Purdue University launches new online Master of Science in strategy in security and defense technologies

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University is launching a new online Master of Science in strategy in security and defense technologies. This unique interdisciplinary program was created to prepare service members, defense professionals and veterans for leadership roles in national defense and security, a sector experiencing rapid growth thanks to increased investment and the proliferation of technologies like artificial intelligence.

“As technology reshapes every aspect of global security, professionals need both strategic insight and technological fluency,” said Dimitrios Peroulis, Purdue’s senior vice president for partnerships and online and the Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “This program equips learners with the competencies required to thrive in a rapidly changing defense workforce.”

The online master’s builds off Purdue’s online strategic defense technologies graduate certificate and strategic defense technologies professional development certificate, offering a blend of strategy, military studies, social science and policy analysis, with added depth and detail designed to help learners build strong foundations in national and homeland security strategy, technology, and policy creation. In addition to completing flexible, hands-on coursework, students in the master’s program also engage in real-world simulations and applied projects relevant to their career goals.

Purdue is a recognized leader in defense education and research, offering both online and on-campus programs and research initiatives focused on advancing national security and defense. One such example is Purdue’s FORCES initiative, a collaborative enterprise in the university’s College of Liberal Arts that promotes interdisciplinary research and instruction on strategy, security and global systems. The experts in the FORCES initiative helped to create the online master’s in strategy in security and defense technologies, as well as the graduate and professional development certificates.

“There are many MS and MA programs in strategy. Some of them examine technology. Our program is unique,” said Sorin Adam Matei, associate dean for research and graduate education in the College of Liberal Arts, professor of communication, founder of the FORCES initiative, and leader of the faculty group that created the MS program. “It blends technology with strategy like the strands of the DNA code.”

Students in the online MS in strategy in security and defense technologies will take classes with expert Purdue instructors who have direct experience in the security sector and expertise across multiple security domains, including land, air, maritime, space and cybersecurity. They also benefit from Purdue’s strong industry and government partnerships, as well as the university’s Tier 1 Collegiate Purple Star designation, which distinguishes Purdue as a top-tier supportive environment for military-affiliated students.

“All MS in strategy in security and defense technologies instructors are PhDs with vast practical experience ranging from policy, various military branches and national security experts,” Matei said. “The courses reflect both local and global perspectives.”

In service of supporting military-affiliated students’ educational goals, the online MS in strategy in security and defense technologies will be offered at a reduced rate of $250 per credit hour for service members. The program requires 30 credit hours in total and can be completed in as little as 18 months.

“This program reflects Purdue’s unwavering commitment to providing accessibility and opportunity,” said Kelvin Gumbs, executive director of Purdue’s military educational and strategic partnerships. “By offering world-class education at a competitive price, we ensure that service members, veterans and defense professionals can access an advanced degree without financial barriers, empowering all to lead, innovate and succeed in both their military and civilian careers.”

Offered online in a flexible format, the program is accessible to working professionals and service members, regardless of where they are in the world or in their careers. With an interdisciplinary curriculum that captures the complexities of today’s high-tech global security environment, the MS in strategy in security and defense technologies is a valuable upskilling opportunity for professionals in a wide variety of industries and roles, from military members to policymakers and cybersecurity specialists.

The program is also a tremendous reskilling opportunity for professionals and service members who want to move into careers in national security and defense strategy, policy development, homeland security, cybersecurity, risk analysis, defense research, law enforcement, national security consulting, and more.

Learn more about the online MS in strategy in security and defense technologies by visiting the program’s webpage.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.