Program Overview

MA in International and Civil Security

The MA in International and Civil Security program at Khalifa University will prepare students to be leaders in this field. The 21st century combines the promise of great progress with the resurgence of old dangers and the emergence of new ones, including terrorism, warfare, weapons of mass destruction, and natural disasters.

Overview

Security is the insurance policy of the nation, and it is a responsibility that everyone must share. The program aims to provide current and future security professionals with sophisticated knowledge of the UAE, regional, and global security environment, as well as the skills to produce, analyze, and apply security-related research.

Program Goals

• To provide current and future security professionals with sophisticated knowledge of the UAE, regional, and global security environment.
• To provide current and future security professionals with the skills to produce, analyze, and apply security-related research.
• To apply higher education and research towards enhancing UAE, regional, and international security.

Program Outcomes

Knowledge Outcomes

Our graduates will have demonstrated:

• Sophisticated knowledge of the international, national, and regional security environment, including relevant theories and history of conflict.
• Sophisticated knowledge of natural and human-caused threats to international, national, regional, and civil security.
• An understanding of the relationships between and within different levels of government and the private sector relative to international, national, regional, and civil security.
• Sophisticated knowledge of offensive and defensive technologies relevant to international, national, regional, and civil security.

Skill Outcomes

Our graduates will have demonstrated:

• The quantitative and qualitative research and analysis skills needed to contribute to the security field as practitioners, researchers, and educators.
• The written and verbal skills needed to effectively communicate within the field of international and civil security.
• The organizational skills needed to contribute to the security field as practitioners, researchers, and educators.
• The skills to apply appropriate technologies to support national, international, and civil security.

Career Opportunities

• Security and Foreign Policy Analysis
• Intelligence Analysis
• Academic/Researcher
• Emergency Management
• International Humanitarian Assistance
• Law Enforcement
• Military
• Critical Infrastructure Protection
• Cyber Security
• Border and Customs
• Public Health and Safety
• Private sector security positions

Structure

Duration of Study

The program is taken on a part-time basis and typically takes 2.5 years to complete.

Program Structure

The MA in International and Civil Security is equivalent to 30 credit-hours and consists of two main components:

• Taught Courses Component: The core coursework is a common curriculum for all students that covers the basic dimensions of both civil security and the broader security context. It consists of four courses focusing on major aspects of security, including threats and hazards, terrorism, intelligence, and governance. Each core course is three credits, for a total of 12 credits.
• Master's Thesis Component: The Master's Thesis Workshop is a three-credit course taken after the completion of eighteen credits, including the four core courses. This workshop is designed to help MA students develop a well-crafted Master's Thesis.

Curricular Offerings

The following is a typical study sequence for a student enrolled in the MA in International and Civil Security program:

• Core Coursework (4 courses, 12 credits)
  • IICS 601: Introduction to International Relations and Security Issues (3 credits)
  • IICS 602: Introduction to Civil Security (3 credits)
  • IICS 603: Social Science Research Methods (3 credits)
  • IICS 604: Regional Security and the Terrorist Threat (3 credits)
• Track and/or Elective Options (2 courses, 6 credits)
  • Civil Security Track Options: If a Civil track is selected, choose at least two of the following courses:
    • IICS 622: Technology and Civil Security (3 credits)
    • IICS 624: Creating Integrated Civil Security (3 credits)
    • IICS 626: Comparative Civil Security Systems (3 credits)
  • Regional Security Track Options: If a Regional track is selected, choose at least two of the following courses:
    • IICS 621: Technology and International Security (3 credits)
    • IICS 623: Regional Security Challenges and Policy Options (3 credits)
    • IICS 625: Globalization and Middle East Security (3 credits)
• Research Design and Thesis (2 courses, 12 credits)
  • IICS 698: Thesis Workshop (3 credits)
  • IICS 699: Master's Thesis (9 credits)

Admission Requirements

Admission to Khalifa University of Science and Technology is highly competitive, and the selection of applicants will be based on the application form, supporting graduate admission requirements documents, and performance in the interview.

Full Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to a graduate program at Khalifa University of Science and Technology must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Completion of a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 out of 4.0, or equivalent.
• A minimum level of English proficiency in the form of either:
  • iBT TOEFL (internet-based test) score of 91 or equivalent
  • Overall academic IELTS score of 6.5
  • 1550 EmSAT English score
• A minimum quantitative score of 150 in the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to all programs, with the exception of Master of Engineering in Health, Safety and Environment Engineering and the Master of Arts in International and Civil Security, where a minimum threshold is not set.
• A minimum of two referee recommendations (provided via online form).
• Statement of purpose (500-1,000 words).
• Admission interview.

Conditional Admission Requirements

Applicants with a lower CGPA score (minimum 2.5 out of 4.0 or equivalent) may be considered for conditional admission to a Master's program in special circumstances. If conditional admission is granted, the student must achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 in the first nine credits of taught courses.

Study Plan

Students must consult with their respective advisors on the courses that they will enroll in, the required pre-requisites, and the thesis topic selection. Full-time graduate students must register for 9 to 12 credits, including thesis credits, during a regular semester (Fall and Spring) and a maximum of 6 credits during a Summer term. In the case of part-time students, the credit load is normally 6 credits during a regular semester as well as the summer term.

Students can only register for thesis credits after successfully completing a minimum of 9 credits of the core courses of the master's program they are enrolled in. It is to be noted that the minimum pass grade for graduate courses is a "C" letter grade. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog to learn about the graduate programs, the grading system, graduation requirements, and other pertinent matters.