Maritime Security & Governance Staff Course
The Maritime Security and Governance Staff Course is an unclassified five-month course designed to provide officers from small navies and coast guards the knowledge and skills necessary to more effectively promote and achieve maritime security and good maritime governance in their national and regional waters.

General Information
Eligibility
This course is designed for mid-grade international officers but is open to all uniformed military officers, O3-O5 or NATO OF2-OF4. Students must obtain a minimum score of 80 on the English Comprehension Level test.Location & Duration
The twenty-two-week curriculum for students is divided into ten modules and is taught at U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island.Learning Format
The course is conducted in a seminar format with substantive presentations by leading international experts, augmented by team planning exercises, tabletop discussions, case studies, and on-site visits.Outcome
Students will gain an in-depth, operational-level understanding of the topic of maritime security and its associated missions. They will also examine and understand the overriding importance of compliance with international and domestic legal and policy requirements, as well as the criticality of effective regional, bilateral, and intra-government collaboration to achieve their maritime security and governance goals.Program Structure
General Program Overview
Orientation for New Students
RequiredCourse Introduction
RequiredExamination of Cross-Cutting Substantive Topics
RequiredExamination of Maritime Security Missions (Core Curriculum)
RequiredField Studies Programs & Curriculum Field Trips
RequiredCore Curriculum Focus Areas
Module I – Internal/port focus
Required | Core CourseModule II – Offshore coast guard focus
Required | Core CourseModule III – Lower threshold military mission focus
Required | Core CourseIncoming Students
Contact Information
Maritime Security & Governance Staff Course
More Information
Field Studies Program Trips
The course will offer a mix of trips. Field Studies Program trips are designed to show how governments, militaries, and citizens have the responsibility to protect, preserve, and respect the rights of every individual. Curriculum field trips are designed to reinforce course topics through experiential learning in the field.
Robust Academics and Social Programs
International Programs at NWC directly support the development of robust global maritime partnerships. Students get the opportunity to study strategy, warfare, decision-making, operational art, and more. Each officer is greatly influenced by what they see and learn in the United States while forming strong and lasting bonds with their U.S. and international classmates.