Notre Dame College’s graduate degree in the field of national security has been named one of the nation’s top 25 most affordable online degrees offering among the best career advancement opportunities.
The College’s Master of Arts in National Security and Intelligence Studies has been recognized as No. 22 in the country for its low cost and long-term career potential, according to the 2020 Best Value Colleges rankings on the Guide to Online Schools by Optimal, formerly SR Education Group. The rankings are based on degree-level and program-specific tuition rates, as well as salary data for graduates in the field of study.
Notre Dame is one of the few colleges in the country to offer a Master of Arts, rather than a Master of Science, in a national security discipline. The College’s advanced degree program also is distinctive in that it is one of few master’s level programs in the country to focus on security policy.
The advanced degree is a hybrid program, which consists of online classes in addition to one strategic weekend visits to campus. It can be completed full time in two years.
Singular Curriculum
The weekend seminar offered each spring focuses on leadership and ethics and features a simulated tabletop analytical crisis exercise.
The graduate program in national security and intelligence studies at Notre Dame provides a distinctive approach to the curriculum by combining this practical application with theory. The program culminates with a real-world, strategic project from the government or private sector.
Classes include homeland security, terrorism and counterterrorism, ethics and decision-making, transnational threats and strategic intelligence and warning.
Career Advancement
Notre Dame’s master’s degree in national security and intelligence studies educates current and future strategic analysts, managers and decision-makers for careers in intelligence analysis, emergency management and homeland security. The program also prepares public and private professionals transitioning from tactical leadership roles to more advanced positions.
The United States has experienced an increasing demand for intelligence analysts since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Many jobs in security and intelligence analysis are expected to grow faster than average and pay up to $100,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Added Benefits
With its mission of individual attention and affordable education, Notre Dame offers special transfer credits and tuition discounts to eligible active and reserve military personnel enrolling in the master’s program in national security and intelligence studies, among other degree programs.
In addition, the College provides individual advising, tutoring and other support services especially for nontraditional students on campus and online through its Finn Center for Adult, Graduate and Professional Programs.
Details about the Master of Arts in National Security and Intelligence Studies and other online degree programs are available at Online.NotreDameCollege.edu.
Additional Options
Notre Dame also offers one of the few Bachelor of Arts degrees in intelligence studies and is among the first educational institutions to connect with professional organizations like the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and to partner with the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center for Human Capital Development.
Undergraduate programs at the College also include emergency management, criminal justice and prelaw studies. A new cybersecurity major complete with an on-campus high-tech situation room also is expected to begin in fall 2020.
Scholarships are available, and Notre Dame participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, offering education benefits to eligible veterans nationwide who pursue degrees online or on-site at the College. Learn more at NotreDameCollege.edu/Academics.
About the Ranking
The methodology for the rankings incorporates a return on investment formula to show accredited programs with the best value. Since the cost and return of a college can significantly vary by the degree, tuition rates and salary numbers are specific to degree-level and major.
According to Optimal, online degrees present an opportunity for career advancement and increased financial stability, but they also can result in insurmountable debt. Knowing the return on investment of a specific degree and major is key. Their ranking considered more than 78,000 online programs.
Optimal helps prospective students make informed, data-driven decisions to improve their collegiate experience and their post-college careers. Knowing the return on investment of a specific degree and major before making a decision is key to evading insurmountable debt.
April 2020
About Notre Dame College
For almost a century, Notre Dame College has educated a diverse population in the liberal arts for personal, professional and global responsibility. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College has grown strategically to keep pace with the rapidly changing needs of students and the dramatic changes in higher education. But it has never lost sight of its emphasis on teaching students not only how to make a good living but also how to live a good life.
Today, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. Notre Dame College offers NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic programs for men and women and is located in a picturesque residential neighborhood just 25 minutes from the heart of Cleveland. Hallmarks of the Notre Dame experience include stimulating academics, personalized attention of dedicated faculty and staff, and small class sizes.
Notre Dame College is located at 4545 College Road in South Euclid. For further information contact Brian Johnston, chief communications officer, at 216.373.5252 or bjohnston@ndc.edu.