International Security Studies (Minor)
The Kevin and Cynthia O'Brien Undergraduate Program in International Security
Notre Dame International Security Center (NDISC) educates exceptional undergraduate students to prepare them for careers in international security. Our alumni land prestigious positions in the intelligence community, on Congressional committees, in the Department of Defense, in the private sector, and at top graduate schools.
The Kevin and Cynthia O'Brien Undergraduate Program in International Security offers two options: a selective international security Undergraduate Fellows Program designed primarily for political science majors, and an interdisciplinary International Security Studies Minor open to students throughout the University.
Why study international security?
International Security Studies (ISS) will continue to have a profound influence on the world and the people living in it. Understanding the causes and consequences of war helps us to reflect on how to avoid conflicts—increasing the chances for peace, security, and diplomacy.
Your success is important: both in the classroom and beyond! NDISC will help you:
- Deepen your knowledge — learn how to assess security issues, how to identify dangers in crises, and how to reduce them.
- Be aware of global conflicts, both past and present — be an informed global citizen and evaluate security arguments.
- Be an ISS scholar — you will meet leading thinkers and learn about their research and other professional activities. There will also be unique experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom in the national security field.
- Get more than a job: a career — NDISC faculty have years of experience helping students discern their career goals, find internships and jobs, and establish network connections with current and former practitioners in the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, the uniform services, non- and inter-governmental organizations, Congressional representatives and staff, as well as private sector organizations in the international security sphere.
Outside the Classroom
NDISC hosts required seminar discussions every 2-3 Tuesdays from 4:30–6 p.m. Periodically, students are invited to dine with our speakers. ISS minors are expected to participate in all seminars. They are welcome to participate in other NDISC professional development and networking opportunities if space is available. An internship in international security is encouraged but not required.
Contact
Have questions about the ISS Minor or the Undergraduate Fellows Program? Want to learn more about NDISC as a Center? Contact one of our undergraduate program directors:
Dan Lindley, dlindley@nd.edu (political science)
Ian Johnson, ijohnso2@nd.edu (military history)
Five courses (15 credit hours) related to security studies are required to complete the minor. Two of these are specified. Minors must take a course from the Department of Political Science AND a course in military history from the Department of History. The students must then take 3 electives. These can be any of the pre-approved courses. However, if a student finds another security-related course, they can submit the syllabus to a co-director of the minor for possible approval. Approval is based on the course being largely about national and international security. The list of approved courses is growing every semester.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose from one Military History course: | 3 | |
| Nazi Germany, Nazi Europe | ||
| World War 2: A Global History | ||
| The First World War | ||
| Choose from one Political Science course: | 3 | |
| US National Security Policymaking | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| 3 Elective Courses | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Soon after enrolling, students should meet with an undergraduate program director to discuss a plan for completion, as well as career plans, internships, fellowships, etc.
A capstone is not required to complete the minor, but students are welcome to pursue one in consultation with the undergraduate program directors. A subject-relevant thesis may count for an ISS course, or two, depending on its length.