The graduate certificate in Global Security Studies is a 15-hour certificate designed to provide students with a focused course of study in conflict processes, arms control, weapons proliferation, terrorism, international law, and U.S. national security institutions. The certificate will provide students with analytical tools to critically evaluate threats to U.S. and global security and develop the skills to model those threats effectively. The goal of the certificate is to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue on extant and emerging threats to the U.S. homeland and interests abroad. Experts from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, including business, physical and natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and government, will often be asked to participate in the certificate to help students understand and appreciate the complex and difficult issues involved in U.S. and global security.

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Graduate Certificate Type

Stand-Alone

Add-On

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Students who are currently admitted in a program in the Department of Political Science or students admitted in other master’s or doctoral programs can earn the certificate in Global Security Studies while completing their degrees.
• Admission to the Political Science Department is not required to earn the certificate in Global Security Studies.
• Interested applicants not currently admitted at UTK will complete and submit an online application to the Office of Graduate Admissions for admission to the Global Security Studies certificate.

Credit Hours Required

15 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• POLS 580  (3 credit hours)
• Select four of the following courses:
  • NE 530  
  • POLS 548  
  • POLS 571  
  • POLS 573  
  • POLS 684  
  • POLS 685  
  • POLS 686  
• Students may petition to have one alternative 3 credit hour course be substituted for one of the courses above. The course to be substituted must be a UTK graduate course (500 or 600-level) and clearly related to the content of the Global Security Studies certificate. The approval of this petition is at the discretion of the Department of Political Science, Director of Graduate Studies, to whom the petition should be made.

Non-Course Requirements

• After completing all requirements, submit the Completion of Certificate Program form, with original signatures, to The Graduate School for processing.