The Graduate Certificate in National Security and Public Policy at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government offers an overview of theory and practice in public policy, peace operations, national security management, history of military operations, national security decision-making, law and policy, illicit trade, national security and the global economy, transnational crime and corruption, grand strategy, and global governance.
Program At-a-Glance
- Completion Requirements: 5 courses (15 credits) listed below
- Duration: 1 to 1.5 years on average
- Semester of Entry: fall and spring
Certificate Program Requirements
Required Courses (1 course | 3 credits)
Students are required to take the following course:
PUBP 500 Theory and Practice in Public Policy
Theories of public policy emphasizing historical intellectual development, and role theory and ethics may play in public policy making. Assumptions made by policy professionals examined against broad range of philosophical, social, political, and economic imperatives affecting public policy environment.
Elective Courses (4 courses | 12 credits)
Select four elective courses of your choosing. Courses vary semester to semester, but past elective courses available to students have included:
- POGO 550 Topics in Policy and Government/As Applicable
- POGO 750 Topics in Policy and Government/As Applicable
- PUBP 504 Grand Strategy
- PUBP 650 Peace Operations I (Int’l)
- PUBP 651 Peace Operations II (Int’l)
- PUBP 710 Topics in Public Management and Policy/As Applicable
- PUBP 743 National Security Management and Policy
- PUBP 750 History of Military Operations Other than War (Int’l)
- PUBP 751 International Police Operations (Int’l)
- PUBP 755 National Security Decision-Making Policy (Int’l)
- PUBP 759 National Security Law and Public Policy
- PUBP 763 Illicit Trade
- PUBP 764 Transnational Crime and Corruption
- PUBP 769 Political Violence and Terrorism
- PUBP 783 Global Governance
- ITRN 701 Special Topics in International Commerce/As Applicable
- ITRN 756 National Security and the Global Economy
* One of the four electives must have an international focus (marked by Int’l)
Apply This Certificate Towards Your Master's
Earn your master's degree faster by starting with a certificate program. Students can apply up to 12 credits from a certificate program toward a Schar School master's degree upon acceptance into a master's program. Upon completion of this certificate, many students go on to pursue the Schar School's Master's in Biodefense, Master's in International Security, and Master's in Public Policy degree programs, among others.
Questions?
Have questions about this certificate program? Contact the graduate admissions office.