The Best Online Military Studies Programs
Updated October 10, 2023
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As a distance learner, you can earn a military studies degree online to enter exciting positions both within the military and as a civilian. The military distinguishes between enlisted personnel and officers. About 82% of the armed forces are made up of enlisted personnel. The remaining 18% are military leaders, or officers, and hold specialized positions in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. Officers typically need a degree in military studies to hold that rank.
Outside the military, civilians with a degree in military studies are often experts in military history, strategy, and intelligence. This specialized knowledge qualifies individuals to work as educators and consultants. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that positions in the military will remain stable through 2026. While the size of military branches changes with emerging conflicts and global events, the government maintains adequate personnel in the Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.
Accredited Online Schools
Online Military Studies Degree Program Ranking Guidelines
We selected the degree programs based on the quality of program and range of courses provided, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Our Methodology
Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.
Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.
While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.
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Academics -
Affordability -
Online Enrollment
Data Sources
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The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.
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Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology
About Our Ranking Factors
Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.
Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.
We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.
Academics - 75%
Affordability - 15%
Online Enrollment - 10%
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The Best Online Military Studies Programs
No Rankings for this ExtID Return to the topChoosing an Online Military Studies Program
The curriculum for military studies degrees online varies by school. General education requirements in military studies programs can be more flexible than other degrees. Distance learners in these programs have more say in the trajectory of their general requirements and often have the option of choosing one or two classes from a long list in areas such as languages, arts and humanities, civics, politics, social sciences, communication, history, mathematics, and natural sciences.
Additionally, students can choose a concentration to further tailor a degree to fit academic needs and career aspirations. Online military studies degrees that do not offer curriculum flexibility are not inferior programs. Some students may prefer to follow a structured curriculum.
Military history and science are the two most popular subfields available in military studies degrees online. Most schools with military studies programs offer one subfield. Distance learners explore conflicts and major events in online military history courses, including U.S. wars, weaponry, international relations, and U.S. government history. Students pursuing a military science degree online take classes in applied leadership, team development, decision–making, and other professional competencies.
Return to the topWhat Else Can I Expect From an Online Military Studies Program?
From the core curriculum and electives to faculty members and online student resources, every school has something unique to offer distance learners. Concentrations, available courses, and other details vary between programs. In the guide below we provide details on concentrations, courses, and commonly pursued careers for students earning a military degree online.
Concentrations Offered for an Online Program in Military Studies
- Military Science
- Students in this concentration study military processes and behaviors as well as warfare and the application of organized strategies and coercive force. Learners explore personal development strategies, Army ethics, and learn to function on a team in stressful scenarios. In most cases, military science concentrations teach applied theory and methods to be used in military careers.
- Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Combat specialty officers, combat specialty personnel, administrative personnel, protective service personnel, support service personnel, transportation and material–handling personnel, and military intelligence specialist
- Military History
- A military history concentration explores the history of armed conflict in the U.S. and around the globe. Students learn about the impact of war and military action on societies, cultural production, the economy, and international governmental relationships. Most military history online degrees include courses on each major U.S. war.
- Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Military analyst, military intelligence specialist, historian, author, columnist, military history detachments, museum worker, tour guide, and educator
- Military Studies (with specialty focus)
- This concentration exists in programs with flexible curricula and significant course offerings. A specialty focus in human resources, media and public affairs, healthcare, engineering, science, or management will prepare you for numerous positions in the military. Some of these specialized careers require additional training or advanced degrees.
- Careers This Concentration Prepares For: Healthcare officer, managerial officer, engineering officer, media and public affairs officer, and administrative personnel
Curriculum for an Online Military Studies Program
- Leadership and Decision–Making
- Students learn professional ethics within the Army through training in leadership tactics with small units and personal development. Learners also assess risk in operational environments.
- Officership
- This course leads you through effective planning of complex operations commonly encountered by Army officers. Students further develop written and oral communication skills and learn to lead troops in different scenarios.
- Causes of War
- Students learn about the basic historical and theoretical concepts involved in armed confrontation and international politics through cases studies and historical texts. Learners also consider historical patterns, religious influence, and natural resources in armed confrontations.
- Modern Security Issues
- Students learn different uses and interpretations of the concept of safety and security and explore conceptual debates and academic research on the topic. Learners investigate a range of contemporary issues, from nuclear threat to migration.
- American Military History
- Distance learners examine military history in the context of broader U.S. history. Students take written exams and give presentations on historical topics such as military strategies and global military interactions in the 20th century.
Careers with an Online Military Studies Degree
For military careers, a degree qualifies you for jobs as an officer, including support services officers and combat specialty officers. Civilians who earn a military studies degree online and do not work within the military are often experts in military history or intelligence, and hold positions as educators, writers, and consultants.
- Emergency Management Director
- Comparable to protective service officers in the military, emergency management directors prepare plans and procedures for surviving and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies. In the military, these individuals are responsible for the safety of personnel on bases and military vessels. In some cases, these professionals oversee the investigation of crimes with law enforcement and military security officers.
- Median Annual Salary: $72,760
- Projected Growth Rate: 8%
- Human Resource Managers
- These professionals coordinate an organization's workforce, serve as a consultant and advisor on workplace and staffing issues, mediate disputes, and enforce disciplinary procedures. In the military, human resource development officers carry out these duties.
- Median Annual Salary: $110,120
- Projected Growth Rate: 9%
- Archivists, Curators, and Museum Workers
- Museum workers assist curators with preserving and maintaining documents and objects. Individuals with specialized expert–level knowledge in areas such as military history are instrumental in creating exhibits, writing educational materials, and leading informational tours and talks at museums.
- Median Annual Salary: $47,360
- Projected Growth Rate: 13%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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