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International Security

Types of Degrees International Security Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing International Security may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	218
Master’s Degree	570

What International Security Majors Need to Know

Coursework for International Security build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that International Security graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in International Security emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Law and Government — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills emphasized by a International Security program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to International Security careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, International Security graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.4 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.2 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.2 / 7
Processing Information	4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.1 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.0 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by International Security professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
WinBUGS	Analytical or scientific software	—
R	Object or component oriented development software	—
poLCA	Analytical or scientific software	—
Course management system software	Computer based training software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for International Security graduates include:

• Government Professor
• Political Science Instructor
• Adjunct Instructor
• Political Science Adjunct Professor
• Assistant Professor
• Adjunct Political Science Instructor
• Political Science Professor
• Public Policy Professor
• Political Theory Professor
• Political Science Adjunct Instructor
• Public Administration Professor
• International Relations Professor
• College Professor
• Geopolitics Teacher
• Lecturer

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to International Security graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	58.9%
Bachelor’s degree	23.8%
Master’s degree	5.6%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.9%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.9%
Postsecondary certificate	1.9%
Some college courses	1.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.2%
Post-doctoral training	0.3%
Post-master’s certificate	0.2%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in International Security?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 73.4% of International Security degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	210	26.6%
Men	578	73.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of International Security graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	481	61.0%
Asian	23	2.9%
Hispanic or Latino	122	15.5%
Black or African American	47	6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native	3	0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	2	0.3%
Two or More Races	28	3.6%
Race Unknown	30	3.8%
International Students	52	6.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do International Security Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of International Security graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$52,048
4 years	$67,113
5 years	$78,479

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $78,479 — roughly 51% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Online International Security Programs

Distance learning are documented by IPEDS for International Security. The table below shows how many graduates earned at least some of their coursework online (Distance-Ed Available) versus completing the entire program online (Distance-Ed Only).

Award Level	Distance-Ed Available	Distance-Ed Only
Bachelor’s	5	1
Master’s	12	1

^{Distance-Ed Only = degrees completed entirely online; Distance-Ed Available = degrees including at least some online coursework. Source: IPEDS Completions by Distance Education status.}

Is a Degree in International Security Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, International Security graduates earn a median of $67,113 four years after completion — roughly 77% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
International Relations and National Security Studies	45.09
International Relations and Affairs	45.0901
International Relations and National Security Studies, Other	45.0999
American Government and Politics (United States)	45.1002
Political Economy	45.1004
Political Science and Government, General	45.1001
Political Science and Government, Other	45.1099
Canadian Government and Politics	45.1003

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.