JUDC 330 Jews and Islam
  • JUDC 379 Judaism & Christianity in Conflict
  • JUDC 382 Studies in the Holocaust
  • MS 412 Legal Issues - Military Profession
  • SOC 472, 473 War and Society
  • 18 CJ 101 Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • 18 CJ 372 Constitutional Issues- Cr. Justice
  • 18 CJ 421 Criminal Law

Within the Certificate, students can focus in Homeland Security or International Security or both.

Focus in Homeland Security

6 courses, including POL 280/580 and 3 core courses, with the following distribution:

  • 2 domestic security courses: Security and Intergovernmental Relations (POL 326/626), Emergency Management Policy (POL 334/664)
  • 1 course from Politics of Terrorism (POL 285/585) or National Security Policy (POL 284/584)
  • 1 course in Constitutional Law such as Civil Liberties (POL 323/623) or POL 321/621 or 322/622

Focus in International Security

6 courses, including POL 280/580 and 3 core courses, with the following distribution:

  • 2 courses in regional security, selected from two of the following regions: Middle East (POL 271/571, POL 272/572, HIST 570, JUDC 326, JUDC 327); Asia (POL 286/586, POL 386/686, POL 264/564); Other (AFAM 414, AFAM 451, ANTH 320)
  • 2 core international security courses, from Politics of Terrorism (POL 285/585), National Security Policy (POL 284/584), Politics of Human Rights (POL 287/587), Conflict in International Relations (POL 383/683), Politics of International Crisis (POL 384/684), Proseminar in International Security (POL 782)

Additional Options for Graduate Students: Focus in Security Studies

Graduate students may pursue a general focus in security studies by taking 6 courses, including POL 280/580 and 3 core courses.