The Master of Arts in Chinese and Asian Affairs is designed for individuals seeking to deepen their expertise in the political, military, economic, and foreign policies of Asian states, especially China. Students pursuing this degree will apply their knowledge of statecraft and strategy to better understand the security challenges emanating from, and confronting, this region and to formulate policies to address them. The course of study emphasizes Chinese strategic and military thought, the historical development of Chinese grand strategy, the role of intelligence and security services in the Chinese state, and the dynamics of U.S.–China strategic competition in East Asia.
The program prepares students for careers across the public and private sectors, including foreign affairs and diplomacy, the defense industry, the U.S. intelligence community, national security policymaking, and globally engaged nongovernmental organizations. It is also well suited for working professionals seeking to enhance their existing expertise and skills.
This new degree program will be open for enrollment beginning in Fall 2026.
Featured Faculty
Program Requirements (52 Credits)
All courses are four credits unless noted otherwise.
Chinese and Asian Affairs Requirements (16 Credits)
All of the following courses are required.
- IWP 630 Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy
- IWP 671 The U.S. and China in Power Transition OR IWP 710 The U.S. and Taiwan, 1895-Present
- IWPO 677 Chinese Military Thought and History
- IWP 733 Chinese Intelligence and Security Services
Chinese and Asian Affairs Electives (16 Credits)
Students may apply any IWP course toward their elective requirements, selecting those that best align with their professional goals. However, IWP faculty recommend the courses listed below to best complete the student’s studies in Chinese and Asian Affairs.
- IWP 601 National Security Policy Process
- IWP 616 S. National Security Strategy and Emerging Threats
- IWP 631 Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions and Policy
- IWP 641 Political Warfare: Past, Present and Future
- IWP 689 North Korea and Geopolitics of Northeast Asia
- IWP 705 Maritime Strategy in Great Power Competition (2 credits)
- IWP 706 Maoist Revolutionary Wars Outside China (2 credits)
- IWPO 707 Economies in Transition
Core Requirements (20 Credits)
All of the following courses are required.
- IWP 606 Ideas and Values in International Politics (2 credits)
- IWP 608 Sources of American Political Thought (2 credits)
- IWP 615 Western Moral and Political Thought (2 credits)
- IWP 620 Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy
- IWP 627 International Relations, Statecraft and Integrated Strategy
- IWP 634 Geography and Strategy (2 credits)
- IWP 642 Economics for Foreign Policy Makers (2 credits)
- IWP 799 Capstone Course (2 credits)
Additional Requirements
Candidates for this graduate degree are not required to pass a language proficiency examination, but may elect to do so in order to add an important skill to their academic credentials and marketability. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the same language training opportunities made available to candidates in the Statecraft and International Affairs degree program. If you would like to learn more about studying Chinese at IWP, please reach out to Nathaniel Merrifield (nmerrifield@iwp.edu).
Students in this program may be enrolled full-time (9 or more credit hours per semester) or part-time (less than 9 credit hours per semester), but must complete the degree in five calendar years or less. After successful completion of all coursework, each student will be required to pass a one-hour oral examination and a three-hour written comprehensive examination.
Alumni at Work
Below is a selection of organizations where graduates of IWP have worked:
- Amazon Web Services
- BAE Systems
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- General Dynamics
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Morgan Stanley
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- National Intelligence University
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service
- Northrop Grumman
- Office of Naval Intelligence
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy
- SAIC
- Stimson Center
- The Joint Staff
- Thomson Reuters Special Services
- U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. Secret Service
- U.S. Senate
- United States Naval Academy
Alumni Testimonials
“IWP prepares you to have a seat at the table in the White House, the Department of Justice, CIA, Congress, and other agencies of the government.”
Aubrey Hodges (’24)
Senior Security Cooperation Consultant
“At IWP, you’re not only learning from individuals who did these things—you’re learning from the top individuals.”
Sierra Alwine (’23)
U.S. Army Second Lieutenant and Intelligence Analyst (CON) for the DOJ
Please note: These are Sierra’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“I kept all of my notes and I have them in my desk right now; I’ve carried them around the world with me… My experience learning at IWP has molded me into the leader I have become.”
Colonel Katie Crombe (’12)
Please note: These are Katie’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“I’m proud of my time at IWP. I could have gone elsewhere, and I’m glad I didn’t. IWP has helped me immensely in my career.”
Michael Urena (’05)
Professional Staff Member, Senate Armed Services Committee
Program Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of key terms, concepts, history, and theories related to international affairs, national security, and the current world order.
- Integrate the various instruments of statecraft, with special consideration of geopolitical and economic factors, as they apply to U.S. national strategy.
- Make an informed assessment of the statecraft of foreign powers as well as the main geopolitical and ideological currents that contribute to the political and military struggles of the modern era and their impact on U.S. and foreign behavior, especially as they relate to China and Asia.
- Appreciate the principles of the American founding and the Western moral tradition as they apply to China and Asia, especially in relation to national security policy.