Multidisciplinary Studies, BA/Security Studies, MS

Program Coordinator: Armin Krishnan (A-119 Brewster Building; 252-328-6156; krishnana@ecu.edu)

The Multidisciplinary Studies, BA/Security Studies, MS accelerated program is initiated while undergraduates are completing the Multidisciplinary Studies, BA (security studies structured concentration) and is intended for outstanding undergraduates. Eligible students accepted into the program may double-count up to 12 semester hours of approved graduate coursework towards completion of both degrees.

ECU undergraduate multidisciplinary studies students with a structured concentration in security studies and a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA and a B or higher in POLS 2090 or other writing cognate may apply to the accelerated program during the semester in which they expect to complete a minimum of 75 eligible undergraduate semester hours. Upon acceptance by the Department of Political Science and the submission of the Request to Pursue an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Program online form by the graduate program director, the student can begin taking graduate courses the following semester. Students should apply for undergraduate graduation one semester prior to completing the undergraduate degree requirements and should apply for formal admission to the graduate program by the advertised application deadline for the desired term of admission. The desired term of admission is the semester following the expected undergraduate graduation term. Complete instructions are found in the Admissions and Readmissions section of the Graduate Catalog.

Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA to remain eligible to participate in the accelerated program. Undergraduate accelerated program students earning a grade of C in any graduate course can count that course toward the bachelor’s degree but will no longer be eligible to take additional graduate courses and are dismissed from the accelerated program. Students will be able to apply to the Security Studies, MS program.

Students in the accelerated program who have a cumulative GPA less than 3.0 at the time of undergraduate graduation will be placed on academic probation in their first semester in the master’s program. They will be subject to dismissal from the program if they do not achieve a graduate level GPA of 3.0 in courses related to their program of study after 9 semester hours of graduate credit attempted.

Students accepted into the Multidisciplinary Studies, BA /Security Studies, MS accelerated program can take up to 12 s.h. from the following courses:

POLS 6080 - American Foreign Relations (for POLS 3144)
POLS 6360 - Causes of International War (for POLS 3290)
POLS 6382 - Global Terrorism (for POLS 4382)
POLS 6425 - War, Peace and Security in the Middle East (for POLS 3260)
POLS 6440 - Seminar in International Organization (for POLS 3293)
SECS 6000 - Security Studies Foundations (for SECS 1000)
SECS 6155 - Changing Nature of National Security Policy (for POLS 3155)
SECS 6260 - Intelligence and National Security (for POLS 3180)
SECS 6300 - Research Methods for Security Studies (for POLS 3031)
SECS 6350 - Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) (for POLS 3080)
SECS 6430 - Special Topics Seminar (for POLS 3080 with security-related topic)

Graduate courses that may count towards undergraduate electives:

*Requires ITEC 6060 as a prerequisite course.

Admission Process

Students interested in the accelerated program should speak with the graduate program director to determine admissibility into the program. Following this discussion, the student and graduate program director should follow the procedures outlined in the Admission and Readmission section of this catalog.