College of Social Sciences & Humanities

Security and Resilience Studies

Master's : Boston
Certificate : Boston
Certificate : Seattle
Master's : Seattle
Request Info | Apply

We live in a world of increasing transnational risks, systemic vulnerabilities, and environmental challenges. Our Master of Science in Security and Resilience Studies program provides skills in data analysis, leadership, and systemic thinking to help the next generation of leaders build organizations, communities, and societies that can withstand forthcoming challenges. We have seen great success in placing students in a number of security and resilience related industries. Some of our alumni are now working at CyberSheath Services International, LLC, Massachusetts Port Authority, Volpe Center, and the UnitedHealth Group.
 

Boston
Location
Full-Time
Part-Time
Commitment
1-3 Years
Duration
Hybrid
Program Format
Overview

Security and Resilience Studies is an emerging field of inquiry that focuses on how global, national, and subnational actors manage a range of chronic transnational challenges that can be destabilizing to societies such as terrorism, organized crime, weapons proliferation, cyber attacks, bio-terrorism, climate change and catastrophic disasters, migration, and radicalization.

This program integrates security studies with cutting-edge education to ensure that key systems promote societal resilience. Students can deepen their knowledge in fields such as cyberspace policy, counterterrorism, infrastructure protection, urban resilience, and risk management. The combination of a unique academic curriculum and experiential education—all taught by top academics and experts in the security industry—provides students with a multidisciplinary approach to addressing these important issues.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Security and Resilience Studies from the College of Social Sciences and Humanities.

 

 

More Details

Unique Features

  • Students choose to conduct a capstone research or consulting project under the supervision of a faculty adviser or to participate in optional graduate co-op experiences.

  • MS program provides students with both policy and technical skills.

  • Elective themes include: Administration, Management and Policy; Counterterrorism and Conflict Studies; Cybersecurity Policy; Resilient Cities; and Criminal Justice

  • Select courses offered online 

Career Outlook

The need to devise strategies to survive disruptive events, recover quickly, and rebuild stronger clearly applies not only to local and national governments and their agencies but also to private industry. Resilience focuses on identifying risk, understanding the systems involved in that risk assessment, and the determination of how to mitigate it, as well as how to bounce back and adapt after disruption. Opportunities for graduates with resilience knowledge and skills are sought within:

  • Public Safety and Public Health
  • Energy/Power
  • Transportation
  • Communications
  • Supply chain management
  • Government entities, including DHS, FBI, Secret Service and branches of the military (as a private contractor)

Recent graduates of the MS in Security and Resilience Studies degree have found employment in a wide variety of opportunities, including:

  • Data analyst: US Marshals Service
  • Program analyst and emergency management: FEMA
  • Cyber security analyst: major health insurance corporation
  • Aviation security specialist: Massachusetts Port Authority
  • Security consultant for private industry customers

Testimonials

"The program proved to be unique because of the exposure to world-class practitioners in the classroom."

Brad Belzak, Program Graduate

Looking for something different?

View more programs
Admissions

Admissions Dates

Fall Term

February 1: Priority deadline
June 15: Final deadline for International applicants
August 15: Final deadline for domestic applicants
August 25: Final deadline for Special Student applicants

Spring Term

October 1: Final deadline for International applicants
December 1: Final deadline for domestic applicants
December 15: Final deadline for Special Student applicants


Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.

Program Costs

$38.9K *
Tuition
$5K
Avg Institutional Aid
67%
% Receiving Aid
How To Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.
Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

Requirements

  • Application
  • Application fee – US $75.00
  • Personal statement
  • Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
  • English proficiency for international applicants
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official GRE General Scores 
  • Resumé
Are You an International Student?
Find out what additional documents are required to apply.
Global Engagement
Learn how our teaching and research benefit from a worldwide network of students, faculty and industry partners.
Curriculum

General Requirements

Master of Science in Security and Resilience Studies General Requirements

Required Core

POLS 7341 - Security and Resilience Policy 
4.00 

Core Electives

Complete 6 semester hours from the following:

Note: Students may take either POLS 7346 or PPUA 7346

CRIM 7200 - Criminology 
4.00 
POLS 7343 - Counterterrorism 
4.00 
POLS 7346 - Resilient Cities 
4.00 
PPUA 7346 - Resilient Cities 
4.00 
POLS 7369 - International Security 
4.00 
POLS 7441 - Cyberconflict 
4.00 
PPUA 5390 - Special Topics in Public Policy and Urban Affairs 
4.00 

Research Methods

Complete 3 semester hours from the following:

CRIM 7404 - Research Methods and Statistics 
4.00 
INSH 6300 - Research Methods in the Social Sciences 
4.00 
POLS 7201 - Research Design 
4.00 
PPUA 6205 - Research Design and Methodology in Urban and Regional Policy 
4.00 
SOCL 7211 - Research Methods 
4.00 

Capstone Options

Choose one of the following options in consultation with faculty advisor and program director. Take either POLS 7980 or INSH 6864 and POLS 6964.

POLS 7980 - Capstone Project 
4.00 - 6.00 
INSH 6864 - Experiential Integration 
1.00 
POLS 6964 - Co-op Work Experience 
0.00 

Elective Themes

Electives are organized to allow students to think thematically.

Administration, Management, and Policy

Complete 12–15 semester hours from the following:

CRIM 7202 - The Criminal Justice Process 
4.00 
CRIM 7230 - Police and Society 
4.00 
CRIM 7404 - Research Methods and Statistics 
4.00 
POLS 7202 - Quantitative Techniques 
4.00 
POLS 7387 - Global Governance 
4.00 
POLS 7704 - Critical Infrastructure Resilience 
4.00 
PPUA 6502 - Economic Institutions and Analysis 
4.00 
PPUA 6503 - Public Personnel Administration 
4.00 
PPUA 6504 - Organizational Theory and Management 
4.00 
PPUA 6505 - Public Budgeting and Financial Management 
4.00 
PPUA 6506 - Techniques of Policy Analysis 
4.00 
PPUA 6507 - Institutional Leadership and the Public Manager 
4.00 

Counterterrorism and Conflict Studies

Complete 12–15 semester hours from the following:

CRIM 7201 - Global Criminology 
4.00 
CRIM 7242 - Terrorism and International Crime 
4.00 
CRIM 7264 - Immigration and Crime 
4.00 
POLS 7343 - Counterterrorism 
4.00 
POLS 7344 - Hard Power, Soft Power, and Smart Power 
4.00 
POLS 7360 - Ethnic Political Conflict 
4.00 
POLS 7361 - U.S. National Security Policy 
4.00 
POLS 7363 - Politics of Revolution and Change 
4.00 
POLS 7364 - Terrorism, Violence, and Politics 
4.00 
POLS 7365 - Totalitarianism and Oppressive Government 
4.00 
POLS 7366 - Genocide in a Comparative Perspective 
4.00 
POLS 7369 - International Security 
4.00 
SOCL 7231 - Sociology of Prejudice and Violence 
4.00 

Cybersecurity Policy

Complete 12–15 semester hours from the following: 

CRIM 7246 - Security Management 
4.00 
CRIM 7260 - Topics in Criminal Justice 
4.00 
IA 5001 - Cyberspace Technology and Applications 
3.00 
IA 5010 - Foundations of Information Assurance 
4.00 
IA 5200 - Security Risk Management and Assessment 
4.00 
IA 5210 - Information System Forensics 
4.00 
IA 5240 - Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights 
4.00 
IA 5250 - Decision Making for Critical Infrastructure 
4.00 
POLS 7441 - Cyberconflict 
4.00 
 

Resilient Cities

Complete 12–15 semester hours from the following:

CRIM 7200 - Criminology 
4.00 
CRIM 7270 - Crime and Community Context 
4.00 
CRIM 7312 - Special Topics in Criminology and Public Policy 
4.00 
CRIM 7316 - Advanced Topics in Methods 
4.00 
LPSC 7312 - Cities, Sustainability, and Climate Change 
4.00 
POLS 7346 - Resilient Cities 
4.00 
PPUA 7346 - Resilient Cities 
4.00 
POLS 7704 - Critical Infrastructure Resilience 
4.00 
PPUA 5261 - Dynamic Modeling for Environmental Decision Making 
4.00 
PPUA 5262 - Big Data for Cities 
4.00 
PPUA 5263 - Geographic Information Systems for Urban and Regional Policy 
4.00 
PPUA 5265 - Urban and Regional Policy in Developing Countries 
4.00 
PPUA 5266 - Urban Theory and Science 
4.00 
PPUA 6201 - The 21st-Century City: Urban Opportunities and Challenges in a Global Context 
4.00 
PPUA 6205 - Research Design and Methodology in Urban and Regional Policy 
4.00 
PPUA 6206 - Research Toolkit for Urban and Regional Policy: Geographic Information Systems 
2.00 
PPUA 7237 - Advanced Spatial Analysis of Urban Systems 
4.00 
PPUA 7238 - Climate Change and Urbanization in Developing Countries 
4.00 

Note: Students may take POLS 7346 or PPUA 7346.

Criminal Justice

Complete 12–15 semester hours from the following: 

CRIM 7200 - Criminology 
4.00 
CRIM 7201 - Global Criminology 
4.00 
CRIM 7202 - The Criminal Justice Process 
4.00 
CRIM 7260 - Topics in Criminal Justice 
4.00 
CRIM 7262 - Evidence-Based Crime Policy 
4.00 
CRIM 7312 - Special Topics in Criminology and Public Policy 
4.00 
CRIM 7316 - Advanced Topics in Methods 
4.00 
 

Experiential Learning

Northeastern's signature experiential learning model combines academics with professional practice to help students acquire relevant, real-world skills they can apply to their desired industry. Each program offers its own unique experiential learning opportunities, but they might include:

  • Full-Time Co-op Opportunities — Students on co-op work in a paid and unpaid positions in their field of study for three to six months. 
  • In-Class Case Studies — Professors integrate case studies and exercises into the classroom to bring a real-world perspective and relevance to what they’re teaching.
  • Research — Students collaborate with faculty in our more than 30 federally funded research centers, tackling some of the most pressing challenges in health, security, and sustainability.
Faculty

Our Faculty

Our faculty represents a wide cross-section of professional practices and in fields ranging from finance to education to biomedical science to management to the U.S. military. They serve as mentors and advisors, and collaborate alongside students to solve the most pressing global challenges facing established and emerging markets.

View Security and Resilience Studies Faculty...

Stephen Flynn

Professor of Political Science; Co-Director, Kostas Research Institute

Max Abrahms

Assistant Professor of Political Science

Mai'a Cross

Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs

Daniel P. Aldrich

Director, Security and Resilience Studies Program
Students

By enrolling in Northeastern, you gain access to a network of more than 245,000 alumni and 3,200+ employer partners, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global NGOs. Our current students and faculty across strategically located regional campuses further foster that lifelong global community of learning and mentoring.

Below is a look at where our Political Science and Security alumni work, the positions they hold, and the skills they bring to their organization.

 

  • Where They Work

    • CyberSheath Services International, LLC
    • Massachusetts Port Authority
    • Insurance Fraud Bureau of MA
    • Fragomen Worldwide
    • Volpe Center
    • UnitedHealth Group

  • What They Do

    • Business Development
    • Education
    • Community and Social Services
    • Legal
    • Operations

  • What They're Skilled At

    • Public Speaking
    • Research
    • Leadership
    • Microsoft Office
    • Management

 

Learn more about Northeastern Alumni on Linkedin.

Request Info

You May Also Be Interested In
Certificate
Seattle
Part-Time
1 Year
Hybrid
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Certificate
Boston
Part-Time
1 Year
Hybrid
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
2-3 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Certificate
Anywhere
Full-Time
Part-Time
1-2 Year
Online
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE
 
Master's
Boston
Full-Time
Part-Time
2-3 Years
Classroom
 Save
LOCATION COMMITMENT DURATION TYPE