52 Credit Hours
Two years to complete with full-time student status
The Master of Arts in Statecraft and International Affairs is designed for students who wish to enter or continue in a career in foreign affairs, either in policymaking or implementation.
This program provides a comprehensive study of the theory and practice of foreign policy, process, and implementation, both in historical and contemporary perspectives. Significant attention is directed toward understanding the current world order, international relations, and the role of political culture, ideas, and values in influencing the behavior of states and non-state actors. It involves the study of the entire spectrum of instruments of power, how they are integrated strategically, and the ethical issues inherent in their use.
Opening the Door for Your International Affairs Career
Successful recipients of this degree are prepared for careers in:
- Diplomacy
- Defense strategy
- Homeland security
- Intelligence/counterintelligence
- International development
- International relations
- Public diplomacy
- Political warfare
Our graduates have gone on to work in government, the private sector, research, and journalism, among other areas.
The education here provides a foundation for anything that you could possibly want to do in intelligence, national security, or the diplomatic realm.
—Joshua Drusbacky (’19), Analyst for the U.S. Government
Emphasizing Language in a Multilingual Field
Candidates for this degree must demonstrate proficiency in a strategically-important foreign language. Recognized languages include: Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish.
The Institute currently offers Arabic, Chinese, and Russian classes on campus.
An M.A. in Statecraft and International Affairs will not be awarded until the candidate passes a foreign language exam at a proficient level.
Non-native speakers of English who are admitted to the M.A. program are exempt from this requirement and are not required to pass a language proficiency exam. Learn more about the foreign language requirements.
Curriculum
Core Curriculum
(36 credits required; all courses are four credits unless noted otherwise)
Core Courses
(All 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)
NOTE: All MA students admitted prior to Fall 2020 are exempted and may follow the previous curriculum. Please contact the Office of Student Affairs if you have any questions (jjohnsrud@iwp.edu).
Courses in Statecraft
(Four of the following are required)
- IWP 601 National Security Policy Process
- IWP 605 Intelligence and Policy
- IWP 609 Economic Statecraft and Conflict
- IWP 625 Peace, Strategy and Conflict Resolution
- IWP 628 Military Strategy: Theory and Practice
- IWP 631 Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions and Policy OR 637 Public Diplomacy
- IWP 636 The Art of Diplomacy
In addition to the Core Curriculum, students in this degree program must also select one of the following five specializations:
Specialization in American Foreign Policy
(16 credits needed; all courses are four credits unless noted otherwise)
Required Courses
- IWP 635 History of American Foreign Policy
- IWP 638 U.S. Foreign Policy: Current and Future Challenges
Elective Courses
(Choose courses for a total of 8 credits)
- IWP 609 Economic Statecraft and Conflict
- IWP 611 Immigration and National Security
- IWP 632 U.S. Intelligence in the Cold War and Beyond
- IWP 637 Public Diplomacy
- IWP 649 Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States
- IWP 670 Counter-Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement
- IWP 672 Crisis Management and Decisionmaking
- IWP 673 Human Rights and Counter-Radicalization
- IWP 682 International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy (2 credits)
- IWP 683 Violent Non-State Actors in Today’s Security Environment (2 credits)
- IWP 684 Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Control (2 credits)
- IWP 686 Terrorist Advocacy and Propaganda (2 credits)
- IWP 687 U.S. Bilateral Security Agreements (2 credits)
- IWP 705 Maritime Strategy in Great Power Competition (2 credits)
An Area-study Course
- IWP 603 Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
- IWP 604 Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia
- IWP 623 U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threats and Opportunities
- IWP 630 Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy
- IWP 639 U.S.-African Relations
- IWP 645 Islam in Contemporary Global Politics
- IWP 653 The Contemporary Balkans
- IWP 658 Contemporary Conflict in the Greater Middle East
- IWP 671 The United States and China in Power Transition: Geography, History and Ideology
- IWP 677 Chinese Military Thought and History
- IWP 680 Modern China
- IWP 685 The Turks: Relations with the MENA, Europe and America, Then and Now
- IWP 689 North Korea and the Geopolitics of Northeast Asia
- IWP 693A/B: The European Union
- IWP 694A/B: Intermarium: Politics and History of Central and Eastern Europe
- IWP 703 The Theory and Practice of North Korea Espionage (2 credits) (If you choose this course, please take two additional credits of electives.)
Specialization in Comparative Political Culture
(16 credits needed; all courses are four credits unless noted otherwise)
Required Courses
- IWP 640 Cultural Intelligence for Strategy and Analysis OR IWP 614 Diplomacy Toward Comparative Regimes
An area-study course
(Choose one or two)
- IWP 603 Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
- IWP 604 Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia
- IWP 623 U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threat and Opportunities
- IWP 630 Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy
- IWP 639 U.S.-African Relations
- IWP 645 Islam in Contemporary Global Politics
- IWP 653 The Contemporary Balkans
- IWP 658 Contemporary Conflict in the Greater Middle East
- IWP 671 The United States and China in Power Transition: Geography, History and Ideology
- IWP 677 Chinese Military Thought and History
- IWP 680 Modern China
- IWP 685 The Turks: Relations with the MENA, Europe and America, Then and Now
- IWP 689 North Korea and the Geopolitics of Northeast Asia
- IWP 693A/B: The European Union
- IWP 694A/B: Intermarium: Politics and History of Central and Eastern Europe
- IWP 703 The Theory and Practice of North Korea Espionage (2 credits) (If you choose this course, please take two additional credits of electives.)
Elective Courses
(Choose courses for a total of 8 credits. If you take two area-study courses, then only 4 credits are needed.)
- IWP 613 History of International Relations
- IWP 621 Stabilization and Nation-Building: History and Policy
- IWP 626 Foundations of Political and Economic Freedom
- IWP 649 Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States
- IWP 673 Human Rights and Counter-Radicalization
- IWP 682 International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy (2 credits)
- IWP 683 Violent Non-State Actors in Today’s Security Environment (2 credits)
- IWP 684 Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Control (2 credits)
- IWP 698 The Rise and Fall of Athens (2 credits)
Specialization in Conflict Prevention
(16 credits needed; all courses are four credits unless noted otherwise)
Required Courses
- IWP 625 Peace, Strategy, and Conflict Resolution
- IWP 649 Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States
Elective Courses
(Choose courses for a total of 8 credits)
- IWP 607 U.S. Nonproliferation and Nuclear Policy
- IWP 621 Stabilization and Nation-Building: History and Policy
- IWP 637 Public Diplomacy
- IWP 669 Counterterrorism and the Democracies
- IWP 670 Counter-Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement
- IWP 673 Human Rights and Counter-Radicalization
- IWP 678 Covert Action and National Security
- IWP 682 International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy (2 credits)
- IWP 683 Violent Non-State Actors in Today’s Security Environment (2 credits)
- IWP 684 Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Control (2 credits)
- IWP 686 Terrorist Advocacy and Propaganda (2 credits)
- IWP 687 U.S. Bilateral Security Agreements (2 credits)
- IWP 691 Cyber Strategy Development (2 credits)
- IWP 692 Cyber Terrorism and Intelligence (2 credits)
- IWP 696 Diplomacy and War in the Ancient World (2 credits)
Specialization in International Politics
(16 credits needed; all courses are four credits unless noted otherwise)
Required Courses
An area-study course
(choose one)
- IWP 603 Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
- IWP 604 Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia
- IWP 623 U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threats and Opportunities
- IWP 630 Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy
- IWP 639 U.S.-African Relations
- IWP 645 Islam in Contemporary Global Politics
- IWP 653 The Contemporary Balkans
- IWP 658 Contemporary Conflict in the Greater Middle East
- IWP 671 The United States and China in Power Transition: Geography, History and Ideology
- IWP 677 Chinese Military Thought and History
- IWP 680 Modern China
- IWP 685 The Turks: Relations with the MENA, Europe and America, Then and Now
- IWP 689 North Korea and the Geopolitics of Northeast Asia
- IWP 693A/B: The European Union
- IWP 694A/B: Intermarium: Politics and History of Central and Eastern Europe
- IWP 703 The Theory and Practice of North Korea Espionage (2 credits) (If you choose this course, please take two additional credits of electives.)
Elective Courses
(Choose courses for a total of 8 credits)
- IWP 625 Peace, Strategy and Conflict Resolution
- IWP 636 The Art of Diplomacy
- IWP 649 Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States
- IWP 682 International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy (2 credits)
- IWP 683 Violent Non-State Actors in Today’s Security Environment (2 credits)
- IWP 684 Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Control (2 credits)
- IWP 687 U.S. Bilateral Security Agreements (2 credits)
- IWP 688 Energy Security and the New Geopolitics of Energy
- IWP 696 Diplomacy and War in the Ancient World (2 credits)
- IWP 698 The Rise and Fall of Athens (2 credits)
- IWP 705 Maritime Strategy in Great Power Competition (2 credits)
Specialization in Peace Building, Stabilization, and Humanitarian Affairs
(16 credits needed; all courses are four credits unless noted otherwise)
Required courses
- IWP 621 Stabilization and Nation-Building: History and Policy
- IWP 670 Counter-Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement
Elective courses
(Choose a total of 8 credits)
- IWP 626 Foundations of Political and Economic Freedom
- IWP 649 Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States
- IWP 682 International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy (2 credits)
- IWP 683 Violent Non-State Actors in Today’s Security Environment (2 credits)
- IWP 684 Nuclear Deterrence and Arms Control (2 credits)
- IWP 687 U.S. Bilateral Security Agreements (2 credits)
An area-study course
- IWP 603 Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
- IWP 604 Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia
- IWP 623 U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threats and Opportunities
- IWP 630 Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy
- IWP 639 U.S.-African Relations
- IWP 645 Islam in Contemporary Global Politics
- IWP 653 The Contemporary Balkans
- IWP 658 Contemporary Conflict in the Greater Middle East
- IWP 671 The United States and China in Power Transition: Geography, History and Ideology
- IWP 677 Chinese Military Thought and History
- IWP 680 Modern China
- IWP 685 The Turks: Relations with the MENA, Europe and America, Then and Now
- IWP 689 North Korea and the Geopolitics of Northeast Asia
- IWP 693A/B: The European Union
- IWP 694A/B: Intermarium: Politics and History of Central and Eastern Europe
- IWP 703 The Theory and Practice of North Korea Espionage (2 credits) (If you choose this course, please take two additional credits of electives.)
Regional Studies Specialization
(16 credits needed)
Students may select one of three regional specializations: Asia, Europe, or the Middle East.
Asia
(Please choose courses equaling 16 credits.)
- IWP 630 Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy
- IWP 671 The United States and China in Power Transition: Geography, History and Ideology
- IWP 677 Chinese Military Thought and History
- IWP 680 Modern China
- IWP 689 North Korea and the Geopolitics of Northeast Asia
- IWP 703 The Theory and Practice of North Korea Espionage
Europe
(All courses below are required.)
- IWP 603: Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
- IWP 604: Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia
- IWP 693A/B: The European Union
- IWP 694A/B: Intermarium: Politics and History of Central and Eastern Europe
Middle East
(Please choose courses equaling 16 credits. If you take IWP 688, you may reach 16 credits by taking a 2 credit directed study.)
- IWP 645: Islam in Contemporary Global Politics
- IWP 658: Contemporary Conflict in the Greater Middle East
- IWP 659: Enemy Threat Doctrine of Global Jihadism
- IWP 685: The Turks: Relations with the MENA, Europe and America, Then and Now
- IWP 688: Energy Security and the New Geopolitics of Energy
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic terms, concepts, history, theories, and geography related to the U.S. foreign policy process, international affairs, and the current world order.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate military strategy, the diplomatic art, economic strategy, intelligence, counterintelligence, public diplomacy, and strategic influence into a coherent whole.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the statecraft of the U.S. and foreign powers.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the main ideological currents of the modern era and their impact on US and foreign behavior.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of the principles of the American founding and their relevance to international affairs and U.S. foreign policy.
- Students will demonstrate a knowledge and appreciation of the Western moral tradition and its applicability to national security and foreign policy, including the ethical conduct of statecraft and the ingredients of moral leadership such as the development and exercise of personal and civic virtues.
- Students will demonstrate the use of clear, effective and persuasive written communications.
- Students will demonstrate the use of clear, effective, and persuasive oral communication.
Additional Requirements
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 they 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, comprehensive, written examination.
Perspectives from Alumni of this Program
“IWP was my first exposure to the world of counterintelligence, and I can say with confidence that the school’s curriculum assists me with the work I do daily… my IWP education provides the strategic understanding of the threats faced by the United States and helps provide the ‘why’ behind the actions of foreign intelligence services.”
Tim B., (’12)
Recipient of the “Director’s Award for Excellence” from the FBI
Meet Tim
“The program at IWP not only allowed me to learn the intelligence trade, but also to study the broad array of instruments of national power.”
John Scimone, (’10)
Chief Security Officer at Dell
Meet John
“It was easy to tailor your classes to your interest while still achieving a broad overview on certain topics.”
Rachel Bauman (’18)
Helsinki Commission policy advisor
Meet Rachel
“IWP’s unique academic curriculum has made me a well-rounded individual, not just in my own eyes but in the eyes of many with whom I work.”
A Member of the Class of 2013
Nationally recognized Middle East consultant
Interview with this alumna
“At IWP, you are given all the tools. Once you matriculate there, you are given the opportunities and the skill to get your foot in the door, push you, and give you direction.”
Peter Sulick (’11)
Review Team Lead at CACI
Meet Peter
“My time at IWP has challenged and informed my worldview, and given me an understanding of eternal principles and the nature of the international system.”
Tobias Brandt (’19)
“IWP is such a unique learning experience because the administrators and professors are so accessible… IWP as a whole pushed me to the career I have today.”
Kevin Murphy (’19)
Consultant for the U.S. Navy
Meet Kevin