Program Overview

Overview of the Global Security and Competitive Statecraft Graduate Certificate

The global security and competitive statecraft graduate certificate program provides students with cutting-edge research and practical insight from thought-leading faculty on contemporary global security issues. This global security certificate delivers authoritative practical insight into the contemporary global security environment by nationally known practitioners and scholars.

Program Details

• The program is designed to deepen students' understanding of current trends in military and technological innovation, geopolitical competition, and the changing global political and economic landscape.
• The certificate complements a wide range of ASU Online graduate degrees, including:
  • Master of Arts in global security
  • Master of Arts in international affairs and leadership
  • Master of Science in global technology and development
• Students can earn a master’s degree through stackable certificates, allowing them to design a program tailored to their career goals and interests.

Why Earn a Graduate Global Security Certificate?

• The global security certificate is unique and forward-thinking, staying ahead of developing trends as they emerge.
• Courses are developed and taught by practitioners alongside university scholars, including high-level government officials, military strategists, award-winning journalists, and policy leaders in cybersecurity, human rights, national security, and foreign policy.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career outlook for global security jobs, like information security analyst, is projected to grow 33% from 2020–2030, which is much quicker than the average rate.

What Will I Learn in This Security Studies Certificate Program?

• Students will gain insight into how to approach complex security problems from a practical perspective.
• They will obtain skills in critical thinking and analysis, problem-solving, analytical writing, and professional briefing.
• The program covers a wide range of topics, including:
  • Climate change
  • Cybersecurity threats and trends
  • Emerging technology
  • Great power competition
  • Human rights
  • Migration
  • Military adaptation and innovation
  • Security implications of urbanization

Graduate Global Security Certificate Courses

• The 15-credit international security certificate program is made up of one required course and four electives, and can take as few as two semesters to complete.
• Courses include:
  • Cybersecurity Threats and Trends
  • Emerging Technologies and Global Security
  • Future of War
  • Global Trends
  • Key Issues in Today’s Global Economy
  • Understanding Great Power Competition
  • U.S. Diplomacy in Action: The Embassy Country Team

Course Descriptions

• Cybersecurity Threats and Trends: Analyze cybersecurity threats and trends, including hacking, data breaches, and cybercrime.
• Emerging Technologies and Global Security: Examine the implications of accelerating changes in military and security technologies.
• Future of War: Examine the implications of the changing nature of war and conflict, including climate change, shifting demographics, and competition over resources.
• Global Trends: Take a broad look at emerging global patterns as they relate to governance, security, and social order.
• Key Issues in Today’s Global Economy: Consider future trends that offer growth and opportunities, as well as economic and business developments that threaten setbacks, insecurity, and failures.
• Understanding Great Power Competition: Address recent dramatic changes in the global strategic environment and their impact on the dynamics of war, peace, and nation-state development.
• U.S. Diplomacy in Action: The Embassy Country Team: Constitute a U.S. Embassy Country Team for a specific country and manage a reality-based diplomatic agenda.

What Can I Do with My Global Security Certificate?

• The global security certificate prepares students for a wide array of government, NGO, and private sector positions, including careers in military strategy, intelligence, public policy, risk analysis, and international relations.
• Specific examples include:
  • Intelligence analyst
  • Military strategist
  • Policy analyst
  • Security analyst
  • Political risk analyst
  • Country or regional analyst

Learn from Distinguished Global Security Professionals

• Global security courses are taught by world-class experts from distinguished scholars to established professionals.
• Faculty experts include:
  • Best-selling authors
  • Emmy-nominated journalists
  • Former U.S. Chief Counterterrorism Strategist
  • The nation's premier futurist in the national-security environment
  • Top administration policy advisors on military strategy, cybersecurity, and human rights

How to Apply

• Applicants to the global security certificate program must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Application requirements include:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal statement
  • Up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume
  • One letter of recommendation
• An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency.

Tuition and Fees

• The cost per credit hour for this program is $869.
• An additional mandatory Student Initiated Fee applies each semester and varies based on how many credit hours you take.
• Students can use the tuition calculator to estimate their full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid.