Requirements

Designed for students interested in exploring career opportunities in international security and foreign policy, NDISC's undergraduate programs offers rigorous training and access to special opportunities inside and outside the classroom. Students have two options: a selective international security Undergraduate Fellows Program designed for political science majors, and an interdisciplinary International Security Studies Minor open to undergraduates in any program of study. 

Review the requirements below to decide which is right for you. 

Undergraduate Fellows Program Requirements

Coursework

U.S. National Security Policymaking (POLS 30210) is the Fellows Program's required gateway course. Additionally, students must complete either Introduction to International Relations, U.S. Foreign Policy, or a similar course (with the discretion of the Program Director).

Students must also take two relevant elective courses at the 30000 level or above. For a list of pre-approved (and rejected) courses, click here. We accept many that are not pre-approved. If you feel a course that should be included, please click the button below

Elective Course Submission

 

Note: required Undergraduate Fellows Program courses often count toward the political science major.

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Senior thesis

All undergraduate fellows in the program must complete a yearlong senior thesis project. Funds are available to support your senior thesis research. For more information or to apply for funding, click here.

Outside the classroom

Seminar discussions

NDISC hosts required seminars from 4:30–6 p.m. every 2 to 3 weeks on Tuesday evenings. Periodically, students are invited to dine with our speakers.

Internship

Fellows are expected to complete an internship related to international security. Examples include:

• Working for an NGO/IGO dealing with conflict/security
• Participation in the Washington Program, where the internship component is focused on national or international security
• Interning for a member of Congress whose sits on the Foreign Relations, Armed Services, or Intelligence Committee, and similar;
• Interning at the Pentagon or elsewhere in the U.S. National Security bureaucracy. 

NDISC has funds available to help undergraduate fellows pay for the internships that are a required part of the program.

Professional development

NDISC also conducts orientation visits to military and political sites, bases, and more, as well as hands-on training led by the Notre Dame ROTC program, diplomacy games, and movie nights. In addition, fellows have priority access to gain experience on the Students Talk Security podcast and the opportunity for customized mentoring and exclusive networking. Participation in these co-curricular events is strongly encouraged.

International Security Studies Minor Requirements

To complete a minor in International Security Studies (ISS), students must take 5 courses (15 credit hours) related to security studies. These courses are subject to approval, but the list of approved courses is growing every semester.

International Security Studies Minor Requirements

Five courses (15 credit hours) related to security studies are required to complete the minor. Two of these are specified. Minors must take a course from the Department of Political Science AND a course in military history from the Department of History. The students must then take 3 electives. These can be any of the pre-approved courses. However, if a student finds another security-related course, they can submit the syllabus to a co-director of the minor for possible approval. Approval is based on the course being largely about national and international security. The list of approved courses is growing every semester.

Soon after enrolling, students should meet with an undergraduate program director to discuss a plan for completion, as well as career plans, internships, fellowships, etc.

A capstone is not required to complete the minor, but students are welcome to pursue one in consultation with the undergraduate program directors. A subject-relevant thesis may count for an ISS course, or two, depending on its length.

Outside the classroom

NDISC hosts required seminar discussions every 2-3 Tuesdays from 4:30–6 p.m. Periodically, students are invited to dine with our speakers. ISS minors are expected to participate in all seminars. They are welcome to participate in other NDISC professional development and networking opportunities if space is available. An internship in international security is encouraged but not required.