Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants

What is meant by "Security Studies"?

The term “security” and its application in the real world has many different facets: national security, homeland security, corporate security, community policing, cybersecurity, etc. Our degree programs focus only on a limited subset of security-related issues—namely, those which pertain to the security of nation-states. Thus, students should only apply to our programs if they intend to research national security issues (or homeland security issues). The political science field of International Relations and the history fields of Diplomatic History, Military History, and Global History comprise the expertise of our faculty members who teach our classes and lead dissertations.

Our degrees are pertinent for members of the military, those already working or aspiring to work in a national security-related agency or corporation, and—at the Ph.D. level—those aspiring to teach Security Studies at an institution of higher learning.

When are courses offered?

Our courses generally meet one day a week for just under three hours. We have standardized class start times at 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM Central Time (Monday through Thursday). To complete the program, you will almost certainly need to take some afternoon courses; evening courses alone will not suffice.

Almost all of our courses meet synchronously, meaning that you will have to be able to join the class live (in-person or on Zoom) at the designated class time.

Are there summer courses?

In addition to regular fall and spring semesters, the program offers only a limited number of courses in the summer. In recent years, we have tended to offer about two such courses. Because the summer session is shorter, the courses meet more frequently, and the pace is faster than in regular courses. Due to the limited course offerings, you should anticipate being able to complete a maximum of two to three summer courses over the entire time you are taking coursework.

Is it possible to earn a Security Studies degree entirely through distance learning?

Yes. The M.A. program can be completed through distance learning by Zoom after careful planning with an advisor. One of the core courses for the M.A. degree (POLSC or HIST 812 "Foundations of Security Studies") is an asynchronous distance course, which can accordingly be taken by anyone anywhere in the world with access to the internet. All other core courses and most available electives are offered online through Zoom.

The Ph.D. program can also be completed either in-person or online. All coursework and all essential meetings—including the dissertation defense—can be conducted online. If you intend to stay remote, it is very important to establish a strong online working relationship with your major professor in order to maintain the degree of mentoring that is essential for your success in the program.

In cases where electives will be part of the program of study, what courses can I take and how will I know which ones to choose?

In the context of Security Studies graduate degree programs at Kansas State University, the term "elective" refers to courses that are not part of the required core curriculum. The elective courses are selected under the guidance of the student's supervisory committee. The committee will recommend—and may require—that specific courses be taken as electives. Such decisions are based on the student's expressed areas of interest within the larger field of security studies and may vary widely from one student to the next. Elective courses, then, should be understood as "directed electives" rather than "free electives."

Are GRE scores required for the application?

Graduate Record of Examination (GRE) test scores are recommended but not required.

M.A. program: Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 at the institution at which they earned their bachelor's degree are encouraged to submit GRE scores to strengthen their applications, but again this is not required and will not automatically determine admission or denial. **For applicants whose GPA is below 3.0, GRE scores are particularly important in meeting the GPA requirements for admission to the KSU Graduate School.

Ph.D. program: The admissions committee seeks to ascertain with certainty that an applicant is academically prepared to conduct high-level scientific research in security studies. The best measures of this preparedness are: transcripts from the master's program and Bachelors program, letters of recommendation from professors in the master's program, a rigorously researched writing sample from one’s master's program, a Statement of Objectives that is written with the sophistication expected of a Ph.D. program. If an applicant determines that these metrics do not adequately address her or his readiness for Ph.D. level work, then taking the GRE can offer an additional data point for this purpose. Thus, GRE scores are never required, but they may be quite helpful to submit.

In cases where GRE scores are submitted, they may not be more than five years old.

Where should I have GRE scores sent? Does the KSU Security Studies program have a code number for these tests?

There is no code available for Security Studies. Please use the general Kansas State University code (6334) and indicate to us that your scores have been sent to K-State.

What grades and GRE scores do I need to get admitted?

There are no set GPAs or GRE scores that will guarantee acceptance into the program. Nor are there any numbers in either category that will automatically eliminate an applicant from consideration. The admissions review committee looks carefully at all of the materials submitted by the applicant. GRE scores and grades, whether good or bad, may be counterbalanced in the committee's minds by other elements in the applicant's dossier, such as the letters of recommendation, writing samples, or a particularly thoughtful and well-crafted Statement of Objectives. The committee's goal is to form a comprehensive, well-rounded picture of the applicant's strengths and weaknesses as part of the overall assessment of the applicant's likelihood of success in the program. It is for this very reason that a range of materials is requested as part of the application packet.

Consequently, there are no quantitative absolutes that will guarantee admission or rejection. There are cases where persons have been admitted who had lower GRE scores or GPAs than some who have been denied admission. That said, the admission process is already competitive, getting more so as time passes and the number of applicants grows. The admissions committee expects to see a strong academic record, giving reasonable assurance of the ability to succeed in the program, in order to admit students. Standards at the Ph.D. level are significantly higher than at the MA level.

What should I send as a writing sample when I apply?

The ideal writing sample is one that demonstrates the applicant's aptitude for critical thinking, social sciences or humanities methodologies, familiarity with the subject matter, and clarity of communication. A professional publication in the field of security studies would naturally be best, but it is understood that it is the rare applicant who can provide this. Next best would be academic or professional papers or publications that demonstrate one or more of the critical skills outlined above. Multiple samples are only helpful if each one exemplifies the applicant's abilities in different areas. For instance, an applicant might send a university term paper that shows acquaintance with, say, an area of political science relevant to security studies along with an article published in a professional journal that demonstrates analytical thinking and expertise at expository writing.

How many spots for new admissions are there in the program in a given year?

This is unpredictable, though in any given year total admissions average around 15-20 at the M.A. level, and a much smaller number of Ph.D. admits. Applicants are admitted based on their chances for success in the program rather than to conform to a numerical quota. More applicants will be admitted in some years than in others. Ultimately, the program's capacity depends on the limits of faculty time for teaching, advising, and mentoring. That is, however, often difficult to quantify in the aggregate for the entire Security Studies faculty, and can vary somewhat from one year to another, depending on the hiring or retirement of faculty members, sabbaticals and other temporary absences, and the level of commitments individual faculty members may have to other programs and duties.

What kind of bachelor's degree is best suited for graduate work in Security Studies?

The field of Security Studies is an interdisciplinary one, with some interaction between the social sciences and the humanities in both methodology and content. The KSU Security Studies program is rooted in two departments: political science and history. The ideal applicant thus would have some background in both of those fields, particularly in relevant areas of each of those disciplines (such as international relations within the larger field of political science and military history and diplomatic history within the larger field of history). However, it is not expected that successful applicants will necessarily have degrees or extensive academic coursework in both of those areas. Nevertheless, most successful applicants will have some experience in one or the other of the fields of political science and history. Undergraduate work in one field or the other will be a plus for any applicant, and naturally graduate work in either area will carry additional weight in the admissions committee's deliberations.

Is it possible to complete the M.A. degree in one calendar year?

Yes, particularly for students who have substantial amounts of transfer credit. Whether or not a student completes the program in a year depends on several factors, such as the number of transfer credit hours accepted at admission and whether the student has full-time or part-time student status. It would be very difficult for a student without transfer credit to complete the M.A. program in twelve months.

Is there a foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree?

The answer to that depends on the particular area of concentration that a doctoral student pursues within the larger field of Security Studies. The student's supervisory committee sets any and all foreign language requirements. Certainly a doctoral program with an emphasis on the security issues of a specific strategic region will require some language competencies. Generally speaking, the supervisory committee sets standards of language proficiency that must be met rather than directing the specific path by which a student attains those standards. It is possible that one student's supervisory committee will require moderate reading or speaking abilities while another's committee will require a much higher level of proficiency if, for example, extensive research in a foreign language is necessary for the completion of the dissertation.