Program Overview

Global and national security rests on a broad definition ranging from nuclear issues to natural resources, humanitarian and health challenges, governance, legal, policy, technology, and cybersecurity concerns.

Having an intellectual foundation for understanding the threats to national security, particularly in technology and global “commons” such as cyberspace, climate, food & water, and energy resources, and their role in international relations is crucial to the ability to analyze and meet the challenges and concerns of the 21st century.

The Professional Master of Science in Global and National Security (PMS-GNS) degree is a 33-credit-hour program that provides our graduates with such a foundation. Because it is fully online, the program is ideal for working students. 

Global & National Security Policy Institute at UNM from The University of New Mexico on Vimeo.

 

NEWS:

UNM’s GNSPI earns prestigious federal designation as an Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence.

Disclosures

Federal regulations and policies protect all online and distance education. For details on these protections, refer to the following resources: Online Education Regulations, Professional Licensing Disclosures, and Complaint Resolution

Admissions

To qualify for admission to the Global & National Security Professional Master of Science online degree program the following are required:

  • At a minimum, you must have a BA or BS in any major with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
  • The following are required with for the Regular Admissions process.
    • Transcripts
    • A letter of intent that will also serve as a writing sample. In your letter, please address why this program is fitting for your career or other goals and what aspects of your background, character, skills, or personality will make you a good fit for an intensive, self-disciplined online program.
    • A current resume
    • For Regular Admissions,* three letters of recommendation from professors, supervisors, mentors, managers, or employers. It is helpful to have at least one address the applicant's time management and ability to stay on task and one academic reference that can speak to your academic promise.
    • For Regular Admissions,* applications must be completed by the deadlines listed below. 

    • Regular Admissions* will go through a pre-admissions review by committee to determine your academic potential.

    • *For Alternative Applications, we will waive the deadline and letters of recommendation requirements and waive the pre-admissions review. In their place, students must pass a First Semester Review of their academic performance after the completion of GLNS500: Intro to Global & National Security Policy

    • Note: No GRE required.
  • We welcome students from outside the U.S. but do not offer support for students to travel and live in the USA.

Application Process

  1. Submit your application
  2. For Regular Admissions, the admissions committee will review applications once per month beginning on the 16th of the month.
  3. Once the review is complete, GNSPI will contact you to set up an informal, virtual interview with the Director as the last step before admission.
  4. Once admitted, you will meet with the GNSPI Advisor, Jennifer Nieto, to plan a Program of Studies.
  5. Last, you will register for courses

Application Deadlines 

Fall Admittance 

  • Regular admissions deadlines: June 15 for early decision, July 15 for final deadline. 
  • For alternative admissions,* there is no official deadline but applications after courses officially start will be considered for the following term. 

Spring Admittance

  • Regular admissions deadlines October 15. 
  • For alternative admissions,* there is no official deadline but applications after courses officially start will be considered for the following term. 

*Alternative applicants waive the letters of recommendation, deadline, and pre-admissions review. In their place, students undergo their official review based on scholastic performance after completing the GLNS500: Intro to Global & National Security Policy course in their first semester.

Degree Requirements

The Professional Master's Degree in Global and National Security (PMS-GNS) requires the successful completion of 33 credit hours, comprising 15 required credit hours (5 courses x 3 credit hours each) and 18 elective credit hours.

Please note that the courses that make up this program of study (POS) are online and have no regular lectures, although some courses will have synchronous discussions. Success is based on students' individual efforts guided by the course syllabus, weekly readings and discussion questions on UNM Canvas, and a substantive research or policy analysis paper. Most classes will also require an executive briefing in a hybrid format during the final exam period.

Required course — 1 course (3 credit hours):
  • GLNS 500 Intro to Global & National Security Policy
Foundational courses — 4 courses (12 credit hours) from this list:
  • GLNS 502 Ethics of AI in Autonomous Systems
  • GLNS 505 Ethics for National Security & Intelligence Professionals
  • GLNS 515 National Security and Intelligence Analysis
  • GLNS 520 Human Decision Making
  • GLNS 540 Globalization & National Security
  • GLNS 570 Fundamentals of National Security Law
  • GLNS 580 Amer Natl Sec Policy & Procedure
Examples of elective courses — 6 courses (18 credit hours):
  • GLNS 504 Design of Human-Centered AI in Autonomous Systems 
  • GLNS 510 Cyber & National Security
  • GLNS 511 Intro Directed Energy
  • GLNS 513 Cyber Risk, Ethics, and Law
  • GLNS 530 Environmental Security: Energy
  • GLNS 531 Environmental Security: Food & Water
  • GLNS 560 Global Nuclear Security
  • GLNS 561 Nuclear Safeguards & Nonproliferation
  • GLNS 564 Deterrence and Global Security
  • GLNS 575 Global Health Security: Threats, Policies, and Politics 
  • GLNS 576 Global Health Security: Climate, Disease, and Public Health
  • GLNS 581 Issues in American National Security
  • GLNS 590 U.S.-Latin America Strategic Partnership
  • GLNS 595 Topics: Indo-Pacific Security and Strategy
  • GLNS 595 Topics: Bio-Terrorism and Global Security
  • GLNS 595 Topics: Astrostrategic Policy and the History of Space Conflict
  • GLNS 595 Topics in Global & National Security
  • GLNS 597 GNSPI Capstone: Communication for Policy Professionals

Learning Outcomes

The PMS-GNS is designed to prepare individuals for security policy leadership positions by developing competencies in;

  • Systematic analytic and critical thinking about national and international security
  • Understanding and applying analytical frameworks for national security policy analysis using multiple approaches
  • Developing fluency in describing the relationship between technology and national security
  • Framing current and emerging national security threats, challenges, and opportunities
  • Evaluating alternative policy options and anticipating the likelihood of success as well as undesirable outcomes
  • Communicating strategic national security policy objectives and proposals to a diverse audience of policymakers, policy executives, and the public

 

At a Glance

Major Requirements: 33 credit hours (15 core, 18 electives)

College/School: Graduate Studies

Tuition: Regular tuition and fees apply, including differential tuition

Legal Disclosures: The US Dept of Education gathers information on outcomes for our career-focused programs, including the costs, completion time, graduation rates, job placement, and average student debt, to help you make informed decisions about your education. This information can be found at Home | College Scorecard (ed.gov)

Contact

Website: Global & National Security Policy Institute
Phone: (505) 277-3223
Email: gnspi@unm.edu