Vanderbilt’s Department of Political Science recently announced the introduction of a new major in national security. The interdisciplinary program was developed in partnership with the Institute of National Security. The College of Connected Computing, the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Science collaborated to design the curriculum, and courses counting toward the major are drawn from across these schools. The major follows the introduction of the national security minor, which was introduced Fall 2025. Students can declare the new major starting Fall 2026.
The 36-credit national security major offers two tracks: national security analytics and national security technology, each track requiring 12 credit hours. The analytics track emphasizes quantitative and policy-focused coursework, such as PSCI 1104, Introduction to Quantitative Political Science. The technology track allows students to pursue either a computing or engineering-focused pathway, with course options such as CS 1101, Programming and Problem Solving, and ENGM 3010, Systems Engineering.
Foundational requirements include 12 credit hours of introductory coursework in political science and global affairs. Students must also complete nine credit hours of electives covering topics such as conflict and security, international relations and emerging technologies. All students are required to complete a senior capstone course centered on an in-depth research project. The Department of Political Science has also expanded the range of electives available to students pursuing the national security minor.
Katherine Carroll, director of the national security major, said the development of the new major will help expand the scope of the Institute of National Security’s work.
“This has support from the chancellor and provost, as well as faculty involved in both the Institute of National Security and the Department of Political Science. The creation of a major and a minor complement the efforts in student professional and leadership development offered through the Institute of National Security,” Carroll said.
Carroll also shared that Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, retired, the founding director of the Institute and former director of the National Security Agency, saw a need for better-prepared students trained in the field of national security.
“General Nakasone came in from this very high position of power in the world of national security, and he could not find the workforce that he needed,” Carroll said. “We are going to produce that workforce, and we are going to do it without sacrificing the powerful liberal arts education that the College of Arts and Science is known for.”
Sophomore Joey Ravikoff shared how his experience working with the Research on Conflict and Collective Action Lab, as well as the Institute of National Security, inspired him to pursue the major.
“I applied for the ROCCA Lab [and] got put on two projects with professors who were pursuing military research, and [I] also applied for the Institute of National Security’s immersion cohort. Through that [experience], I ended up meeting a lot of students who are into national security and a lot of really impressive professors at Vanderbilt who are working in the field,” Ravikoff said. “I think it’s a great time at Vanderbilt to be interested in it, just because there’s so much going on in terms of research and article writing, and there are so many knowledgeable professors.”
First-year Ben Wolfe, who shared his interest in double-majoring in national security alongside computer science, said he sees the new major as an opportunity to combine the technical aspects of computer science with the policy side of national security.
“I’ll be able to gain technical experience with my computer science degree but also explore the more political science side of cybersecurity [and] national security,” Wolfe said. “I’m excited to gain all the knowledge I possibly can, and I do eventually want to go into the cybersecurity space.”
Carroll emphasized that the program will also facilitate opportunities for students interested in careers in national security.
“The [Institute of National Security] has done a really good job of mentoring students, giving them opportunities, and they’re ramping up an ongoing effort to get people into strong internships in national security across the board. So, if I were a student, I would be excited about pairing that support with what I learn in the classroom,” Carroll said.