Institute for World Politics

What you'll study

All courses are four credits unless noted. The program comprises core requirements (20 credits), statecraft requirements (16 credits), and concentration-specific restricted and general electives (16 credits).

• Core requirements (20 credits): 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) — choose four of the following (IWP 601 National Security Policy Process is required): 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 IWP 637 Public Diplomacy; IWP 635 History of American Foreign Policy; IWP 636 The Art of Diplomacy.
• Concentrations (16 credits) — students complete 8–10 credits from restricted electives for a chosen concentration (courses marked with * are recommended first for students with limited background) plus 6–8 credits of general electives tailored to professional needs. Concentration options and sample restricted electives include:

• Corporate Statecraft: IWP 665 Statecraft, National Security, and the Corporate Sector (2); IWP 667 Forecasting and Political Risk Analysis*; IWP 688 Energy Security and Energy Diplomacy*; IWP 609 Economic Statecraft and Conflict; IWP 663 Cyber Statecraft; IWP 679 Defense Strategy, Planning, and Budgeting.
• Counterintelligence: IWP 605 Intelligence and Policy*; IWP 610 Counterintelligence in a Democratic Society*; IWP 622 Comparative Intelligence Systems; IWP 647 The Operations and Cases of U.S. Counterintelligence; IWP 654 The Evolution of the CI Community.
• Counterterrorism: IWP 610 Counterintelligence in a Democratic Society; IWP 659 Enemy Threat Doctrine of Global Jihadism; IWP 669 Counterterrorism and the Democracies*; IWP 670 Counter‑Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement*; IWP 686 Terrorist Advocacy and Propaganda (2).
• Defense and National Security: IWP 601 National Security Policy Process*; IWP 616 U.S. National Security Strategy and Emerging Threats; IWP 628 Military Strategy: Theory and Practice; IWP 678 Covert Action and National Security; IWP 679 Defense Strategy, Planning and Budgeting*.
• Intelligence: IWP 605 Intelligence and Policy*; IWP 610 Counterintelligence in a Democratic Society; IWP 631 Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions, and Policy; IWP 652 Estimative Intelligence Analysis and Epistemology*; IWP 656 Intelligence Collection.
• Irregular Warfare: IWP 616 U.S. National Security Strategy and Emerging Threats*; IWP 628 Military Strategy: Theory and Practice; IWP 641 Political Warfare: Past, Present and Future; IWP 657 U.S. Approaches to Irregular Warfare* (2); IWP 678 Covert Action and National Security.
• Public Diplomacy and Strategic Influence: IWP 631 Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions, and Policy*; IWP 636 The Art of Diplomacy; IWP 637 Public Diplomacy*; IWP 641 Political Warfare: Past, Present, and Future; IWP 670 Counter‑Terror through Full Spectrum Cultural Engagement.

Entry requirements

The published materials describe the degree as intended for those already in or seeking entry to the national security field; specific admissions prerequisites are not listed on the program page. Prospective applicants are directed to contact an Admissions Officer or apply online for authoritative application guidance.

Career prospects

Graduates have moved into roles across government, defense, intelligence, industry and research. Organizations listed by alumni include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Department of Defense, Department of State, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, defense contractors and private sector firms (e.g., BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton) as well as policy and research centers and congressional offices. Alumni job titles cited include intelligence analyst, cyber and space analysts, scientific applications specialist, and roles in strategy, policy and security operations.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page does not specify scholarships. Applicants should explore institutional financial aid, graduate assistantships, employer tuition support or sponsorship (common in national security careers), and external fellowships. The program also notes language training opportunities available to related degree candidates as a way to enhance professional credentials.