Master of Arts in Strategic Studies

Associate Dean of Graduate Programs: James M. Ehrman
Program Manager: James Dalton

The Master of Arts in Strategic Studies (MASS) is a 36 credit program for current and former military personnel from all uniformed branches who have successfully completed the BSSSDA, BSNSS, and other Norwich University Bachelor degrees in related fields.  The MASS program builds on the education and experience of undergraduates by providing graduate-level coursework focusing on ends, ways and means and the challenges of nesting supporting objectives.  Graduates of the program are equipped to carry out the changing mission of the U.S. military and to work collaboratively with agencies outside the Department of Defense on matters of national security.

The MASS program explores the relationship between politics and the many kinds of national power—from the use of diplomacy to the threatened use of military might. Although many strategic studies programs focus on the use of military means, the MASS program includes work in closely related fields such as intelligence, infrastructure, natural resource studies and inter-agency cooperation. As such, it has broad applications in non-security related areas such as leadership, technology, communication and strategic planning.

Program Outcomes:

• Synthesize major trends in military affairs and the fundamental problems in civil-military relations;
• Analyze Western and Asian theoretical approaches to strategic thought and concepts of contemporary security;
• Evaluate the interrelationship of policy, strategy and operations;
• Analyze the relationships among tactics, operations, strategy and policy;
• Design a plan for the effective use of all the elements of national power to achieve a strategic objective.

One-Week Residency

All degree candidates of the Master of Arts in Strategic Studies are required to attend a one-week Residency Conference on the Norwich University campus, during which they may attend professional presentations, participate in roundtable discussions with faculty, and present papers. The one-week residency is a degree requirement.