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Military Studies Certificate Overview

The Military Studies Certificate program, taught in conjunction with Arizona State University, is designed for Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who are interested in becoming better enlisted leaders in Military Studies. This program helps you accomplish this by developing your skills in military history, organizational leadership, and political science.

This program provides you with a professionally-relevant certificate that helps set you apart as an enlisted leader in military history, organizational leadership, and political science.

Military Studies Certificate Partner Institution

The USNCC Military Studies Certificate is completed through Arizona State University, who is the degree grantor for this program. Arizona State University was selected for this program because of their military friendliness, quality education program, expertise in the field, established pathway to a four-year degree program with little to no loss of credit, and established flag officer advisory council with retired flag officers from each of the armed services, including the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Serving nearly 11,000 active-duty members, veterans, Guard, Reserves and military dependents, Arizona State University is a Top 100 university committed to educating military-affiliated students while advancing defense research for the betterment and security of our nation. ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. ASU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Military Studies Certificate Program Description

The Military Studies Certificate offers courses that develops your knowledge and expertise as an enlisted leader in the following way:

Military Studies is an interdisciplinary certificate program designed to help you approach contemporary naval challenges from a deep historical and analytical perspective. You will gain tools to use historical, political, and economic analysis appropriately, demonstrating professional research, clear writing, and critical thinking skills.

The curriculum will explore key influences and enduring functions the U.S. armed forces have executed for the nation in addition to how those will shape the future maritime domain. You will explore the recent history, development, and strategies that drive the U.S. armed forces. You will learn the development, capabilities, structures, and functions of the Department of Defense as well as other agencies involved in U.S. national security, foreign policy, and more. You will learn to balance history, current events, foreign and domestic policy considerations as well as honing your critical thinking as you study U.S. national security policy making and strategy. You will also learn how this broader national context shapes your service in the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.

Military Studies Certificate Program Requirements

To be eligible for this program, you must meet the following criteria:
  • Active duty enlisted Sailor, Marine, Coast Guardsman, or Coast Guard Reservist
  • ​High school diploma or equivalent
  • Prerequisites: This certificate may require a completion of ENG102 First-year Composition before enrolling in the capstone course

Military Studies Certificate Program Plan

Military Studies Certificate
IDS150
Introduction to Military Studies
3 Credits
HST101
Global History Since 1500
3 Credits
POS361
American Foreign Policy
3 Credits
Approved Elective*
See list of approved electives below
3 Credits
Approved Elective*
See list of approved electives below
3 Credits
IDS350
Military Studies Interdisciplinary Capstone
3 Credits
Note
The Military Studies Certificate also requires the completion of
  • NAV102,
  • NAV104, and
  • NAV105
9 Credits
Total: 27 Credits
*Approved Elective Courses:
  • HST372 Modern Middle East
  • HST303 China, Japan and East Asian in World History
  • HST240 Introduction to Southeast Asia
  • HST304 Stalin to Putin
  • REL379 Religion, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
  • REL366 Islam in the Modern World
  • JUS374 The Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
  • POS300 Contemporary Global Controversies
  • POS364 National Security, Intelligence, and Terrorism
  • POS368 Ethics and Human Rights
  • POS465 International Organizations and Law
  • SGS303 Global Trends
  • SGS350 Economic Development and Globalization
  • SGS370 Geopolitics
  • PAF469 Terrorism Defense

Military Studies Certificate Math Intensity

Low

Military Studies Certificate Learning Environment

All of the courses for the Military Studies Certificate are offered online and asynchronously, both via the USNCC for the Naval Studies Certificate courses and through Arizona State University for the rest of the program. This means that, as long as you have access to the internet, you are able to take these courses on your schedule, wherever you are in the world. Whether you are stationed on a ship in Norfolk, conducting field exercises in Okinawa, patrolling in a cutter the coasts of Alaska, or providing security or logistical support out of Bahrain, you are able to use your off-duty hours to further your education through the USNCC. Since these courses are offered asynchronously, this means you will not be required to log on to specific meetings at specific times throughout the week. You will be assigned due dates for your assignments; as long as you can post by those deadlines, you will meet attendance requirements.

Military Studies Certificate Ideal Rating/MOS Candidates

While there is no requirement at this time to be a part of any rating or MOS community, this program was designed primarily with the following community in mind:
Navy
Any
The Military Studies degree is a general degree program that is designed to help any maritime service member improve their leadership and critical thinking skill sets.
Marine Corps
Any
The Military Studies degree is a general degree program that is designed to help any maritime service member improve their leadership and critical thinking skill sets.
Coast Guard
Any
The Military Studies degree is a general degree program that is designed to help any maritime service member improve their leadership and critical thinking skill sets.

Military Studies Certificate Educational Pathways

The Military Studies Certificate is the professional concentration core for the Associate of Arts in Military Studies program, which is offered in conjunction with Arizona State University. For more information on the Military Studies associate degree and follow on Bachelor level degrees, click here.

Military Studies Certificate Career Opportunities

In addition to improving your capabilities as an enlisted leader in the core career fields listed above, the Military Studies certificate also sets you up for success in the following career fields after you finish your service in the military, whether it is after four years or 34 years:
  • Government Service, especially within the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, or Department of State
  • Intelligence Analyst or Military Analyst
  • Security Contractor or Government Contractor

Contact Information

To find out more about this program and how to apply, contact our enrollment office through out USNCC Support Form.
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