This graduate degree is designed for students who wish to focus on a broad understanding of the current world order, its history and trends, the theoretical and policy issues affected by international politics and culture, and the ideas and values that influence the behavior of state and non-state actors. Coupled with the language requirement, this degree prepares students for a wide range of careers, including foreign policy making and implementation, public policy research, journalism, and a variety of private sector professions.
The new structure for this master’s degree will take effect in the fall of 2026. Until then, students should rely on the old structure, which can be found in the 2025-2026 Student Handbook.
Program Requirements (52 Credits)
All courses are four credits unless noted otherwise.
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)
Statecraft Requirements (16 Credits)
4 of the following courses 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
Concentration Requirements (16 Credits)
1. Complete 8-10 credits from the list of restricted electives (listed below) for your chosen concentration. Those classes marked with a (*) are considered more fundamental. Those students with little to no background in the concentration are strongly encouraged to take those courses first. Any course that is taken as a statecraft elective must be replaced with another restricted elective.
2. Complete 6-8 credits of general electives that best meet the student’s professional needs. Students without a strong background in their chosen concentration are strongly encouraged to take additional courses from the restricted electives. Students should also consult with academic advisors, faculty, and syllabi to ensure that their electives are a good fit for their concentration.
American Foreign Policy
- IWP 601 National Security Policy Process
- IWP 616 U.S. National Security Strategy and Emerging Threats*
- IWP 635 History of American Foreign Policy*
- IWP 679 Defense Strategy, Planning and Budgeting
- IWP 687 U.S. Bilateral Security Agreements (2 credits)
Asian Studies
- IWP 689 North Korea and the Geopolitics of Northeast Asia*
- IWP 671 The United States and China in Power Transition: Geography, History and Ideology*
- IWP 706 Maoist Revolutionary War Outside China (2 Credits)
- IWP 710 The United States and Taiwan, 1895-Present
Comparative Political Culture
- IWP 640 Cultural Intelligence for Strategy and Analysis*
- Area-Study Courses
Conflict Prevention & Resolutions
- IWP 625 Peace, Strategy, and Conflict Resolution*
- IWP 649 Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States*
- IWP 670 Counter-Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement
- IWP 682 International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy (2 credits)
- IWP 687 U.S. Bilateral Security Agreements (2 credits)
Diplomacy
- IWP 635 History of American Foreign Policy
- IWP 636 The Art of Diplomacy*
- IWP 637 Public Diplomacy*
- IWP 672 Crisis Management and Decision-Making
- IWP 682 International Organizations and Multilateral Diplomacy (2 credits)
- IWP 687 U.S. Bilateral Security Agreements (2 credits)
International Economics
- IWP 707 Economies in Transition*
- IWP 730 Public Choice and Public Policy*
- IWP 731 Foundations of Political and Economic Freedom (2 credits)
- IWP 732 Globalization and International Economics (2 credits)
Middle Eastern Studies
- IWP 645: Islam in Contemporary Global Politics*
- 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 Energy Diplomacy
Nonviolent Conflict
- IWP 609 Economic Statecraft and Conflict*
- IWP 625 Peace, Strategy and Conflict Resolution
- IWP 631 Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions and Policy
- IWP 637 Public Diplomacy*
- IWP 670 Counter-Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement
Strategic Soft Power
- IWP 631 Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions and Policy
- IWP 637 Public Diplomacy*
- IWP 640 Cultural Intelligence for Strategy and Analysis
- IWP 670 Counter-Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement*
Additional Requirements
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.
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 this program have worked:
- Accenture Federal Services
- Amazon Web Services
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)
- Kroll
- Middle East Forum
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
- National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- National Security Agency
- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
- Office of the Director of National Intelligence
- Palantir Technologies
- Peace Corps
- Prescient Edge
- Raytheon Technologies (RTX)
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
- U.S. Congress
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General
- World Health Organization
Alumni Testimonials
“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
Program Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- 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.
- Integrate the various instruments of statecraft, with special consideration of geopolitical and economic factors, as they apply to U.S. national strategy.
- Demonstrate proficiency in a strategically important foreign language.
- 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.
- Appreciate the principles of the American founding and the Western moral tradition as applied to national security and foreign policy.
- Exhibit detailed knowledge on a foreign affairs specialization or on a specific region of the world and, where relevant, on its dominant power.