M. A. in International Security Management | Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany

The consecutive English-language degree programme International Security Management (ISM) provides an interdisciplinary course at the interface of security-related disciplines drawn from the Legal Sciences, Information Technology, Economics and the Social Sciences.

It combines aspects of Security Studies with practical applications such as Risk, Crisis and Catastrophe Management; the protection of critical infrastructures; and Quality Assurance in the Security sector, all in terms of professionalism, Human Rights and Accountability etc.

The Master’s degree programme is open to graduates of Bachelor’s degree courses from Risk and Security Management. The degree programme is also open to applicants with a degree in Economics, Administration, Social Sciences, Tourism, Logistics, Facility Management or Computer Science. A pre-requisite is a strong interest in security topics.

• • • Key facts
    • Career Prospects
    • Structure
    • Programme Details
    • Admission Requirements and Selection Procedures
    • Application period
    • Fees and sources of funding

Key facts

Career Prospects

Graduates are awarded the internationally-accepted qualification “Master of Arts” (M.A.). The degree programme qualifies graduates to assume management roles in commercial and state security organizations as well as to shoulder demanding security tasks in nationally and internationally-active companies and state agencies, NGOs and aid organizations.

Graduates of this degree course will also be qualified for the higher levels of German public Administration (in accordance with the joint decision of the Innenministerkonferenz and the Kultusministerkonferenz).

Structure

The Master’s degree programme consists of four consecutive phases:

1. An introductory phase (1 semester) serving to focus and extend students’ existing theoretical understanding and practical skills.
2. A specialization phase with elective topics (2 semester).
3. A practical phase (3 semester) giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a practice-based context and prepare for the assumption of management responsibilities.
4. A research project (4 semester) with a research seminar and a colloquium within the scope of the Master’s thesis.

Teaching is seminar-based. Particular importance is placed on the use of case studies to extend the students’ theoretical understanding of the various aspects of Security Management and apply them in a practice setting.

Programme Details

Module overview for the Master’s degree programme

• Module 1: Research and Methodology
• Module 2: Globalisation, Security Challenges & Governance
• Module 3: International Management of Risks and Crises
• Module 4: Organisation, Leadership and Economics of Security Management I
• Module 5: Normative Theories, Ethics and Accountability in International Security Management I
• Module 6: Crime Control in a Global Environment
• Module 7: Organisation, Leadership and Economics of Security Management II
• Module 8: Information, Knowledge Protection and CyberSecurity
• Module 9: Normative Theories, Ethics and Accountability in International Security Management II
• Module 10: Current Issues in International Security Management
• Module 11: Elective A: Mobility and Transport, Elective B: Event Security

Admission Requirements and Selection Procedures

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or similar
• Minimum 180 ECTS credits
• Proof of proficiency in English to a minimum of the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
• English-language CV and letter of motivation

Application period

Fees and sources of funding