Institute for World Politics

What you'll study

The program totals 52 credits, with most courses at four credits unless noted. Core counterintelligence requirements (16 credits) include:

• IWP 610 Counterintelligence in a Democratic Society
• IWP 647 The Operations and Cases of U.S. Counterintelligence
• IWP 654 The Evolution of the CI Community
• IWP 681 Intelligence and Law

Counterintelligence electives (16 credits) may be selected from IWP offerings; faculty recommend options such as:

• IWP 601 National Security Policy Process
• IWP 605 Intelligence and Policy
• IWP 622 Comparative Intelligence Systems: Foreign Intelligence and Security Cultures
• IWP 644 Soviet and Russian Intelligence and Security Services
• IWP 668 Espionage
• IWP 726 Intelligence in Africa: History, Culture, and Trends (2 credits)
• IWP 733 Chinese Intelligence and Security Services

Core institutional requirements (20 credits) include a mix of political thought, strategy, and professional courses, examples being:

• 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)

Upon finishing coursework students must pass a one‑hour oral examination and a three‑hour written comprehensive examination.

Entry requirements

The published program text does not list specific admissions prerequisites on the course page. Candidates are informed that language proficiency testing is optional (not required) and may be taken to enhance credentials; students are encouraged to use language training opportunities available to other degree candidates. Enrollment may be full‑time (9+ credits/semester) or part‑time (<9 credits/semester), and the degree must be completed within five calendar years.

Career prospects

Graduates have entered a range of national security and private‑sector organizations. IWP alumni work or have worked in agencies and firms including the CIA, FBI, NSA, ODNI, DIA, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Office of Naval Intelligence, U.S. military intelligence branches, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Treasury, as well as contractors and consultancies such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, CACI, SAIC, Accenture Federal Services, and technology companies. Roles commonly align with counterintelligence operations, intelligence analysis, policy, security and investigative functions, and information/cybersecurity positions.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page does not specify scholarships or tuition. Prospective applicants should investigate institutional graduate financial aid, assistantships, employer sponsorship, and government or agency funding pathways common for national security‑oriented graduate degrees. Optional language training may improve marketability when seeking funded opportunities.