The Master in National Security Administration Program

The National Defense College of the Philippines upholds the constitutional provision that “The defense of the State is the prime duty of every citizen.” The NDCP pursues this commitment through the education and training of future strategic leaders from the various sectors of society on the multidimensional aspects of defense and national security.

The NDCP has the broad mission to prepare and develop potential national defense leaders, civilian officials of the different branches of the government and selected executives from the private sector for more effective participation in national security policy formulation and implementation, for high command and staff duty, and for the conduct of strategic and international studies as basis for national policies.

Cognizant of this mission, the NDCP envisions to be a technology and research-driven, and globally competitive defense and national security institution of higher learning in the country.

The College believes that national security administrators must possess the broad skills and the proper attitude necessary to perform their multifarious responsibilities. The NDCP provides the kind of education needed by these administrators in terms of analytical and conceptual skills to prepare them to meet the broad challenges emanating from both the internal and external environment.

The MNSA program is a unique graduate program because:

• It is the only graduate-level program that offers a master’s degree covering the broad spectrum of formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs in the specialized field of national security administration.
• For those from the AFP and PNP, candidates are required to have a rank of at least Lieutenant Colonel or a Superintendent.
• Candidates are also required to submit a diploma from the AFPJCSC or from an equivalent foreign command and staff college or its equivalent in the police service.
• Candidates from civil government agencies are required to have the rank of at least a Division Chief and have at least then (10) years of government service.
• Civilian graduates are commissioned Lieutenant Colonels or Commanders in the AFP Reserve Force upon completion of the commission training under Presidential Decree No 190, and are entitled to the rank of Career Executive Service Officer (CESO VI).

Applicants are required to pass a series of psychological tests, written and oral examinations. Those who qualify are interviewed, screened and selected by the Board of Admissions. Finally, the Board of Admissions submits the list of those who qualified to the President of the NDCP, who, together with the Executive Vice President and the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, decides en banc on the final list of those to be admitted.

During class sessions, a variety of methodologies are employed. These range from group discussions, workshops, panel discussions, live cases, directed readings, reaction papers, and other participatory learning strategies. Opportunity lectures, symposia, field trips with on-site briefings are also employed to further reinforce the learning process.

Course examinations do not only deal with recollection of data obtained from the class sessions, references and other sources, but also include the assessment of the students’ capabilities to integrate, synthesize, and apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the course work.

A very highly selective method of choosing lecturers/discussants is maintained at all times. To establish the lecturers’ credibility, criteria for selection include, among others, outstanding academic qualifications and exposure to and mastery of topics to be taken up.

A sound, updated, and credible curriculum is maintained. A continuing review of the curriculum is periodically made to keep it abreast with evolving issues and prospects in national security.