M.A. in Strategic Intelligence Studies
Start your career in the Intelligence community. The Institute of World Politics is a graduate school of national security, intelligence, and international affairs
M.A. in Strategic Intelligence Studies
Spring 2024 Application Deadline: December 1
The M.A. in Strategic Intelligence Studies from the Institute of World Politics (IWP) is a premier program designed to prepare the next generation of intelligence analysts for success in the rapidly evolving global landscape. Earn your degree or certification through a comprehensive curriculum that expertly blends theoretical knowledge with practical skills. This program equips students with a deep understanding of the intelligence field, including its history, methodologies, and contemporary challenges.
The M.A. in Intelligence Studies offers a multidisciplinary approach, covering topics such as intelligence collection, analysis, counterintelligence, cyber intelligence, military intelligence, and covert action. This broad scope ensures that students gain a well-rounded perspective on the intelligence field, empowering them with the training to develop innovative strategies and solutions to complex security challenges.
Your desk is waiting.
Launch Your Intelligence Career
Our graduates are already serving at the highest levels of the State Department, Defense Department and other executive branch intelligence agencies. We provide a useful education to help you excel in your career and get the desk you deserve.
97%
of our graduates get jobs in their field of interest
7
M.A.
Programs
17
Graduate Certificates
1
Doctorate
Program
1:1
We meet with every student to map out a desired career path and strategy so you are the most competitive candidate
Where IWP Graduates Work
House of Representatives
Department of Homeland Security
Central Intelligence Agency
US Department of Defense
Department of State
Career Placement Services
IWP’s robust career services and networking opportunities further enhance the value of the M.A. in Strategic Intelligence Studies program. Students gain access to an extensive network of professionals, organizations, and government agencies, opening doors to exclusive internships, job opportunities, and industry events. This support, combined with the program’s strong emphasis on practical, real-world skills, ensures that graduates are well-prepared to excel in their chosen intelligence careers.
Learn from Intelligence, Diplomatic, and National Security Professionals
At IWP, you will learn from an exceptional faculty of accomplished scholars and practitioners who bring their real-world experience and insights into the classroom. Their guidance and mentorship will foster your critical thinking, analytical abilities, and ethical decision-making skills, preparing you for a diverse range of careers in intelligence, national security, and related fields.
"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)
Army Officer and Analyst for the U.S. Government
Upcoming Intelligence Classes
IWP / IWPO 605 | Intelligence & Policy | Dr. David Thomas
Intelligence & Policy addresses comprehensively the elements and purpose of intelligence, requirements of successful intelligence analysis, intelligence processes, counterintelligence and security, the relationship between intelligence and policy, and how American political and cultural values affect the role of intelligence in America.
IWPO 699 | Cyber Intelligence | Prof. Paul Davis
Cyber intelligence is the acquisition and analysis of information to identify, track, and predict cyber capabilities, intentions, and activities. Students will learn how to add value to the information and to present actionable courses of action to the decision maker. They will understand the traditional intelligence tradecraft and how it is used in the cyber world to assess cyber threats.
IWP / IWPO 652 | Estimative Intelligence Analysis | Prof. Darlene Almont & Prof. Chris Almont
Intelligence secrets once gathered must be analyzed, placed in cultural, historic and strategic context, and presented to policy makers and operators. The quality of estimative intelligence analysis is always at the center of debate on the performance of U.S. intelligence. The course is designed to provide an in depth understanding of the fundamentals of a central element of the intelligence and national security process: estimative analysis.
IWP / IWPO 631 | Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions & Policy | Dr. David Glancy
The goal of this course is to prepare the student to recognize and analyze the use of foreign disinformation and propaganda to affect U.S. perceptions and policy formation, and to employ countermeasures against them. This course examines the history, theory and methodology of foreign propaganda and disinformation in modern statecraft, both from democratic and non-democratic countries, with an emphasis on how the practitioners target the United States. It is intended to help prepare the student to recognize foreign propaganda in all its forms, to analyze and isolate it, and to employ countermeasures.
Why IWP
By choosing the M.A. in Strategic Intelligence Studies at IWP, you are not only investing in a top-tier education but also joining a community of dedicated professionals who share a common goal: to protect and advance global security. This program will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary to make a meaningful impact in the ever-evolving world of intelligence.
Your desk is waiting.