Military Studies

Military studies programs focus on understanding the nature of diplomacy and armed conflict. Completing an academic program in this field can lead to a career in the military or as a civilian specialist in military history or intelligence. Read on to find out if this field is right for you.

Inside Military Studies

Programs in military studies combine military history, diplomacy and humanistic studies to create effective leaders and scholars in the armed forces. Many programs in military studies are presented in the context of military service, such as Reserve Officers Training Corps. Civilian careers for those with degrees in military studies include teaching and research in military strategy or history. Military officers may retire after 20 years of service and may have the opportunity to work in locations around the world.

Whether you'd like to become a military officer or a civilian employee in the field of military history or intelligence, Study.com offers a variety of information resources to help you begin your journey.

Education Information

Military studies programs are offered at degree levels from a minor focus in a bachelor's program to a master's degree. The curriculum for a degree or minor in military studies covers aspects of war and armed conflict, including historic regional conflicts, diplomatic issues and military strategy. Programs aimed at developing careers in the armed forces emphasize leadership.

Military history provides a contextual study, shifting in focus from chronology-based courses, such as the Vietnam War, to historic themes, such as armored warfare. A broad curriculum also includes courses in the humanities, such as philosophy, political science or sociology. Many undergraduate military studies programs are designed for ROTC students, which include courses in history, land navigation and leadership, to name a few.

Take a look at the articles below to learn more about academic options for this field of study.

Distance Learning Options

Online courses and degree programs can be found in military studies, but are more commonly found in the related fields of military science and military history.

Career Options

You can apply your military studies education as a military officer or in a variety of civilian roles. Study.com's resources demonstrate how a background in military studies might help support the following career options.

Employment Information

Salaries of military officers vary depending on their function and branch of service, but in general, officers earn a higher starting salary than enlisted personnel. In addition to their monthly salaries, military members receive free housing or a housing allowance and, if eligible, education funding among other benefits.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment levels in the Armed Forces are expected to stay about the same from 2012-2022 (www.bls.gov). Approximately 155,000 individuals must join the military annually in order to adequately replace those retiring or leaving the Armed Forces, the BLS also noted.

For those who are interested in teaching a subject related to military studies, such as military history, employment opportunities are expected to increase 14% for postsecondary history teachers in the 2012-2022 decade. BLS data from May 2013 shows these educators earning a mean wage of $74,100 annually.

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1 Ashford University

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2 Saint Leo University

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3 Purdue University Global

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5 Southern New Hampshire University

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6 Concordia University Portland

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7 Penn Foster High School

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8 Grand Canyon University

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9 Colorado Christian University

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10 Central Christian College of Kansas

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