Undergraduate

Minor in Global Security Studies

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About this Minor

A Global Security Studies (GSS) minor gives students the skills and background needed for entry-level positions in the national security and defence sector.

To prepare students for careers in national security, the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies emphasizes professional and practical skills such as writing and briefing for policy-making and working in collaborative, fast-paced teams. 

The GiSS minor teaches students about the interagency process to include the National Security Council and supporting departments such as Defense, State, and Homeland Security. The minor also covers perennial threats, such as the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but also the rising global threat to the cyber domain. No application is required for admittance into the GSS minor; students must complete the introductory global security course, ISS 135.

The GSS minor is offered in a traditional classroom setting or online.

Want a future in global security? The GSS minor is the perfect place to start.

On this Page…

    Program Information

    Program Type

    Minor

    Area of Study

    Intelligence and Security Studies

    School

    Duration

    N/A

    Degree

    Program Location

    Oxford

    Online

    Emphases

    N/A

    Required Credit Hours

    18 credit hours

    Degree Requirements

    The GSS minor is designed to familiarize students with the skills and background necessary for entry-level employment in the national security and defense sector.

    • 18-hour minor consisting of six courses:
      • ISS 135, Intro to Global and National Security Studies
      • ISS 301, Survey of U.S. National Security Policy or POL 335, Int’l Politics of Nuclear Weapons
      • ISS 351, Advanced Analytics I
      • Elective (ISS 125, ISS 360, ISS 480,ISS 420, ISS 490, or courses offered by other departments related to global security topics such as foreign policy, war history, terrorism, and cyber)


    Students must complete each course in the minor with a grade of “B” or better.

    The GSS minor is offered in class and online.

    How Can I Enhance My Global Security Studies Minor?

    Internships are a great way to practice what you've learned in your GSS minor. GSS students aren't required to work as an intern, but an internship can be completed as an elective. Faculty and staff of the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies work with students to place them in an internship that will give them a chance to practice the analytic tradecraft that they have learned through the GSS curriculum and that will advance their professional ambitions.  

    Since 2008, our students have successfully completed internships in the Intellgence Community, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of State, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms—just to name a few.

    Government Agencies

    Government Agencies often provide ideal internships for students to gain experience due to their high prestige. Here are a few Government Agencies students may consider.

    Private Sector

    Interning within the private sector can develop a students’ personal interests, research and briefing skills while the student experiences more focused intelligence tasks that match the company’s goals.

    Your Major + Global Security Studies

    Next Steps

    Explore Affordability

    We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.

    Apply to the University of Mississippi

    Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?