Institute for World Politics

What you'll study

The program requires 52 credits total; courses are generally four credits unless noted. Core Cyber Statecraft required courses (16 credits) are IWP 663 Cyber Statecraft; IWPO 727 Cyber Threat Intelligence; IWP 736 Cyber Operations of Foreign Powers; and IWP 737 AI, Emerging Technologies, and National Security. Students choose 16 credits of Cyber Statecraft electives from IWP offerings; recommended electives include IWP 601 National Security Policy Process; IWP 605 Intelligence and Policy; IWP 616 U.S. National Security Strategy and Emerging Threats; IWP 628 Military Strategy: Theory and Practice; IWPO 699 Cyber Intelligence Overview; and IWPO 729 Geopolitics and Strategy of Cyberspace. The 20-credit core includes courses such as 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); and IWP 799 Capstone Course (2 credits). Topics covered span history, policy, law, institutions, cyber threat intelligence, foreign actor capabilities and doctrine (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, allies, terrorist and transnational criminal groups), cyber defense and resilience, command and control, and implications of AI and emerging technologies for strategic competition.

Entry requirements

Students may enroll full-time (9+ credits/semester) or part-time (<9 credits/semester) and must complete the degree within five calendar years. Candidates are not required to take a language proficiency exam but may elect to do so. On finishing coursework, each student must pass a one-hour oral examination and a three-hour written comprehensive examination.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles as analysts, policymakers, intelligence professionals, and strategists who integrate cyber capabilities with other instruments of national power. The program emphasizes understanding adversary cyber operations, threat intelligence, and how emerging technologies like AI reshape military, intelligence, diplomatic, and economic competition.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

The program page does not list specific scholarships; prospective applicants should consult the institute's graduate admissions and financial aid offices for available fellowships, grants, employer tuition support, and language-training funding opportunities that may apply to students in statecraft-related degrees.