Master's in Biodefense

ENGAGE WITH EXPERTS

A FACULTY OF SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS

The master's in biodefense program faculty includes full-time and adjunct professors who bring real-world experience to the classroom. Notable faculty members include:

• Gregory Koblentz, the program director, is a member of the Scientist Working Group on Chemical and Biological Weapons at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation in Washington, DC., teaches and researches on international security and weapons of mass destruction.
• A. Trevor Thrall teaches courses on international security, political communication, and U.S. military intervention.
• Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, teaches and researches nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.
• Bonnie Stabile, teaches classes on policy analysis, program evaluation and ethics.

CURRICULUM

REQUIRED COURSES (7 courses | 21 credits)
Students are required to take the following courses:

BIOD 604 – Emerging Infectious Diseases I: Bacteria and Toxins
Covers the microbiology, pathogenesis, clinical effects, and epidemiology of bacteria and toxins that pose threats to global health or can be utilized as biological weapons.

BIOD 605 – Emerging Infectious Diseases II: Viral Agents
Covers the microbiology, pathogenesis, clinical effects, and epidemiology of viruses that pose threats to global health or can be utilized as biological weapons.

BIOD 609 – Biodefense Strategy
Introduces students to the biodefense and biosecurity strategies and policies of the United States, other nations, and international organizations. Evaluates the effectiveness of these policies in strengthening defenses, improving intelligence, increasing oversight, enhancing nonproliferation, and reinforcing norms. Examines the interaction of biodefense and biosecurity with homeland, national, and international security.

GOVT 500 – The Scientific Method & Research Design
Grounds students in the principles of the scientific method as the framework for investigating all research questions in political science, whether qualitative or quantitative in character (or both). Focus is on sound and rigorous research design.

BIOD 620 – Global Health Security Policy
Explores issues emerging from the interaction of health and security that represent novel challenges to policy makers confronting a rapidly changing international landscape. Examines the origin and evolution of the concept of health security. Analyzes strategic impact of infectious disease outbreaks, global health security case studies, global health governance, and formulation and implementation of U.S. global health security policy.

BIOD 710 – Health Security Preparedness
Examines national and international public health and medical preparedness for and response to natural disasters, terrorist acts, and disease outbreaks. Explores organizational and policy architecture, implementation challenges, and strategies for preventing, detecting, and mitigating these threats.

BIOD 790 – Global Health Security Capstone
Provides students with the opportunity to hone their research, writing, collaboration, and presentation skills through completion of a capstone project that synthesizes the theoretical and subject matter knowledge students have gained in the program.

ELECTIVE COURSES (5 courses | 15 credits)
Select elective courses of your choosing. Courses vary semester to semester, but past elective courses may be viewed on the degree requirements page.

Located in the Washington, D.C., Area

Classes are offered in Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government in the Washington, D.C., area on Mason’s Arlington and Fairfax campuses in Virginia. Our great location offers students an opportunity to study with leading scholars and practitioners closely connected to the epicenter of policymaking and public service. Classes are offered in the evening to accommodate working professionals.