Columbia College - MA in Military Studies

New degree sighting: Columbia College (a RA school located in Columbia, MO) has a new program coming online with classes expected to start in March. The program is a MA in Military Studies and classes run on an eight week format. From reviewing the site, it looks like tuition is about $320 per semester hour. The program is run through the History and Political Science Department. The classes are coded as neither history nor political science.

Columbia College Online Campus - Academic Departments

Columbia College: Online Campus - Master of Arts in Military Studies

 

I wonder about the utility of this degree. It seems to be one of those "neither fish nor fowl" majors.

 

Columbia has some stuff on its website about its strong connection with the military. Examples of this are that over half of its extended campuses are on military bases and that it plays well with others in regards to things like the Community College of the Air Force and the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges network.

My take on the degree - It was designed for military members who need a master's degree for promotion purposes. Beyond that, I know that there are some jobs in the intel world that list military studies as one of the preferred degrees for employment.

 

I can see this. I think it would be nice if they would use a HIST or POLS prefix.

 

For military personnel … the US Army Command and General Staff College - School of Advanced Military Studies offer the MMAS (Master of Military Art & Science) tuition free. Moreover, the Naval Postgraduate School offers several graduate degrees tuition free for both military and Federal Government personnel, and even has DL graduate degree offerings … though not the MMAS degree. Naval Postgraduate School - Academics at NPS

 

The Air Force has similar programs. With that said, a large percentage of military members do not have access to those programs.

 

How about this one - Master of Liberal Arts in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Florida Studies

 

Wow. That is all I can say.

 

Maybe you can use it to...nope nothing...

 

How is that for "I can't make up my mind"?

 

Likewise so does the Marine Corps, and you’re correct … re Army Commissioned Officer Career Information:

The Advanced Military Studies Program (AMSP) is a year-long resident course taught by the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at the US Army Command and General Staff College. There are 52 (45 Army, 7 other Service) students selected for attendance each year. Applications are accepted by the Director, SAMS, from August through October of each year.

Nonetheless, the Columbia College MA in Military Studies as a degree in itself, I expect, would have somewhat limited utility outside a military or a DOD career path.

 

You and I see eye-to-eye on this.

 

Some degrees can just be too specific … :usa2:

 

I could see it POSSIBLY being useful for someone who works for a Florida-based historical society or a museum in Florida. Possibly.

 

I agree 100%, I love military history but it would have to be more of a hobby then something I would peruse as a career.

 

Airtorn,

In reference to intelligence industry employer degree preference; e.g. do you recall whether or not the posting/s listed military studies degree along with military and/or Intel service experience as preference, or would the stand-alone military studies degree meet the min. requirement for employment purposes; just curious?

From a personal preference, the discipline of military studies is a fascinating study. But as we both have agreed, outside say the defense industry, defense contracting, think-tanks, etc. the degree specialization just wouldn’t fare that well in the open market. And within some industries, such degrees may even be detrimentally viewed (?).