International Strategy and Security
Cal Poly Maritime Academy | College of Liberal Arts
The only undergraduate major of its kind in the United States, the International Strategy and Security program focuses on strategic, interdisciplinary studies across national, international and maritime domains — with an emphasis on the most relevant security challenges facing the nation and the global community today.
Solano Campus | Vallejo, California
The International Strategy and Security major offered by the Department of Philosophy is the only undergraduate major of its kind in the United States.
Several of our courses are offered only at Cal Poly Maritime Academy and help provide the foundation for the newest degree program on campus.
About the Program
The International Strategy and Security major offered by the Department of Philosophy is the only undergraduate major of its kind in the United States.
Several of our courses are offered only at Cal Poly Maritime Academy and help provide the foundation for the newest degree program on campus. Our major focuses on strategic studies across the broad spectrum of national, international, maritime, human, cyber, environmental and energy security, among others. The 21st Century is a maritime century.
The ability to navigate the oceans freely is more critical than ever to global security, trade, and prosperity. In addition, the maritime sector plays a crucial role in delivering aid and supplies during conflicts, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises.
The International Strategy and Security major will equip you to navigate the strategic environment of the global ocean by learning about the maritime environment, security, and strategy through a foundational lens in Political Science and International Relations. Through a series of core courses and targeted electives that build upon each other, you will craft a polished “toolkit of knowledge and skills” that can be applied to a variety career paths in public policy, national security, diplomacy, the maritime sector, the U.S. Armed Forces and many more.
Learn by Doing
Write policy-relevant memos, take part in simulations based on real-world events and analyze opportunities to shape the future of national and global security landscape.
The International Strategy and Security program embeds leadership development into our courses as students learn about leadership styles and self-knowledge. We also facilitate Study Abroad through programs such as the California State University International Programs (CSUIP).
In addition, all International Strategy and Security students complete a required internship program where they Learn by Doing in a career-relevant environment that helps build their professional skills outside of the classroom. These high-impact experiences make our graduates highly competitive in the labor market.
Our Graduates
Students with a degree in International Strategy and Security are prepared for a variety of careers in public policy, the security sectors, government and public service and more.
The International Strategy and Security degree also serves as a foundation for graduate programs in the areas of security studies, public policy, law and many more.
Graduates have worked in the military and federal agencies such as the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of State. In the State of California, recent graduates work in the California State Assembly and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), in addition to those employed by various maritime companies such as SSA Marine and TOTE Maritime, among others.