Learn to Protect Your Homeland with a Bachelor of Arts in Government – National Security Studies Degree
Are you interested in politics, government, and protecting your country and its citizens? Maybe you want to work in local, state, or national government. You may even see yourself working in an intelligence agency like the FBI, CIA, or the Department of Homeland Security. With Liberty University’s Bachelor of Arts in Government – National Security Studies, you’ll receive the knowledge and training you need to start your career working in the intelligence community.
With this program, you’re going to understand how government works, what threats our nation faces, and how to counteract those threats. This will prepare you for success in your field as you pursue positions as an emergency manager, a military officer, or an analyst for homeland security, intelligence, or national security. Additionally, if your desire is to go on to a related graduate program, the B.A. in Government will equip you for future studies.
Partner with us today to pursue your bachelor’s degree in national security studies. At Liberty, we will ensure that you have all the training, skills, and knowledge you’ll need to be successful in your field. Not only will you be prepared to enter the workforce, but you will do so with ethical training that comes from our mission of Training Champions for Christ.
Award-Winning Campus
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank among Niche.com’s Top 3 college campuses in America. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Why Choose Liberty’s B.A. in Government – National Security Studies Degree?
At Liberty University, we strive to complete every task with excellence in order to honor God and our commitment to Christian values and principles. When you choose to pursue your bachelor’s degree in government with us, you’re choosing to study under professionals, have access to top-of-the-line internship and networking opportunities, and learn how to navigate your future career with a biblical worldview.
Liberty University is accredited by SACSCOC, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, meaning you’re earning a degree from a school that is well-respected among both employers and the academic community. Because we prioritize excellence, your future professors have real-life experience and a master’s or doctoral degree in their field. You’ll be learning from professionals who have worked in police departments, political offices, and government agencies.
In addition to the exceptional faculty at your disposal, you’ll also have a variety of opportunities to network and gain hands-on experience. With internships available in law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and even U.S. Congress or the White House, you have a variety of options to learn more about your career on-the-job and make connections before graduation.
What Will You Learn in Our Bachelor of Arts in Government – National Security Studies Degree?
As you are pursuing your bachelor’s degree in government, you’re going to learn communication skills and the basics of constitutional government, free enterprise, and American government. Your major will also focus on topics like politics, the economy, public policy, and foreign policy.
Because you’ve chosen a Bachelor of Arts, you’ll also study a foreign language. This will provide you with an additional marketable skill when pursuing graduate school or employment opportunities.
With your concentration in national security studies, you’ll study additional courses that will hone your understanding of intelligence. Some of these courses include the following:
- Counter-Terrorism
- Introduction to Homeland Security
- Political and Economic Development
- Strategic Intelligence
Review the Degree Completion Plan, and check out our featured courses below to learn more about what you’ll be studying!
Featured Courses
CJUS 382 – Critical Infrastructure Protection
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Identification, prioritization, and protection of critical infrastructure including:
- Agriculture
- Chemical
- Cyber and information technology
- Emergency services
- Energy
- Medical
- Postal and shipping
- Telecommunications
- Transportation
- Water
- Impact on personal safety, structural integrity and security, and economic performance
GOVT 380 – Introduction to Intelligence and National Security
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- An upper-division introduction to the field of intelligence and the United States Intelligence Community
- How intelligence works within the framework of the Department of Homeland Security
GOVT 480 – Terrorism
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- A cross-disciplinary study of terrorism as a form of organized political violence
- The intellectual, cultural, political, and religious roots of terrorism
- The uses of terrorism in ethnic, sectarian, and international conflicts
GOVT 487 – Ethics in Intelligence
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How ethical standards apply to human conduct when related to intelligence work and the implications for the collection, analysis, and production of information from a Christian worldview
- How to critically analyze assumptions and alternatives and address issues of social, political, and environmental perspectives in support of national security objectives
Highlights of Our National Security Studies Bachelor’s Degree
- Internship opportunities are available in Washington, D.C., with our Washington Fellowship program, as well as locally and nationally with police departments, the FBI, and more.
- Network with peers and faculty in one of our on-campus student clubs and societies such as the Strategic Intelligence Society, the National Political Science Honor Society titled Pi Sigma Alpha, the Criminal Justice Club, or the International Affairs Society.
- Utilize our Center for American Statesmanship, which is a one-stop resource providing education and training in effective citizenship, constitutional rights, foundational worldview ideas, and influential modern political involvement.
- Many of our students go on to work in government or related positions and are equally prepared to pursue graduate studies in political science, law, criminal justice, and more.
Degree Information for the B.A. in Government – National Security Studies
- Residential format
- 120 total hours
- Transfer in up to 75% of your total degree
- Program falls under the Helms School of Government
- View the Degree Completion Plan.
- View our course catalog.
Career Opportunities for B.A. in Government – National Security Studies Graduates
- Emergency manager
- Homeland security analyst
- Intelligence analyst
- Military officer
- National security analyst
- National security consultant
Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees
Every application is reviewed by the admission committee on a case-by-case basis, meaning there are no set minimums for acceptance. However, all applicants must submit the following documents* for admission:
- Admission application
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- Results from the CLT, SAT, or ACT are not required for admission, but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.
- Admission essay
*Note that additional documentation may be requested by the admission committee after your application has been received.
