Missouri State University’s School of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) has found a new home.

During July and early August, DSS will be relocating from its current office in Fairfax, Virginia, to its new campus in Arlington, Virginia.

The school plans to be fully operational and hosting in-resident classes by Aug. 18, the start of the Fall 2025 semester. During the transition, DSS staff will work remotely.

The department’s phone number, 703-218-3565, will remain the same. The department can also be reached at DSS1@MissouriState.edu.

Move brings multiple benefits

DSS’s move to its new facilities was necessary because the current building was sold, according to School Director Dr. John Rose.

“We thus decided that a move closer to federal government facilities near Washington, D.C., would be an ideal location for our program. The Arlington, Virginia, area presented the perfect solution.”

The new address, at 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 550, offers several benefits, Rose said. First, the new location positions DSS at the center of national security power, with proximity to the White House, Congress, the State Department and the Pentagon.

“The most important benefit will be access to faculty with real world experience in the security field,” Rose said. Students will have access to professionals in other fields as well, such as defense, intelligence and diplomacy.

In addition, with its new flexible working space, DSS can now host unique events to draw in working alumni, current and prospective students, and other national security professionals, said Dr. Shawn Wahl, dean of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH).

Students will also have access to a new student-run podcast and the DSS publications production lab.

About the School of Defense and Strategic Studies

The School of Defense and Strategic Studies provides graduate-level education in national security policy, cyber security, Weapons of Mass Destruction proliferation, international terrorism, military operations, global security challenges, foreign policy, arms control and intelligence analysis.

DSS programs serve a diverse student body, with a mix of traditional, mid-career and active-duty military students. The programs are fully accredited by the Missouri Higher Learning Commission and certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Wahl expressed pride that the DSS graduate programs “continue to thrive as part RCASH.”

The program offers master’s degrees, a professional doctorate and several graduate certificates. All programs are offered 100% online, although students can also take seated classes or choose a hybrid model. Students pay Missouri tuition rates while enjoying geographic flexibility through online education.

Additionally, DSS has added three new certificates from its existing course catalog, including National Security Strategy, Great Power Competition, and Arms Control and Nonproliferation.

Learn more about Defense and Strategic Studies