Course description
This degree is designed for students who wish to focus on a broad understanding of the current world order, its history and trends, the theoretical and policy issues affected by international politics and culture, and the ideas and values that influence the behavior of state and non-state actors. Coupled with the language requirement (described below), successful recipients of this degree are prepared for a wide range of careers, including foreign policymaking and implementation, public policy research, journalism, and a variety of private sector professions.
Candidates for this degree are also required to complete a minimum of fifty-two credits, 12 four-credit courses and 2 two-credit courses. Students may also be required to take an advanced research and writing seminar. At least ten of the courses (including "Economics for Foreign Policymakers" and "Geography and Strategy") must come from the Core Curriculum, while four courses must be taken in one of four specializations: American Foreign Policy, Comparative Political Culture, Democracy Building, or International Politics. The ten Core Curriculum courses should be completed prior to the specialization.
Please click here to view a brochure about this program.
Language Requirements
Students must also possess by their final semester of study a professional reading knowledge of one of the following strategically important and widely used foreign languages: Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish or Urdu. Occasional substitutions to this list may be allowed. The Statecraft and World Politics degree will not be awarded until the candidate passes a proficiency examination, which will test the student on reading, writing, and conversation. Since the Institute does not have an in-house language program, students needing training are referred to area language centers such as the Department of Agriculture, the Middle East Institute, or those used by the State Department. Please contact the Director of Student Affairs for more about the language requirement and a list of approved language centers.
Non-native speakers of English who are fluent in English (or have a TOEFL score of 600 or higher) are considered to possess this requirement and are not required to take the language proficiency exam.
Specialization in Comparative Political Culture
Ideas and Values in International Politics (Required)
Cultural Implications for Strategy and Analysis (Required)
Democratization, Nation Building, and U.S. Foreign Policy
Nationalism and Islamism
History of International Relations
Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy (Required)
Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia (Required)
U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threats and Opportunities (Required)
Russian Politics and Foreign Policy (Required)
Specialization in International Politics
History of International Relations (Required)
Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy (Required)
Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia (Required)
U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threats and Opportunities (Required)
Russian Politics and Foreign Policy (Required)
Ideas and Values in International Politics
Mass Media and World Politics
Nationalism and Islamism
Problems of Promoting Regime Change and Democracy
Twentieth Century Politics and Diplomacy: Case Studies in War and Peace
Specialization in American Foreign Policy
History of American Foreign Policy (Required)
American Founding Principles and Foreign Policy (Required)
Economic Statecraft and Conflict
Immigration and National Security
Problems of Promoting Regime Change and Democracy
Japan: Old and New
U.S. Intelligence in the Cold War and Beyond
Chinese Grand Strategy: Foreign and Military Policy
Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia
U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threats and Opportunities
Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
Specialization in Democracy Building
Democratization, Nation Building, and U.S. Foreign Policy (Required)
Foundations of Political and Economic Freedom (Required)
Problems of Promoting Regime Change and Democracy (Required)
American Founding Principles and Foreign Policy
Islam and Geopolitics in Eurasia
U.S.-Latin American Relations: Threats and Opportunities
Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
