What You’ll Learn in a Master of Defense and Strategic Studies Program
If you’re thinking about pursuing a Master of Defense and Strategic Studies degree, or if you’ve already decided to apply, you’re on the cusp of making a great career move. TheU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that careers in this sector will have a much faster than average growth of 28% by 2026, including positions in information security analysis. But are you still curious about the practical skills you’ll acquire in the program and how these skills will translate into securing employment?
If so, breathe easy.
A Proven History of Launching Careers in National Security and Defense
UTEP Connect’s Online Master of Defense and Strategic Studies degree programhas propelled military personnel and civilians to successful careers in defense, intelligence, and national security.Our expert faculty have backgrounds in all aspects of national security, ranging from national security law and legal psychology to counterterrorism and modern warfare. They also belong to the federally sponsored UTEP National Security Studies Institute—an Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE). This is a national recognition without equal in the field and separates ours from all other similar programs, regardless of format. In short: UTEP is the ideal choice for anyone looking to work in national security and defense.
Here’s a primer on the type of skills you can expect to gain in the program.
A Balanced Curriculum in Defense and Strategic Studies
UTEP’s Master of Defense and Strategic Studies program focuses on teaching skills that can be applied broadly in different areas of national security and defense. Whether you’re planning to work for a government agency, a cyber security firm, a big defense contractor, or another employer in the national defense field, you’ll be prepared with the knowledge and skills to succeed.
The program’s core curriculum covers the history behind the current security environment, the evolution of modern warfare, and special defense challenges facing the country today. As you progress further into your studies, you’ll take courses that provide you with a practical skill set that you’ll use as you narrow down your specialization. You’ll also learn about the unique challenges presented to national security from a cybersecurity perspective, particularly as the online domain becomes increasingly important to national military and defense strategy.
Here are three courses that are especially popular among Master of Defense and Strategic Studies students in the current climate:
Cyberwarfare
Cyberwarfare is a growing threat against democracy. In this course, your professor will present cyberwarfare fundamentals along with relevant case studies to illustrate the spectrum of threat severity cyber-attacks can present. You will learn how to identify whether an attack is being carried out by individuals, organizations, or at a national or international level. By the end of the course you’ll be able to classify the type of cyber threat in order to analyze the risk it poses to the United States’ digital infrastructure.
Information Operations
Information will often be your most valuable tool, and throughout the Information Operations course you will learn how to conduct diplomacy through non-military options. You’ll learn the theory and principles used in strategy during times of conflict and peace and how to analyze adversaries’ strengths and weakness through information-gathering. The course also focuses on how to successfully disseminate information to achieve a desired psychological response. Other topics include public and military diplomacy, military public affairs, and civil affairs.
Global Security
As a Master of Defense and Strategic Studies student, you will be at the forefront of new developments in global security. You’ll be introduced to a broad theoretical examination of the major security issues facing the world in the 21st century and be briefed on current global policies. Your professors will introduce analytics that can be used to critically examine national and international conflicts. At the end of the course you’ll be able to evaluate the root causes of violence in order to create and implement programs and policies to prevent or counter conflict.
What’s Next
If you’re looking to add to your resume the skills employers in the national defense, intelligence, and security fields value most, enrolling in UTEP Connect’s cutting-edge Master of Defense and Strategic Studies programcan help make you a more attractive candidate for these important and exciting positions. We invite you to explore our online program and see what it will take to make that next step into your career. If you are interested in learning more, reach out. An enrollment counselor will contact you directly.