Institute for World Politics

What you'll study

The degree totals 52 credits; all courses are four credits unless otherwise noted. Study is divided among required China/Asia courses, electives, and core foundations.

• Chinese and Asian Affairs Requirements (16 credits): IWP 630 Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy; IWP 671 The U.S. and China in Power Transition OR IWP 710 The U.S. and Taiwan, 1895–Present; IWPO 677 Chinese Military Thought and History; IWP 733 Chinese Intelligence and Security Services.
• Chinese and Asian Affairs Electives (16 credits): Any IWP course may count as an elective, with recommended options including IWP 601 National Security Policy Process; IWP 616 U.S. National Security Strategy and Emerging Threats; IWP 631 Foreign Propaganda, Perceptions and Policy; IWP 641 Political Warfare: Past, Present and Future; IWP 689 North Korea and Geopolitics of Northeast Asia; IWP 705 Maritime Strategy in Great Power Competition (2 credits); IWP 706 Maoist Revolutionary Wars Outside China (2 credits); IWPO 707 Economies in Transition.
• 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).

Entry requirements

Students may enroll full-time (9+ credits/semester) or part-time (<9 credits/semester) but must finish within five calendar years. Candidates are not required to take a language proficiency examination, though they may elect to do so. After completing coursework, students must pass a one-hour oral examination and a three-hour written comprehensive examination. For questions about Chinese language study opportunities, the program provides a contact (nmerrifield@iwp.edu).

Career prospects

The program prepares graduates for roles across government, intelligence, defense, industry, and NGOs. Typical employer destinations listed by the institution include federal agencies (CIA, DNI components, Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service), military and defense organizations (Office of Naval Intelligence, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Defense Intelligence Agency, Joint Staff), national security and intelligence education and analysis bodies (National Intelligence University, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Johns Hopkins APL), defense contractors and defense-focused firms (BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, SAIC), technology and private sector employers (Amazon Web Services, Morgan Stanley, Thomson Reuters), and policy/NGO employers (Stimson Center).

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page does not list specific scholarships. Prospective students should contact admissions to inquire about institutional aid, outside fellowships, employer tuition support, and language-training resources recommended for IWP students. Working professionals are explicitly accommodated through part-time enrollment options.