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.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
| General Education Requirements | 36 Credits | |
| ENGL1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| orENGH1005 | Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | |
| ENGL2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
MAT1030 | Quantitative Reasoning QL (3) (recommended) | |
MAT1035 | Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra QL (6) | |
STAT1040 | Introduction to Statistics QL (3) | |
STAT1045 | Introduction to Statistics with Algebra QL (5) | |
MATH1050 | College Algebra QL (4) (recommended for business, Education, Science, and Health Professions majors) | |
MATH1055 | College Algebra with Preliminaries QL (5) | |
MATH1090 | College Algebra for Business QL (3) | |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
HIST1700 | American Civilization AS (3) | |
HIST2700 | US History to 1877 AS and US History since 1877 AS (6) | |
| Complete the following: | ||
| PHIL2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| HLTH1100 | Personal Health and Wellness TE | 2 |
| orEXSC1097 | Fitness for Life TE | |
| 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 | |
| POLS1100 | American National Government AS | 3 |
| NSS2010 | Introduction to National Security WE | 3 |
| POLS2100 | Introduction to International Relations SS | 3 |
| NSS3050 | US Intelligence Community | 3 |
| NSS301R | National Security Area Studies | 3 |
| NSS4210 | Law of War WE | 3 |
| NSS4250 | National Security Career Strategies | 3 |
| NSS4300 | Intelligence Cycle and Collections | 3 |
| NSS4400 | Statecraft and Strategy | 3 |
| NSS4600 | National Security Law | 3 |
| NSS475R | Current Topics in National Security | 3 |
| POLS3680 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS4500 | International Conflict and Security | 3 |
| NSS4990 | National Security Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Elective Requirements: | 42 Credits | |
| Complete 21 credits from the following: | 21 | |
NSS3350 | The Cold War--Culture and Politics (undefined) | |
NSS4800 | Intelligence Analysis and Tradecraft (3) | |
NSS481R | National Security Internship (1-9) | |
NSS491R | Directed Readings and Special Projects in National Security (1-3) | |
CNST4795 | Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (3) | |
CJ3340 | Terrorism and the Criminal Justice System (3) | |
CJ4160 | Constitutional Criminal Rights (3) | |
HIST3440 | The History of World War I (3) | |
HIST345G | The History of World War II GI (3) | |
HIST4140 | Genocide in the Twentieth Century (3) | |
HIST430G | Violence and Social Conflict in Latin America GI (3) | |
ESMG310G | Introduction to Homeland Security GI (3) | |
CYBR2700 | Information Security Fundamentals (3) | |
MILS259R | Current Topics in Military Science (3) | |
MILS4200 | The Profession of Arms I (3) | |
MILS4210 | The Profession of Arms II (3) | |
PJST3020 | The Ethics of War and Peace (3) | |
PJST3100 | Introduction to Human Security (3) | |
PJST3400 | Conflict Transformation Resolution and Sustainable Peace WE (3) | |
POLS3100 | Survey of International Terrorism (3) | |
POLS3150 | US Presidency (3) | |
POLS3210 | World Diplomacy (3) | |
POLS3400 | American Foreign Policy (3) | |
POLS3500 | International Relations of the Middle East (3) | |
POLS3600 | International Relations of East Asia WE (3) | |
POLS3610 | International Organization WE (3) | |
POLS4610 | 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
- Completion of a minimum of 120 or more semester credits, 40 credits must be upper-division.
- Overall grade point average of 2.0 (C) or above.
- All discipline and core requirements must be passed with a C- or higher.
- Residency hours: minimum of 30 credit hours through course attendance at UVU, with at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours.
- Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
- Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
- Successful completion of at least two Writing Enriched courses.
- 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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL1010 or ENGH1005 | Introduction to Academic Writing CC or Literacies and Composition Across Contexts CC | 3 |
| HIST1700 | American Civilization AS | 3 |
| Biology Requirement | 3 | |
| HLTH1100 or EXSC1097 | Personal Health and Wellness TE or Fitness for Life TE | 2 |
| LANG1010 | Beginning Language I LH | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| ENGL2010 | Intermediate Academic Writing CC | 3 |
| Complete one of the following: | 3 | |
MAT1030 | Quantitative Reasoning QL | |
MAT1035 | Quantitative Reasoning with Integrated Algebra QL | |
STAT1040 | Introduction to Statistics QL | |
STAT1045 | Introduction to Statistics with Algebra QL | |
MATH1050 | College Algebra QL | |
MATH1055 | College Algebra with Preliminaries QL | |
| Social/ Behavioral Science Requirement | 3 | |
| POLS1100 | American National Government AS | 3 |
| LANG1020 | Beginning Language II LH | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 3 | ||
| Physical Science Requirement | 3 | |
| PHIL2050 | Ethics and Values IH | 3 |
| Fine Arts Requirement | 3 | |
| LANG2010 | Intermediate Language I LH | 4 |
| NSS2010 | Introduction to National Security WE | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| Biology or Physical Science Requirement | 3 | |
| LANG202G | Intermediate Language II HH | 4 |
| POLS2100 | Introduction to International Relations SS | 3 |
| NSS Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| NSS3050 | US Intelligence Community | 3 |
| NSS301R | National Security Area Studies | 3 |
| NSS4210 | Law of War WE | 3 |
| NSS Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| NSS4250 | National Security Career Strategies | 3 |
| NSS4300 | Intelligence Cycle and Collections | 3 |
| NSS4400 | Statecraft and Strategy | 3 |
| POLS3680 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 7 | ||
| POLS4500 | International Conflict and Security | 3 |
| NSS4600 | National Security Law | 3 |
| NSS475R | Current Topics in National Security | 3 |
| NSS Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| NSS4990 | National Security Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| NSS Elective | 3 | |
| NSS Elective | 3 | |
| NSS Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- 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.
- Gain skills through class simulations and instruction in analytical thinking and reasoning, professional writing, and public speaking and presenting.
- Apply both theoretical and practical approaches to complex national security problems, employing appropriate context to a decision-making framework.
