Ssp

<p>Anyone is doing the graduate Security Studies Program at Georgetown?
HOw is it different from Foreign Policy and International Security program in MSFS?</p>

<p>SSP is designed for mid-career, professionals, etc, is it also suitable for student who just graduated from undergrad program whose interests is in Security studies? or MSFS program would fit better? Because it seems like SSP would suit better for those who already have work experience in security field. Thanks!</p>

<p>I'm in the 5-year BSFS/SSP program now, in my 4th year at Georgetown (so I'm both a senior undergrad and a first year grad student). I can tell you that while most of the students are at least a couple of years removed from undergrad, there are also plenty of straight from college types, as well as the 5-year Hoyas who are still technically undergraduates. There's also at least 3 midshipment from the Naval Academy taking some SSP classes, so in terms of content, difficulty, applicability, there's nothing that makes it necessary to be mid-career. It is a narrowly-taylored, professional degree, but it's not like an MBA, where almost everyone has a few years of work under their belt.</p>

<p>So yes, it is very much suitable for someone who just graduated, assuming you know that you want your focus to be security. The MSFS is more broad - you can do more things with it, but you're also not going to get the same kind of depth in terms of security, given the more general requirements in the MSFS program. You can find a comparative listing of the degree req's on the two programs' websites, I'm sure.</p>

<p>If you have any more questions, ask away.</p>

<p>thank you for your message. Another question: I really like the thing that SFS students have the opportunity to take language courses for free. But in reality is it possible for SSP grad student to have extra time to attend language classes given that they take 12 credit hour course at SSP?</p>

<p>With the languages, it really depends on what else you're doing. Some of the students are military and their current assignment is strictly school, which they are paid to attend. They would have the time to take language classes as well. If you only work part time or your job has very flexible hours (writer, bartender, journalist, etc.) then you could probably fit it into your schedule. But if you're working 9-5, there's no way.</p>

<p>Also, 9 credits per semester is considered full-time (3 credit hours per course). You can take 12, but there's no real point to that, unless you want to finish early, since you only need 36 hours (12 courses) to graduate.</p>