Seton Hall University, School of Diplomacy and International Relations

New, Online Master’s Program for the Next Generation of Security Experts

Cyber threats and homeland security challenges are increasingly intertwined in today’s complex threat landscape, fueling the need for versatile security professionals. With an eye to the future of these fields, Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations is launching an online interdisciplinary degree program this fall — the MS in Homeland Security and Cyber Resilience — that is designed to upskill early- to mid-career professionals and help future-proof their careers.

“This program equips students to understand the legal and policy issues related to both areas,” says Professor and Associate Dean Martin Edwards, PhD. “We will stress the importance of strategic communication and clear policy analysis and writing so that students emerge from this program as professionals ready to work in the private sector as well as in government.”

Within the 30-credit program, eight required classes cover topics such as bioterrorism, risk management, national security, and civil defense, drawing from existing law courses and newly developed courses in comparative homeland security, intelligence, and cybersecurity and international relations. All classes are Quality Matters certified, a national best practices standard for online program development.

“We think we have a great balance between substantive classes and more skills-focused classes,” Edwards notes. “What we will prepare students for is a flexible future that rewards an understanding of regulatory and policy issues in these areas. As such, these skills will be well sought out in both the government and the private sector. This, in turn, will allow students to move between them.”

The fully remote program is flexible, accommodating both part- and full-time domestic and international students. And on-campus events with practitioners will be available to students in a live remote format to ensure they have access to all opportunities.

“We are focused on continuous program review to optimize the virtual classroom experience,” Edwards says. “Even though the program is asynchronous, our faculty teaching online meet routinely to talk about common challenges and devise solutions.”

The school adds this new master’s program to its lineup of executive MS degrees for global-minded professionals looking to advance their careers, which also includes the Executive MS in International Affairs (offered in-person or online) and Online Executive MS in International Affairs and Diplomatic Practice, in partnership with United Nations Institute for Training and Research. The MA in Diplomacy and International Relations program is known for its experiential learning opportunities with the UN, both in New York and in Washington, DC.

---

National Security Graduate Fellowship

Among the professional opportunities offered by the school is the National Security Graduate Fellowship, led by Seton Hall alumnus Mohamad Mirghahari, a former presidential appointee under the Obama administration and current special advisor to the Department of Defense. Each year, a small research team of students acts as a consulting group for a high-ranking US government agency. The fellowship cohort completes operational research for the client’s foreign policy problem and presents their findings and a recommended solution to officials in the requesting agency.

---

Seton Hall University, School of Diplomacy and International Relations
https://www.shu.edu/diplomacy
[email protected]
973-275-2515

</p