Study Statecraft & National Security Online
Start your career in the National Security community. The Institute of World Politics is a graduate school of national security, intelligence, and international affairs.
Masters in Statecraft and National Security Affairs
Spring 2024 Application Deadline: December 1
Launch Your National Security 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
The M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs is further enhanced by IWP’s exceptional career services and networking opportunities, which grant students access to an extensive network of professionals, organizations, and agencies in the intelligence, defense, and diplomacy sectors. This invaluable support system, coupled with the program’s strong focus on practical skills, ensures that graduates are well-equipped to launch and advance their careers in a competitive job market.
Learn from Intelligence, Diplomatic, and National Security Professionals
At IWP, you will learn from distinguished faculty members who are not only renowned scholars but also seasoned practitioners with extensive experience in their respective fields. Their unique perspectives and guidance will enrich your learning experience, fostering critical thinking, analytical prowess, and ethical decision-making abilities. As you delve into the program’s diverse curriculum, you will explore topics ranging from intelligence analysis and counterterrorism to economic statecraft and conflict resolution.
"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 Classes
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 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.
IWP / IWPO 628 | Military Strategy: Theory & Practice | Dr. Christopher Harmon
This course examines the theory and practice of strategy, the use of force and other instruments of power to achieve the goals of the state in the international system. We first look at the theorists of strategy and war, and then consider the applicability of their ideas to conflict both past and present. Case studies in the application of strategy in modern large and small wars, including insurgencies. The course concludes with a look at strategies for dealing with a resurgent Russia, a rising China, and groups such as ISIS and Hezbollah, as well as strategies for emerging modes of war such as cyber.
IWP / IWPO 628 | Military Strategy: Theory & Practice | Dr. Christopher Harmon
This course examines the theory and practice of strategy, the use of force and other instruments of power to achieve the goals of the state in the international system. We first look at the theorists of strategy and war, and then consider the applicability of their ideas to conflict both past and present. Case studies in the application of strategy in modern large and small wars, including insurgencies. The course concludes with a look at strategies for dealing with a resurgent Russia, a rising China, and groups such as ISIS and Hezbollah, as well as strategies for emerging modes of war such as cyber.
IWP / IWPO 634 | Geography & Strategy | Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz
This eight-week seminar demonstrates the importance of geography to international politics, economics, national security, and strategy. It introduces students to the geographic and geopolitical factors that have shaped the field of world politics. The course explores how geography has helped influence aspects of world history and how it is likely to do so in the future.
Why IWP
By choosing the M.A. in Statecraft and National Security Affairs at IWP, you are not only investing in a world-class education but also joining a community of dedicated professionals who share a common mission to create a safer, more secure world. The knowledge, skills, and connections you gain through this program will undoubtedly pave the way for a rewarding and impactful career in the realm of statecraft and national security.
Your desk is waiting.