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National Security Studies, B.A.

Requirements

The BA/BS in National Security Studies (NSS) will provide an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for public and private sector national security careers through acquisition of subject matter expertise and analytical skills. This baccalaureate degree program will expose students to the wide variety of critically important security challenges and issues faced in the twenty-first century such as: terrorism and cyber security, nuclear proliferation and weapons of mass destruction, piracy and global pandemics, sovereignty and the use of force, and civil liberties and the rule of law. Students will also acquire skills such as critical thinking, writing, briefing, and analysis techniques specifically tailored for the national security field, but applicable in many others. Whether students are interested in counterterrorism, homeland security, intelligence gathering and analysis, foreign relations, law and politics, diplomacy, or international development, the NSS BA/BS will provide insight and skills needed to succeed in these professions. 

Total Program Credits: 120

General Education Requirements:  36 Credits
  ENGL 1010 Introduction to Academic Writing CC 3
 or ENGH 1005 Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC (5)  
  ENGL 2010 Intermediate Academic Writing CC 3
Complete one of the following: 3
  MAT 1030 Quantitative Reasoning QL (3) (recommended)  
  MAT 1035 Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra QL (6)  
  STAT 1040 Introduction to Statistics QL (3)  
  STAT 1045 Introduction to Statistics with Algebra QL (5)  
  MATH 1050 College Algebra QL (4) (recommended for Business, Education,Science, and Health Professions majors)  
  MATH 1055 College Algebra with Preliminaries QL (5)  
  MATH 1090 College Algebra for Business QL (3)  
Complete one of the following: 3
  HIST 1700 American Civilization AS (3)  
or HIST 2700 US History to 1877 AS (3)  
and HIST 2710 US History since 1877 AS (3)
 
Complete the following:  
  PHIL 2050 Ethics and Values IH 3
  HLTH 1100 Personal Health and Wellness TE (2.0)  
or EXSC 1097 Fitness for Life TE 2
Distribution Courses:  
    Biology 3
    Physical Science
3
    Additional Biology or Physical Science
3
    Humanities (any foreign language 202G/2020 course)
4
    Fine Arts 3
    Social/Behavioral Science 
3
Discipline Core Requirements: 42 Credits
  POLS 1100 American National Government AS 3
  NSS 2010 Introduction to National Security WE 3
  POLS 2100 Introduction to International Relations SS 3
  NSS 3050 US Intelligence Community 3
  NSS 301R National Security Area Studies 3
  NSS 4210 Law of War WE 3
  NSS 4250 National Security Career Strategies 3
  NSS 4300 Intelligence Cycle and Collections 3
  NSS 4400 Statecraft and Strategy 3
  NSS 4600 National Security Law 3
  NSS 475R Current Topics in National Security 3
  POLS  3680 International Political Economy 3
  POLS  4500 International Conflict and Security 3
  NSS 4990 National Security Capstone Seminar 3
Elective Requirements: 42 Credits
  Complete 21 credits from the following: 21
  The Cold War--Culture and Politics  
  Intelligence Analysis and Tradecraft (3)  
  National Security Internship (1-9)  
  Directed Readings and Special Projects in National Security (1-3)  
  Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (3)  
  Terrorism and the Criminal Justice System (3)  
  Constitutional Criminal Rights (3)  
  The History of World War I (3)  
  The History of World War II GI (3)  
  Genocide in the Twentieth Century (3)  
  Violence and Social Conflict in Latin America GI (3)  
  Introduction to Homeland Security GI (3)  
  Information Security Fundamentals (3)  
  Current Topics in Military Science (3)  
  The Profession of Arms I (3)  
  The Profession of Arms II (3)  
  The Ethics of War and Peace (3)  
  Introduction to Human Security (3)  
  Conflict Transformation Resolution and Sustainable Peace (3)  
  Survey of International Terrorism (3)  
  US Presidency (3)  
  World Diplomacy (3)  
  American Foreign Policy (3)  
  International Relations of the Middle East (3)  
  International Relations of East Asia WE (3)  
  International Organization WE (3)  
  International Law (3)  
 
Any other course approved by the NSS Director or Academic Advisor
 
 One Foreign Language 12
 All other non-discipline electives 9

Graduation Requirements:

  1. Completion of a minimum of 120 or more semester credits, 40 credits must be upper-division.
  2. Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above. 
  3. All discipline and core requirements must be passed with a C- or higher.
  4. Residency hours: minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
  5. Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
  6. Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
  7. Completion of 12 credit hours of course work from one language, to include the 1010, 1020, 2010, and 202G/2020 levels or transferred equivalent.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track. 

Semester 1 Course Title Credit Hours
ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 Introduction to Academic Writing CC or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC 3
HIST 1700 American Civilization AS 3
Biology Requirement 3
HLTH 1100 or EXSC 1097 Personal Health & Wellness TE or Fitness for Life TE 2
LANG 1010 Beginning Language I LH 4
  Semester Total 15
Semester 2 Course Title Credit Hours
ENGL 2010 Intermediate Academic Writing CC 3
MAT 1030 or 1035 or STAT 1040 or 1045 or MATH 1050 or 1055 Quantitative Reasoning QL or Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra QL or Introduction to Statistics QL or Introduction to Statistics with Algebra QL or College Algebra QL or College Algebra with Preliminaries QL 3
Social/Behavioral Science Requirement 3
POLS 1100 American National Government AS 3
LANG 1020 Beginning Lanuage II LH 4
  Semester Total 16
Semester 3 Course Title Credit Hours
Physical Science Requirement 3
PHIL 2050 Ethics and Values IH 3
Fine Arts Requirement 3
LANG 2010 Intermediate Language I LH 4
NSS 2010 Introduction to National Security WE 3
  Semester Total 16
Semester 4 Course Title Credit Hours
Biology or Physical Science Requirement 3
LANG 202G intermediate Language II HH 4
POLS 2100 Introduction to International Relations SS 3
NSS Elective 3
General Elective 3
  Semester Total 16
Semester 5 Course Title Credit Hours
NSS 3050 US Intelligence Community 3
NSS 301R National Security Area Studies 3
NSS 4210 Law of War WE 3
NSS Elective 3
General Elective 3
  Semester Total 15
Semester 6 Course Title Credit Hours
NSS 4250 National Security Career Strategies 3
NSS 4300 Intelligence Cycle and Collections 3
NSS 4400 Statecraft and Strategy 3
POLS 3680 International Political Economy 3
General Elective 3
  Semester Total 15
Semester 7 Course Title Credit Hours
POLS 4500 International Conflict and Security 3
NSS 4600 National Security Law  3
NSS 475R Current Topics in National Security 3
NSS Elective 3
General Elective 3
  Semester Total 15
Semester 8 Course Title Credit Hours
NSS 4990 National Security Capstone Seminar 3
NSS Elective 3
NSS Elective 3
NSS Elective 3
  Semester Total 12
  Degree Total 120

Department

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement

The Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement department is in the College of Health and Public Service. To find the most up-to-date information, including Program Learning Outcomes for degree programs offered by the Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement department, visit their website.

Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement department

Program Details

Program Learning Outcomes
  1. Acquire general knowledge about the U.S. national security system and process, including familiarity with the National Security Council, executive departments and agencies, presidential powers, congressional roles and powers, applicable international and domestic law, and current geographical and functional issues in the national security field.
  2. Gain skills through class simulations and instruction in analytical thinking and reasoning, professional writing, and public speaking and presenting.
  3. Apply both theoretical and practical approaches to complex national security problems, employing appropriate context to a decision-making framework.
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