If you want to pursue a military-oriented degree that focuses on defense related subjects, then a Masters in Military Science would be best suited to you. The Master’s program sheds light on the perspectives of traditional disciplines such as political science, philosophy, and history, in order to help students gain a better understanding of military affairs. Students are also given instructions on topics like military relations, geopolitics, military organizations and civilian relations.
If you wish to enroll in the Masters in Military Science program, then this article would be of great use to you. Skim through it to learn more about the salary prospects and growth potential in this field.
What Is Military Science?
The discipline that deals with the theories and principles of warfare is called Military Science. This field applies insights from the social and physical sciences to military goals, research, and interests.
What Can You Do with a Master’s in Military Science?
The Master’s program trains students to advance their careers within the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. State Department. After graduating, you can find employment as a Military Officer, U.S. State Department Official, Intelligence Analyst, or a Policy Analyst.
Graduates can also pursue careers in Law Enforcement and can find employment as Police Officers, Detectives, or Criminal Investigators. They can also pursue a career in Education and Research and can teach subjects like Peace, Conflict, and War Studies at the post-secondary level.
The next section will present some wage estimates for a few occupations in this field.
Intelligence Analysts
These professionals use intelligence data to prevent terrorist and criminal activities. The following statistics have been taken from O*NET.
Median Annual Salary, 2018: $81,920
Projected Growth Rate, 2018-28: 2% to 3%
Top industry, 2018: Government
Police and Detectives
Police Officers protect the life and property of the state’s citizens through strict enforcement of laws and regulations. Whereas, detectives are responsible for gathering and analyzing evidence to find criminals. The following statistics have been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Annual Salary, 2018: $63,380
Projected Growth Rate, 2018-28: 5%
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has further categorized this category into multiple fields, one of which is Detectives and Criminal Investigators. The employment data for these professionals is stated below:
Median Annual Salary, 2019: $83,170
Average Mean Salary, 2019: $86,030
State with the Highest Salary, 2019: Alaska - $113,420
State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019: Texas – 16,810
Note: These figures have been obtained from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net Online.
What to Expect in a Military Science Program?
The Master’s in Military Science program usually takes two years to complete and covers a variety of modules such as Joint Warfare Theory and Practice, Strategy, Tactics, & the Operational Art, The Making of Strategy, Great Military Leaders, History of American Diplomacy, and Research Design and Methods. Students enrolled in the Master of Arts (M.A) in Military Science program can specialize in a number of fields such as:
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Strategic Leadership: This pathway traces the practices, theories, and principles of leadership and strategy from contemporary and historical perspectives with an emphasis on strategic leadership lessons learned under government, civil-military, and military conditions and settings.
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Irregular Warfare: This specialization covers a comprehensive analysis of the present, future, and historical irregular warfare concepts and theories, with an emphasis on cyber warfare, criminal activities, terrorism, international relations, intelligence, and propaganda.
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Joint Warfare: This concentration puts an emphasis on modern joint warfare strategies and operations. The curriculum includes topics related to the application of air, sea, and land power in joint operations and coalition warfare.
How to Choose a Military Science Program?
When choosing a Master’s in Military Science, you should take into account a number of factors such as the length of the program, program curriculum, specialization options, distance learning options, and career advancement opportunities.
Master’s in Military Science Admission Requirements
Every university has its own set of admission requirements, thus it is recommended that you check the requirements beforehand. Usually, students are expected to meet the following criteria:
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Applicants should have completed a four year bachelor’s degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution. They are required to submit copies of their official transcripts to the admissions office.
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Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency.
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Applicants may be requested to submit reference letters and writing samples along with their admissions applications.
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CGPA requirements vary from college to college.