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52 Credit Hours
Two years to complete with full-time student status

This online degree is designed for students currently in the national security community or for those who wish to enter this career field. It provides a comprehensive study of the theory and practice of national security policy, process, and implementation, both in historical and contemporary perspectives. Significant attention is directed toward vital current policy issues as well as understanding foreign cultures and the practices of foreign powers.

Candidates for this degree are not required to pass a language proficiency examination but may elect to do so elsewhere in order to add an important skill to their academic credentials and marketability. At this time, IWP does not offer language courses to online students.

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.

All courses listed below will be conducted entirely online using asynchronous, previously-produced material (such as recorded lectures or interviews).

Requirements

Core Curriculum

(36 credits required)

Core Courses (all required; 20 credits) 

Statecraft Courses (choose any 4 courses; 16 credits) 

Specializations

In addition to the Core Curriculum, students in this degree program must also select one of the following specializations:

Specialization in Intelligence (16 credits; must also have taken Intelligence and Policy, above) 

Specialization in Defense Studies (16 credits; courses taken to fulfill the statecraft requirement cannot be applied to this specialization) 

Specialization in Non-Military Conflict (16 credits from the following; courses taken to fulfill the statecraft requirement cannot be applied to this specialization) 

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

  1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of basic terms, concepts, historical facts, theories, and geography related to their chosen field of study. (ILO 1, 2)
  2. Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate multiple tools of statecraft into a coherent whole. (ILO 2, 3)
  3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the statecraft of foreign powers. (ILO 1, 2, 5)
  4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the main ideological currents of the modern era and their impact on U.S. and foreign behavior. (ILO 4, 5)
  5. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the principles of the American founding and their relevance to U.S. national security and foreign policy. (ILO 1, 4)
  6. Students will demonstrate a knowledge and appreciation of the Western moral tradition and its applicability to national security and foreign policy. (ILO 3, 4, 5)
  7. Students will demonstrate the ability to assess arguments, identify logical flaws, and obtain supporting or corrective information. (ILO 2, 5, 6)
  8. Students will demonstrate the use of clear, effective, and persuasive written communications. (ILO 6)
  9. Students will demonstrate the use of clear, effective, and persuasive oral communication. (ILO 6)

Contact an Admissions Officer

Admissions Process

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