Graduate Programs in International Security and Strategic Studies (Thesis/Non-Thesis)

With the end of the Cold War, a new era has begun regarding international security. In this new era, the threats to international security have diversified, and a transition has been made to a less predictable period compared to the previous one. On the one hand, states come together to form supranational structures such as the European Union, on the other hand, it has been observed that states with multi-ethnic structures in many parts of the world have disintegrated.

Moreover, the issue of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continued to be one of the main security problems in the post-Cold War period, as in the previous one. On the other hand, the emergence of the possibility of terrorist organizations gaining access to these weapons has brought this situation to a much more dangerous level. With the September 11 attacks, international terrorism has become a priority issue of international security.

The International Security and Strategy Studies master’s program aims to enable people working in the field of International Security, or aiming to educate themselves, to access, interpret, develop, and specialize in the necessary information. To achieve this goal, it is aimed that candidates will be able to analyze current security problems, learn the approaches to these problems, and develop their skills in analyzing the political, cultural, social and legal background of the security problems.

The changes in the international system have affected the concept of security but have not reduced its importance. The concept of security, which was traditionally considered a military concept, is now discussed together with its political, sociological, economic, and ecological aspects. With the expansion of the field, many security problems are no longer problems that states can solve alone. International terrorism, environmental pollution, hunger, refugees, and the rest have begun to make it necessary to act together in this new era.

In our master’s program, it is aimed to gain knowledge about the basic theories, concepts, and discussions on security studies. Another aim of our program is to develop analysis skills on the causes of wars, deterrence, interviews and contracts, security cooperation, military strategy, and operations. In this context, it is aimed to choose appropriate theoretical and methodological tools for the analysis of security policies, and to comprehensively apply these tools to security research, and to implement a research plan and analytical methods that will shape and conduct original research in the field of security policy.

Our graduates may prefer to pursue Doctoral studies either in Turkey or abroad. Our students who will decide to pursue an academic career through Doctoral studies will be in a highly advantageous and privileged position for being accepted by the distinguished universities both in Turkey and abroad, thanks to the quality of the education that they will be given at MEF University. Our students who will decide to work for the government will be offered special preparation programs that will enable them to be successful in the highly competitive entrance exams of the government offices, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry for European Union Affairs, and Ministry of Economy. Our graduates will also have the opportunity to pursue a career at the international organizations, as well as in the political parties, nongovernmental organizations, respected media groups, and leading “think tanks” in our country and in the world.