Concentration Overview

The concentration in Strategy and Defense Engineering offers an area of specialization in the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering (MS/MSE) degree. The concentration provides the skills and knowledge needed to join the defense industry or the military institutions that make informed decisions about future defense technologies. The target learning population are mid-career or retiring military officers, civilian employees of prime defense contractors, Capitol Hill staffers or think tank researchers, and/or graduate students.

Through the curriculum, students will be trained in technology and innovation, decision making, leadership, skills, and values domains. These domains provide a balanced education and practical training, preparing graduates as strategy makers and actors.

Curriculum

Course Topical Areas

  • AI and the Future of Defense Strategy
  • Economic Decision and Risk Assessment
  • Leadership Skills and Values
  • Strategy and Defense Decision Making
  • Technology and Engineering Innovation
  • U.S. Space Strategy

Degree Requirements with the Strategy and Defense Engineering Concentration

The Interdisciplinary Engineering (MS or MSE) degree requires a total of 30 credit hours with at least 18 credits of Purdue, graduate level, engineering courses. The Strategy and Defense Engineering concentration must be completed within these degree requirements. 

SCLA courses offer social and technology studies from the College of Liberal Art

Required:

  • SCLA 50500 Technology War and Strategy: This course defines the concepts of strategy and “strategic defense technology,” affirming that any technology may be strategic if it is defined so in use and supported by military necessity, political expediency, and economic capacity.

And choose one of the below courses:

  • SCLA 50600 Space Strategy: This course will present the major military, political-regulatory, and economic dimensions of the US Space strategy.
  • SCLA 50700 Grand Defense Engineering Challenges: This course will discuss the strategies used by engineering teams to bring defense systems to life, for which science offered a clear path while the engineering process was yet to be invented.

Two of the following:

Any courses listed on our courses page will fulfill this requirement, including available non-engineering courses. All questions regarding courses and transfer credits should be directed to a student’s academic advisor.

Dual Degree Option

Students in the Strategy and Defense Engineering concentration may pair the Interdisciplinary Engineering MS/MSE with Purdue Daniels School of Business online MBA or MBT program. 

  • MS/MSE + MBA: 60 total credits with 18 shared credits  

  • MS/MSE + MBT: 54 total credits with 12 shared credits  

Shared credits are applied through approved electives and may vary based on a student’s concentration and plan of study. 

Creating Your Plan of Study

The MS/MSE master's programs offer a wide range of flexibility in course options. After you begin your studies at Purdue, an academic advisor will help you create an electronic plan of study (EPOS) to best fit your educational needs and career goals.  

Students enrolled in a dual degree program will have a unique electronic plan of study for each degree they are seeking.      

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. This website is a knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.