Global security is in flux. Modern warfare is constantly evolving, responding to advances in technology, misinformation, and an intricate world order. Understanding the multitude of motivations that compel actors to go to war is essential to resolving issues that seem intractable.
Learn how to solve these problems with Fletcher’s International Security Studies field of study.
During the Cold War, there was a fear that we were going to go to war. I was in Germany. There was no evacuation plan—we would have been the hostages for the U.S. and for NATO. If the Soviets came across the Fulda Gap, we understood that we were the pointy end of the spear. I think that has made me circumspect about the use of violence, and really valuing diplomacy and other ways of thinking through conflict and alternatives to violence.
Monica Duffy Toft, Professor of International Politics
The International Security Studies field asks tough questions about why actors go to war, what makes for an enduring peace, and how various actors interact in a space and ask how they can secure my interests and build sustainable peace.
Abigail Linnington, Professor of the Practice of International Security
MALD and MIB students complete 12 credits in their field of study (one core, two field electives, and one additional elective). MGA students complete 18 credits, plus a practicum.
MALD and MIB
DHP P240 The Role of Force in International Politics
MGA
DHP P233 International Security
DHP P240 The Role of Force in International Politics
Choose one of the following
MALD and MIB students choose two of the following
DHP D272 U.S. - China Security Relations
DHP P205 National Security Decision Making: Theory and Practice
DHP P232 Technological Innovation and International Security
DHP P233 International Security
DHP P239 Nuclear Weapons: Technology, Strategy, and Policy
DHP P243 Internal Conflicts and War in the 21st Century
DHP P248 Strategy and Grand Strategy: Theory, Art and Practice
DHP P263 Civil Wars: Theory and Policy
DHP P265 21st Century Intelligence and National Security Seminar
MGA students choose one of the following
DHP D220 Processes of International Negotiation
DHP P203 Analytic Frameworks for International Public Policy Decisions
DHP P207 GIS for International Applications
EIB B291 Leadership: Building Teams, Organizations and Shaping Your Path
ILO L215 Ethics in Practice of Foreign Affairs
Students may select their fourth course in the field from any of the field electives above or from the following additional electives
DHP D201 Seminar in International Relations Theory
DHP D206 U.S. Diplomatic Tradecraft
DHP D252 Grand Strategy
DHP D282 Contemporary Russian Foreign Policy
DHP H204 Classics of International Relations
DHP H205 The Historian’s Art and Current Affairs
DHP P202M Security Sector Reform: Conceptual and Contextual Debates in Peacebuilding
DHP P209M Demography and National Security
DHP P244 Modern Terrorism and Counterterrorism
DHP P246M Civil Resistance
DHP P248 Strategy and Grand Strategy: Theory, Art and Practice
DHP P249 International Cyber Conflict
DHP P264 Artificial Intelligence: Algorithms, Ethics and Policy
DHP P277 Introduction to Nuclear Security: History, Policy and Theory
DHP P291 Power in World Politics
EIB B223 Informal and Underground Finance
ILO L216 International Humanitarian Law
ILO L224 Conflict Management Tools for International Organizations
ILO L262 Foreign Relations and National Security Law
MGA students must complete one skills course. MALD and MIB students may not use these courses as a field elective unless otherwise indicated above.
DHP D208M Research Methods and Scholarship
DHP D218 Influencing Policy and the Global Debate: Writing Analysis and Opinion
DHP D220 Processes of International Negotiation
DHP D225 Conflict Resolution Practice
DHP D243M Overview of Survey Methods
DHP D245M Working in Difficult Research Environments with Vulnerable Populations: Advanced Field Research Methods
DHP New Advanced GIS
DHP New Introduction to Data Science for Global Applications
DHP P203 Analytic Frameworks for International Public Policy Decisions
DHP P207 GIS for International Applications
DHP P225 Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation
DHP P234 The Arts of Communication
DHP P250 Environmental Problem Solving
EIB B205 Data Analysis and Statistical Methods
EIB B206 Data Analysis and Statistical Methods for Business
EIB B262 Marketing Research and Analysis
EIB B291 Leadership Building Teams, Organizations, and Shaping Your Path
EIB E210M Quantitative Methods
EIB E213 Econometrics
EIB E214 International Economic Policy Analysis
EIB E247 Econometric Impact Evaluation for Development
ILO L215 Ethics in the Practice of Foreign Affairs
MGA students must complete a practicum for their field of study.
