The mission of the Political Science Program’s National Security Track is threefold: 

• First, provide opportunities to those students interested in a career in the national security community
• Second, develop the analytical and communicative skills necessary for students to be successful in this career path
• Third, achieve a high level of appreciation towards the comprehensive nature of national security studies

In order to achieve these goals the National Security Track consists of several components:

Courses: A student majoring in this track has the opportunity to take the following courses:

• PO103 American Federal Government
• PO107 Central European Nations
• PO108 International Politics
• PO201 Classical Political Thought
• PO202 Modern Political Thought
• PO215 Politics of Latin America
• PO313 Political Geography
• PO315 American Foreign Policy
• PO317 International Law & Organization
• PO362 Senior Public Policy Seminar
• CJ374 Terrorism
• CJ380 Intelligence Analysis
• LG355 Law in America

Upon completing these courses students should be able to:

• Understand the types of evidence used by policy makers and academics in their analysis of national politics and foreign affairs
• Incorporate into their working vocabulary a number of terms and concepts used by scholars, policy-makers and other actors in the area of foreign policy
• Acquire a working knowledge of current events
• Utilize their intellectual skills to view political affairs more critically
• Express this knowledge effectively through written and oral communication

These courses provide the student with a comprehensive knowledge of various methodologies and theories utilized by policy makers and academics in their analysis of foreign affairs. Students develop an advanced understanding of public policy, history, legal affairs, and geography necessary for them to achieve success in their future careers.

• Graduation Requirements for the Political Science National Security Track

National Security Club
The purpose of the National Security Club is to gain a high level of appreciation towards the comprehensive nature of national security studies as it relates to both government agencies and the private sector. This is achieved through meetings and discussing issues of national security, familiarizing students with the 16 different organizations of the intelligence community and related private sector companies, and hosting guest speakers, as well as occasional field trips.

• Visit the DeSales National Security Club Blog
  
  The Core Values of the Club include:
• Service
• Integrity
• Excellence
• Accountability
• Respect for Law 

Affiliations 
The National Security Track at DeSales University has developed close ties to numerous organizations within national security community. These relationships provide opportunities for students to develop themselves through: internships, graduate school programs, events, symposiums, personal contacts and networking.

Some affiliations include:

• The Institute of World
• The Bush School of Government and Public Service
• National Defense University
• National Security Agency
• Strategic Studies Institute
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Association of Former Intelligence Officers *

*The National Security Track is a member of AFIO’s Academic Exchange Program

Speakers and Field Trips
DeSales University hosts guest speakers through various forums on its campus.

In the past these speakers have included:

• Mr. Cameron La Clair, one of the founders of the CIA | download mp3
• Former Director of the FBI Louis Freeh
• General Barry McCaffrey, U.S. Army
• Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage
• FBI Senior Legal Counsel M. E. “Spike” Bowman

The Political Science Program also sponsors field trips to places like: 

• The United Nations
• The National Cryptologic Museum at NSA, Ft. Meade, MD
• The Institute of World Politics, Washington, D.C.
• The National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA
• The AFIO Director of National Intelligence Luncheon, Washington, D.C.