Madhavi Devasher
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Security Studies (Minor)
Security Studies (Minor)
What is security studies?
The interdisciplinary security studies minor will help you develop the analytical and research skills to address security on a domestic and global scale. Students explore threats to domestic, global and homeland security—including terrorism and drug trafficking—and the intelligence and counterterrorism measures to combat them.Courses also examine human security issues like pandemics and immigration. You’ll learn about conflict resolution and politics in the U.S., the Middle East,Latin America and globally. Issues also include border security, diplomacy, drug wars and technology.You’ll apply research to real-world issues and develop the skills to help guide security decisions and policymakers.
Why study security studies at UNH?
Studying security studies at UNH will help you tailor your degree to your future goals. You can combine this minor with a major such as history, political science,international affairs or cybersecurity to prepare for a variety of in-demand careers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, or for future graduate studies in law, national security policy or public service. The UNH Cybersecurity Center of Excellence will allow you to research technical and societal challenges in cybersecurity and safety, and you’ll be able to conduct security studies research through the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research.
Potential career areas
- Counterintelligence
- Cyber investigations
- Diplomacy
- Emergency management
- FBI or CIA
- International nonprofits
- Law
- Law enforcement
- Network security administration
- Systems security engineering
Curriculum & Requirements
The security studies minor will provide students with the opportunity to explore the many dimensions of security through the interdisciplinary study of political science, anthropology, communication, geography, history, humanities, justice studies, sociology, women's and gender studies, economics and aerospace studies. This well-rounded curriculum will enable students to build upon their interest in political science by specializing in an area of increasing importance — domestic and global security.
The field of security studies has always been important within the discipline of political science, but the concept of security has broadened and become more problematized in recent years. Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, federal, state and local governments created thousands of jobs that require knowledge of security issues and the ability to conduct research. Leaders at all levels count on staff with analytical skills to design and conduct research to support decision-making, and communicate the results of this research effectively to policy-makers. Individuals who understand the national security environment and have the ability to design and conduct research are in critical demand in the public sector, private sector and not-for-profit entities.
For more information, contact Madhavi Devasher, madhavi.devasher@unh.edu, 603-862-8020.
- Five courses (20 credits)
- Students must receive a grade of C or better for a course to count toward the minor requirements.
- No more than 8 credits may double count between majors and minors. Thus, political science majors pursuing the security studies minor can only double count up to two of the three required political science courses below. The third required course must be taken in addition to courses taken to fulfill major requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Select one core POLT course of the following: | 4 | |
POLT 560 | World Politics | |
POLT 562 | Strategy and National Security Policy | |
POLT 568 | Introduction to Intelligence | |
| Select two intermediate POLT courses of the following: | 8 | |
POLT #513 | Civil Rights and Liberties | |
POLT 548 | Drug Wars | |
POLT 559 | Comparative Politics of the Middle East | |
POLT 560 | World Politics 1 | |
POLT 562 | Strategy and National Security Policy 1 | |
POLT 563 | The Global Information Grid's Disruptive Impact on Government, Politics, and Society | |
POLT 565 | United States Policy in Latin America | |
POLT 568 | Introduction to Intelligence 1 | |
POLT 570 | Counterterrorism: Nation states' responses to terrorist activity | |
POLT 595 | Smart Politics | |
POLT 765 | Security Intelligence Study | |
POLT 778 | International Organization | |
| Electives | ||
| Select two electives from other disciplines (at least one must be in a humanities department or program) | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
| 1 | If not counted for core requirement. |
Electives within humanities departments and programs:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 411 | Global Perspectives on the Human Condition: An Introduction to Anthropology | 4 |
| GEOG 402 | World Regions: Asia and Africa | 4 |
| HIST 537 | Espionage and History | 4 |
| HIST 620 | Foreign Relations of the United States | 4 |
| PHIL 430 | Ethics and Society | 4 |
| PHIL 436 | Social and Political Philosophy | 4 |
| PHIL #635 | Philosophy of Law | 4 |
| WS 405 | Gender, Power and Privilege | 4 |
| WS 798 | Colloquium | 4 |
Electives outside humanities departments and programs:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AERO 681 | National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty I | 4 |
| AERO 682 | National Security Affairs/Preparation for Active Duty II | 4 |
| CMN 456 | Propaganda and Persuasion | 4 |
| CMN 772 | Seminar in Media Theory | 4 |
| JUST 405 | Technology, Crime, and Society: A Forensic Exploration of High-Tech and Digital Crime | 4 |
| PSYC 756 | Psychology of Crime and Justice | 4 |
| SOC 450 | Contemporary Social Problems | 4 |
| SOC 515 | Introductory Criminology | 4 |
| SOC 656 | Terrorism | 4 |
| SOC 693 | Global Social Change | 4 |
| Other POLT courses can be approved by the core faculty upon request. | ||
Once students have declared the minor, they are required to meet with the coordinator or appropriate affiliated faculty adviser at least once per semester for regular review and assessment of their program, learning outcomes, and progress toward the degree.
Transfer credits may be approved by the coordinator to count toward the minor. If the transfer credit is accepted by the University and fits within the scope of the minor, it will be considered.
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