Study Doctor of Philosophy in Security Studies at University of Central Florida in the USA,
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Doctor of Philosophy in Security Studies

USA

3

What will I learn?

The Security Studies doctoral program is designed to produce specialists capable of analyzing and communicating security issues to policy makers, the general public, the government, and academia. Many graduates will work in military and other governmental organizations, international corporations, and agencies that deal with security. Others will seek employment in research and teaching in institutions of higher education. The PhD degree consists of 62 credit hours beyond the master's degree. A master's degree is required for admission to the program with at least 30 credit hours of master's level work (including both coursework and thesis hours). The 62 credit hours consist of 17 credit hours of required courses, 15 credit hours of restricted electives, 12 hours of unrestricted electives (including courses offered in other departments, research, independent study, and internship), and a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation work. Doctoral students in the Security Studies PhD program may apply to the Political Science MA, Security Studies Master's Along the Way Track to earn a second master's degree after successfully completing 30 credit hours in the PhD program. The Master Along the Way degree includes 5 doctoral core courses (15 credit hours), 4 (12 credit hours) restricted electives of which at least 3 credit hours must be a research methods course, and a minimum of 3 directed research credits. Students must produce a research paper during the directed research course. There is no thesis option for this track. Students must be in good academic standing as defined by the PhD in Security Studies Handbook.

Study options

Full Time (6 Semesters)

Tuition fees
US$22,988.00 per year
Books - 1200

*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution

Start date

August 2027

Venue

Orlando Main Campus

4000 Central Florida Blvd.,

Orlando,

Florida,

32816, South, United States

Entry requirements

For international students

An earned masters degree or its equivalent in Political Science, International Politics or International Relations, or related discipline. The Graduate Program Director will evaluate the suitability and applicability of MA degrees in other disciplines for admission purposes. The GRE is not required for admission to this program. Three letters of reference that evaluate the applicants academic performance and their suitability and potential for undertaking doctoral study, at least one of which must be written by a faculty member at the institution where the masters degree was earned, preferably the thesis adviser for those applicants who wrote a masters thesis. A personal statement of 500 words identifying areas of research interest in political science, faculty with whom they would like to work, and describing the applicants academic and professional experiences and future career goals. A writing sample of the applicants work that is at least 2500 words long and demonstrates the ability to complete graduate-level research. Résumé. Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide one official transcript and official certification of degree, with date awarded. If you will be requesting transfer credit, a course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. must be submitted. Applicants records will be reviewed on an individual basis for academic deficiencies and evaluated to assess their potential for success in the program. Supplemental course work may be recommended. Consult the graduate program director whenever questions arise. A department admissions committee that reviews the applicants credentials will conduct interviews with the top candidates (either in-person on campus or by phone or Skype). Final selection is based on both submitted credentials and interview.

*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.

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About University of Central Florida

UCF is an innovative, high-value university that prepares international students for the future – a career shaping the world.

  • Over 220 cutting-edge degree programs and minors
  • In-person and remote learning options
  • Fifth most innovative U.S. public university (USNWR 2025)
  • Best Value University by Forbes, Kiplinger

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