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The United States Foreign Policy and National Security program presents courses on defense policy; intelligence; the formulation and implementation of foreign policy; and the social, political, economic, strategic, and historical underpinnings of U.S. foreign policy. It is a rigorous course of study that combines considerable programmatic flexibility with the benefits of specialization in a concentration you select.

The School of International Service (SIS) offers a dual master's degree program with Kogod School of Business, giving students the opportunity to acquire expertise in both foreign policy and business. Graduates will receive an MA through SIS and an MBA through Kogod.

The full-time MBA is a cohorted two-year program. During the first year of the MBA students complete 26 or 29 credit hours in Kogod, and during the second year of the MBA students, including the MBA capstone in the spring semester. Sequencing and timing of SIS coursework depends on the chosen program.

Prospective MA/MBA students must separately apply to and be accepted by each school. The admissions committees from each school do not collaborate on the decision-making process.

View Kogod School of Business dual degree admissions requirements and MBA coursework.

The SIS practicum acts as a bridge between the academic setting, with its emphasis on individual research and writing, and the professional world, where many analytical work products are produced by teams. Students work in teams with expert clients, including US and international government agencies, non-profit organizations, and businesses, to conduct policy and program analysis. Students draw on their research, qualitative, and quantitative skills to prepare final oral and written analysis and recommendations. Practicum teams present their findings at the SIS-wide Practica Symposium, held at the end of each semester.

The MA Thesis is an original research project appropriate for students looking to complete a longer and more academically rigorous research paper. It is an independent research project intended to integrate and apply knowledge from the field to a final scholarly project and is particularly useful for students who plan to go on to a PhD program. Students who choose the thesis option will work with two faculty members.

The Substantial Research Paper (SRP) is an independent research project that is intended to integrate and apply knowledge from the field to a final scholarly project. By completing the SRP, students not only develop their expertise in an issue of primary concern to the field of US foreign policy and national security, but also demonstrate their ability to conduct informed, analytical research or policy analysis. Faculty supervisors for the SRP must be USFP core faculty or current faculty who are affiliated with the program.