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Master's in Global Security Studies (MA)
MA in Global Security Studies Program Overview
Prepare for a rewarding career in foreign affairs or national security with the MA in Global Security Studies program at Johns Hopkins University. Our comprehensive program rests on three pillars: military security, economic security, and energy and environmental security.
Courses cover theoretical and practical aspects of global security always closely connected to today’s most pressing issues. Additional elective courses are available from relevant degree programs including Government, Public Management, Intelligence Analysis, Energy Policy and Climate, Environmental Sciences and Policy, and Communication.
Study on Your Terms
About 90% of our students work full-time while enrolled in the program. We offer a flexible schedule with start dates in the fall, spring, or summer. You can earn your degree online, attend evening classes in Washington, D.C., or a mixture of both.
Global Security Studies Master’s Student Outcomes
Core Skills Gained in Global Security Studies
A master’s in global security studies helps you build the knowledge and skills to examine security challenges from multiple political, economic, military, environmental, and international perspectives. At JHU AAP, your curriculum has been designed by experts in the field to incorporate international relations, military strategy, global political economy, qualitative research methodologies, and quantitative methods. Elective coursework allows you to explore subjects such as technology and war, transnational organized crime, disinformation, climate change, and energy security. Developing a multidisciplinary perspective is necessary because security challenges rarely fit within a single category. Prepare yourself to evaluate evidence, understand geopolitical relationships, assess competing explanations, and communicate policy implications clearly when addressing complex problems.
Global Security Studies Master’s Courses
Below are a few examples of global security studies master’s courses that you can take as part of our program. These courses will help you gain the skills you need to advance in your career and improve your abilities. As part of the program, you will be expected to take required core classes as well as choose from relevant electives to complete your degree.
- Foundations of Global Security
- Global Political Economics
- Military Strategy and National Policy
- Climate Change and National Security
- U.S. Security in a Disordered World
Explore the MA in Global Security Studies Program
In-Depth Article
Where Will a Master's Degree in Global Security Take You?
Prepare for a career in foreign affairs or national security with an MA in Global Security. View career paths and how this program helps you meet personal and professional goals.
Why to Pursue an MA in Global Security Studies at Hopkins
Learn From Experienced Global Security Professionals
Our faculty members have worked as scholar practitioners in the United States and across the globe for government agencies, major research universities, think tanks, the U.S. military, and consulting firms.
Concentrations and Electives
Concentrate in Strategic Studies, Economic Security, or Energy and Environmental Security. Round out your courses with fascinating electives like Congress and the Making of Foreign Policy, Transnational Organized Crime: Gangsters of the Global Underworld, and Covert Action and National Security.
Center for Data Analytics, Policy, and Government
Our mission, to provide a strong foundation of knowledge upon which innovative policy programs and promising leaders can develop, informs all of The Center’s initiatives. The Center encompasses several degrees and certificate programs designed to enhance understanding of the processes of government and global security.
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Gain the knowledge and skills you need to help shape the global security policy in today’s complex world.
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Master’s in Global Security Studies FAQs
Johns Hopkins University’s MA in Global Security Studies program is a 12-course, 36-credit professional master’s degree program – often completed within 12-24 months, though students have up to five years for degree completion. Courses are offered online, in-person at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., or through a combination of both modalities.
The admissions criteria for the MA in Global Security Studies program includes a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent international credential, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The application can be completed online and requires supporting materials, including resume, transcripts, and more.
Tuition and fees for the MA in Global Security Studies program currently range from $61,680 – $62,880 USD. The cost per course is $5,140. Students may be eligible to access federal loans, employer tuition assistance, military and veterans benefits, or partner-organization benefits to offset the cost of the degree. Learn more about financial aid options.
This program offers three optional areas of concentration: Strategic Studies, Economic Security, and Energy and Environmental Security. They allow students to refine their studies through the lens of military affairs, global economic events, or environmental challenges and energy constraints.
Yes. Students can participate in simulations, attend speaker series and policy debates as well as academic and policy conferences, and join group outings to battlefields in the greater Washington, D.C. area.
Graduates can pursue careers related to
- Foreign affairs
- National security
- Policy analysis
- Intelligence
- Risk assessment
- International development
- Security consulting
Depending on professional background and area of specialization, potential job titles include:
- Intelligence analyst
- Security analyst
- Policy analyst
- Business intelligence analyst
- Operations research analyst
- Information security analyst
These jobs are among career paths associated with global security studies. For an additional indication of analytical career demand, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 21% growth for operations research analysts from 2024 to 2034.
The breadth of global security studies can translate into opportunities across:
- Government
- International organizations
- Research institutions
- Consulting
- Defense
- Technology
- Other private-sector industries
Government agencies often employ these professionals in national security, foreign affairs, defense, intelligence, and policy roles, while think tanks and research organizations may have them focus on geopolitical analysis, conflict, economic security, or emerging threats. Private-sector employers will seek professionals who understand geopolitical risk, international markets, cybersecurity, supply chains, and regulatory environments. These trends reflect the field’s broad application beyond traditional national security positions.