Bachelor of Science in National Security

Bachelor of Science in National Security

Transfer Credit Guidelines

A bachelor’s degree in national security prepares students for leaders and policymakers to understand global conditions and shape the strategic environment. This program in is especially geared to the background and career interests of military servicemembers and veterans, and civilian employees working for the U.S. Department of Defense or other federal or state government agencies, global corporations, and nonprofits operating in multiple nations with varying social and political climates. Discover how the United States and other countries evaluate and revise their national security strategy and policies by studying related topics in history, political science, public administration, sociology, psychology, economics, military leadership, and cybersecurity. At the end of the program, you recommend ethical solutions to problems identified in your personal assessment of the national security posture of the United States.

A minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) credits including 60 credits in Arts & Sciences and 30 credits at the upper level are needed for completion of the Bachelor of Science in National Security program in the following distribution areas:

TUT 101 Purple badges indicate Excelsior University courses.

TUT 101 Green badges indicate non-Excelsior University courses.

Courses must be completed with Excelsior with a minimum grade of a C or higher.

INL 102 Information Literacy Complete within the first 13 of attempted credits 1
IND 301 Cornerstone B (Pathways) Complete in the first term of credit-bearing activity 3
Total Credits | 4

Courses may be transferred in from outside sources of credit with a minimum grade of a C or higher.

Written English ENG 101A Advanced Composition Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Written English Requirement (6 semester hours to include 3 semester hours in expository writing (to be completed within the first 13 semester hours) and 3 semester hours in applied writing or writing within the discipline). 3
Written English ENG 102A Advanced Composition II Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Written English Requirement (6 semester hours to include 3 semester hours in expository writing (to be completed within the first 13 semester hours) and 3 semester hours in applied writing or writing within the discipline). 3
Ethics IND 203 Introduction to Professional Ethics Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Ethics Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include but are not limited to classical or contemporary ethical theory and philosophy; ethical and moral reasoning; applied ethics relevant to disciplines and careers). This topic is required to meet the specified requirement. 3
Humanities COMM 125 Public Speaking Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Humanities Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, art, music, literature, foreign language, philosophy, religion, speech, or a subject area other than writing). This topic is required to meet the specified requirement. 3
Humanities HUM 253 Mythology Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Humanities Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, art, music, literature, foreign language, philosophy, religion, speech, or a subject area other than writing). 3
Social Sciences / History PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Social Sciences / History Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, anthropology, criminal justice (theory-based, not applied criminal justice), economics, geography, government, history, political science, psychology, and sociology). 3
Social Sciences / History HIS 102 United States History II Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Social Sciences / History Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, anthropology, criminal justice (theory-based, not applied criminal justice), economics, geography, government, history, political science, psychology, and sociology). 3
Social Sciences / History SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Social Sciences / History Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, anthropology, criminal justice (theory-based, not applied criminal justice), economics, geography, government, history, political science, psychology, and sociology). 3
Natural Sciences / Mathematics MAT 114 Intermediate Algebra Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Natural Sciences / Mathematics Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, algebra, geometry, analysis (which includes calculus), and applied mathematics (which includes probability and statistics). Restrictions include developmental or remedial courses, no more than three courses of mathematics credit below the level of calculus, no more than one course or examination may be applied that is (1) terminal in nature with no prerequisite beyond the level of arithmetic; (2) intended for students outside of science or mathematics; or (3) a mathematics appreciation course. Students must complete a minimum of 3 credits in natural sciences and 3 credits in mathematics. 3
Natural Sciences / Mathematics MAT 101 Mathematics for Everyday Life Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Natural Sciences / Mathematics Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, algebra, geometry, analysis (which includes calculus), and applied mathematics (which includes probability and statistics). Restrictions include developmental or remedial courses, no more than three courses of mathematics credit below the level of calculus, no more than one course or examination may be applied that is (1) terminal in nature with no prerequisite beyond the level of arithmetic; (2) intended for students outside of science or mathematics; or (3) a mathematics appreciation course. Students must complete a minimum of 3 credits in natural sciences and 3 credits in mathematics. 3
Natural Sciences / Mathematics NS 110 Science in Today's World Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. Natural Sciences / Mathematics Requirement (Subject areas that meet the requirement include, but are not limited to, astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, algebra, geometry, analysis (which includes calculus), and applied mathematics (which includes probability and statistics). Restrictions include developmental or remedial courses, no more than three courses of mathematics credit below the level of calculus, no more than one course or examination may be applied that is (1) terminal in nature with no prerequisite beyond the level of arithmetic; (2) intended for students outside of science or mathematics; or (3) a mathematics appreciation course. Students must complete a minimum of 3 credits in natural sciences and 3 credits in mathematics. 3
Total Credits | 33

Courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher.

BNS 101 Introduction to National Security Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
BNS 301 National Security Ethics and Diversity Course must be completed with Excelsior University to meet the requirement. 3
BNS 303 Comparative National Security Analysis Course must be completed with Excelsior University to meet the requirement. 3
BNS 305 Cybersecurity in National Security Course must be completed with Excelsior University to meet the requirement. 3
BNS 307 Intelligence in National Security Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
CYS 260 Governance Legal and Compliance Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
CYS 475 Large Scale Cybercrime and Terrorism Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
POL 351 War and Peace After the Cold War Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
POL 320 The Geopolitics of Energy and Global Climate Change Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
IT 380 Overview of Computer Security Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
HEM 125 Introduction to Homeland Security Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
HEM 350 International Terrorism Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
HEM 356 Emergency Management Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
BNS 498 National Security Capstone Course must be completed with Excelsior University to meet the requirement. 3
Total Credits | 42

Approved arts and sciences elective credit in the areas of humanities, social sciences, history, natural sciences, mathematics, as well as applied professional and free electives may apply. Courses may be transferred in from outside sources of credit with a minimum grade of a C or higher.

Elective(s) 26
Total Credits | 26

Students must choose ONE of the available concentrations. All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher.

HEM 352 Domestic Terrorism Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
CYS 401 Organizational Information Security Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
HEM 460 Infrastructure Security and Policy Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
CYS 450 Security Focused Risk Management Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
HEM 450 Counterterrorism Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
Total Credits | 15

Students must choose ONE of the available concentrations. All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher.

HEM 352 Domestic Terrorism Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
HEM 460 Infrastructure Security and Policy Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
CYS 345 Cybersecurity Defense in Depth Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
CYS 401 Organizational Information Security Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
HEM 450 Counterterrorism Recommended Excelsior course, but other course options are available to meet the requirement. 3
Total Credits | 15