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Chris Bolton
Norwich Graduate, Class of 2019
Norwich Graduate, Class of 2019
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Master of Arts in Strategic Studies
Peace is the Mission; Strategy is the Means
In order for the United States to anticipate and influence future events, both domestic and international, it is necessary for its military personnel to approach tactical and strategic planning from a proactive rather than reactive point of view. Norwich University’s online Master of Arts in Strategic Studies program is designed for current and former military personnel of all uniformed branches and is intended to expand upon students’ educational and military experience with challenging graduate-level courses that focus on ends, ways and means as well as the challenges of nesting supporting objectives.
Coursework equips you with the skills and knowledge necessary to undertake the evolving mission of the United States military, as well as to collaborate with agencies outside the Department of Defense on matters of national security. Under the tutelage of skilled faculty, you can use our flexible online platform to explore the unique relationship between politics and national power, from the application of democracy to the threatened use of military action and beyond. The program culminates in a capstone project designed to help you synthesize the principles and objectives of the program and apply your theoretical and methodological skills to real-world affairs.
Degree
- Master of Arts
Concentrations
- Students complete all course offerings.
Quick Info
100%
Online
Courses completed entirely online
15
Students
Maximum number of students per class
18
Months
Average time to program completion
8
June
Next Start Date
11
May
Application Deadline
Why Norwich?
- Learn how to apply your knowledge to comprehensive national security solutions.
- As the nation’s first military college, Norwich is proud to support you as you balance an active duty schedule with academic pursuits.
- Coursework is rigorous, relevant and immediately applicable to your career.
- Flexible online platform offers you ability to complete coursework that fits your schedule.
Accreditation & Recognition
Norwich University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.).
Scholarship Opportunities
Norwich University offers a range of opportunities to help you lower your overall tuition costs. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about the below options. Please note that scholarships are not additive. In addition to the below scholarships, students may also be eligible for discounts if their organization partners with Norwich University.
Achievement Scholarship
Recognizing your past academic and professional achievements, the Achievement Scholarship is for newly enrolled students. You could receive a $4,200 scholarship, which will be distributed equally over the courses of the program. To be considered for this scholarship opportunity, submit your application package (application form, resume, letter of intent, and essay (if applicable)) for your program of interest at least one week prior to the upcoming application deadline. The Scholarship Selection Committee will review all application materials and select the recipient.
Norwich Alumni Scholarship
Norwich University alumni and their spouses, parents, and children are eligible to receive our Alumni Scholarship. The scholarship is award for each term of enrollment at $425 per term.
Active Duty Military Scholarship
Active duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel are eligible to receive a $250 award for each term of enrollment in an online master’s degree program.
Master of Arts in Strategic Studies Program Curriculum
Master of Arts in Strategic Studies Program Curriculum
This program is six courses (36 credits), each of which is 11 weeks in length. Students master one course at a time, with each course building on the next to create a strong foundation of knowledge and context for future topics.
The coursework will provide students with a broad exposure the relationship between politics and the various kinds of national power to better equip graduates with working collaboratively with agencies on matters of national security.
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National Security Strategy: Theory and FrameworksNT505 6 credit hours
Students analyze the theoretical and practical frameworks within which national security objectives are developed at the highest levels of government. Students are introduced to the prevailing lenses through which nations attempt to achieve their national security goals and a range of theoretical approaches to the formulation of policy objectives.
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Strategy and PolicyNT510 6 credit hours
This course sharpens students’ ability to assess a variety of situations and compare alternative courses of action to achieve overall national political purposes. Students are asked to think in a disciplined, critical, and original manner about the international environment and a range of potential strategies involving joint, interagency, and multinational partners. Strategy has been viewed traditionally as the relationship between war’s purpose and the means to achieve a political end. Strategy provides a theory of victory that explains how a state can translate the employment of the specific means of national power into the achievement of overall national objectives.
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Theory and the International SystemGD510 6 credit hours
You will review the basic theories that govern international relations and political science. The course also traces the historical evolution of diplomacy within the international system, providing a sense of its progression and an awareness of the milestones of diplomatic interaction within that system.
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Economics and the International SystemGD530 6 credit hours
You will explore the international economic system, examine the impact of modernization within the system, and investigate the controversy over the concept of globalization and the debate of free trade versus protectionism. You will become familiar with the international financial network and its institutions. Special attention will be given to Third World development issues and the concept of economics as a tool of diplomacy and military power.
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The Military and the Use of ForceNT550 6 credit hours
This seminar is an in-depth study of the operational level of war throughout the full spectrum of military operations. The course prepares students to excel in the operational arena through an understanding of the effective use of operational level planning involving joint/coalition forces and interagency partners to achieve military objectives.
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Capstone Planning ExerciseNT560 6 credit hours
The capstone planning exercise provides an opportunity for the student to integrate extensive research along with the concepts and principles of the program that results in a student-derived plan to achieve a theater-strategic objective. Each student will complete the plan using all the elements of national power in concert with one another. The purpose of the capstone project is for the student to apply theoretical and methodological skills to real-world issues. The expectation of the program is that the capstone project will demonstrate a student’s overall knowledge in the discipline and the skills necessary to achieve a mastery of strategic planning.
Admissions
At a Glance
- Undergraduate degree in related field
- Current or prior military service
- Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher
Next Start Date
Monday, June 5, 2023
Application Deadline
Monday, May 8, 2023
Contact Admissions
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT
Extended hours available by appointment
Call: 1-866-684-7237
Email: learn@norwich.edu
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Our Military HeritageEstablished in 1819 as the nation’s first private military college, Norwich University has a long history of innovation in military education. -
What to Expect at NorwichFrom student support to classroom resources to exceptional faculty, Norwich has your online learning experience covered. -
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.Military BenefitsYou may receive the equivalent of up to 12 semester credits for study conducted elsewhere. Norwich complies with VA regulations and guidelines as it pertains to transfer credits.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Norwich University, in compliance with Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, or physical handicap in any of its policies, practices, or procedures.
Tuition & Fees
Overview
The Master of Arts in Strategic Studies program is an investment in your future that we can help you manage from a financial perspective. We work with military personnel each day to help them maximize their benefits. There are many ways to get financial assistance and several financial strategies that can help you achieve your academic and professional goals. We are here to help you identify and pursue the options that are best for you.
Tuition at a Glance
- Credit Hours: 36
- Cost Per Credit Hour: $689; $550 (active military; veteran; first responder)
Financial Aid Resources
Ways to Pay
Do You Qualify for a Tuition Discount?
We Accept Military Benefits
2023-24 Tuition and Fee Schedule - Master's Programs
| Rate Per Credit |
Term
Tuition |
Additional Expenses | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
|
$689; $550 (active military; veteran; first responder)
|
$3,330-$4,188
|
Technology - $300/term |
$22,050-$27,054
|
Careers & Outcomes
Meeting Change with Action
A world in turmoil demands decisive leadership. The need for skilled tacticians and strategic thinkers has never been greater, and the ability to back diplomacy with a standard of indisputable strength begets a tremendous opportunity for those with the vision to seize it. The Master of Arts in Strategic Studies program capitalizes upon Norwich University’s nearly 200-year tradition of grooming leaders in the military, public sector, and private industry. Students have the means to broaden their knowledge of global geopolitics, international diplomacy and military strategy—and thereby transform their careers. Whether they are looking to advance in their current line of work or transition to a new endeavor, the Master of Arts in Strategic Studies program is an essential building block for motivated individuals who seek to preempt change with innovation.
Graduates of the online Master of Arts in Strategic Studies program at Norwich University join a thriving network of highly motivated, successful and conscientious alumni who continue to shape the world in the image of Norwich’s sterling values. A master’s degree in Strategic Studies from Norwich University can open a number of doors, in relevant career paths with organizations including but not limited to:
- U.S. Military
- Department of Defense
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- National Security Agency
- State Department
- Transportation Security Administration
- Department of Homeland Security
- Government and private think tanks
- Private security firms
- Defense contractors
Faculty & Staff
Academic Director
James Dalton, MA
James Dalton is an experienced educator, with a focus on graduate and undergraduate military college program development and instruction. Earning the rank of commander with 27 years of active duty military experience in the U.S. Navy, Dalton has served as a naval flight officer and a professor at the Naval War College. As a military professor, he developed and managed military education programs for advanced warfare studies related to conventional and unconventional warfare across all phases. During his assignment as a joint experimentation officer, he designed and coordinated test programs for new systems to benefit all branches of the U.S. Special Forces and developed curriculum dedicated to unconventional warfare education. He has his master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College, as well as a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Missouri.
Programs
Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis
Bachelor of Science in National Security Studies
Master of Arts in Strategic Studies
Program Staff
Featured Faculty
Faculty
Alumni
Meet graduates from our master's programs.
Featured Alumni
I was able to apply the skills that I learned and bring several large bureaucratic organizations together to reach a common goal.
I am constantly working on projects in the UAE, Africa, Asia, and the U.S. and was able to put my knowledge to work immediately, particularly in cross-cultural communication and negotiation styles.
In order to become a multidimensional leader in today’s Army, I knew that pursuing my degree was a must. Obtaining this degree from Norwich University would ensure that I was set up for success after the Army.
Learn more about our Strategic Studies program
