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Defense, Diplomacy, and Meeting Tomorrow's Threats Today

The SIS Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security (FPGS) produces new knowledge on international policy and security challenges and trains the next generation of leaders to navigate those challenges effectively. We are a multidisciplinary hub for research and teaching, comprised of a diverse group of renowned scholars and practitioners. In our community, we examine the policies of the United States, other countries, and global and transnational actors, as well as the determinants of security at all levels, from sub-national to global. We are particularly proud of our focus on emerging security challenges, such as cyber threats and disinformation.

Our expertise also spans all areas of foreign policy practice, including diplomacy, defense, economic statecraft, foreign aid, and intelligence. In our classes and research, as well as through our events with prominent speakers, we advance understanding of modalities of international cooperation and geopolitical competition as well as the dynamics of peace, war, conflict, and political violence.

Dunk-An-Ambassador Event

On Thursday, September 5, the Department of Foreign Policy & Global Security (FPGS), in collaboration with the Undergraduate House of Hawks and Doves, hosted the "Dunk-An-Ambassador" event. FPGS Department Chair Ambassador (ret.) Piper Campbell, SIS Dean Shannon Hader, FPGS Director of Graduate Studies Professor Garret Martin, and Professor Mike Schroeder participated, stepping into the dunk tank to engage with students and promote a sense of community.

Top Employers

  • US Government: Department of State, the Department of Justice, and the National Nuclear Security Administration

  • Private Sector: Booz Allen Hamilton, The Lafayette Group, and SAIC

  • Think tanks and NGOs: the National Endowment for Democracy, the Atlantic Council, and the Brookings Institution

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Event Title: "Ambassadors Up-Close: Twenty-First Century Solutions to Address Ailing American Diplomacy" Details: Date: Tuesday, Sept. 17 Time: 3:30-5:00pm Location: SIS Founders Room Featured Speakers: Amb. Thomas Pickering – Photo: A smiling older ma

Ambassadors Up-Close

Twenty-First Century Solutions to Address Ailing American Diplomacy

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Our Programs

The undergraduate thematic area and graduate programs in the Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security focus on national policies, global and transnational actors, and security at all levels, including emerging security challenges such as cyber threats and disinformation.

Master's degrees

International Affairs Policy and Analysis (IAPA) provides students with the skills they need to tackle the international and foreign policy problems that they care about. This program blends the analytical rigor of traditional international affairs with a consolidated set of hard policy and management skills. As such, the curriculum offers significant flexibility. Students self-design a specialization drawing from courses across subfields of international affairs and select a Professional Competency Track composed of skills-based courses.

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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.

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International Studies Track

The international studies track is designed for you if you are currently enrolled or have recently completed a master's-level program in international affairs or a related field at a partner institution. You’ll benefit from cross-continental academic experiences that augment your educational and personal development. Graduates from the program are conferred a dual degree from SIS and the partner institution. 

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Undergraduate thematic area

The Foreign Policy and National Security Thematic Area features course offerings on U.S. foreign policy, war and diplomacy, and both national and global security concerns. The gateway course for this Thematic Area is Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy (SISU 230), which aims to provide students with an understanding of broad historical trends and traditions in U.S. foreign policy; the ability to assess the main theoretical perspectives relevant to the field of U.S. foreign policy; the ability to identify the key actors, institutions, and political processes involved in the making of U.S. foreign policy; the capacity to analyze selected contemporary policy issues; and an opportunity to demonstrate research, analytical, writing, and presentation skills.

Gateway Course

SISU 230 Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy (multiple sections available)

Thematic Area Courses

*Course offerings vary by semester. Alternative and/or additional options may be available.

  • SISU 318 The "Revisionists": Chinese and Russian Politics and Foreign Policy
  • SISU 330 Intelligence and National Security
  • SISU 330 Negotiating Global Challenges
  • SISU 330 Mexico and North America
  • SISU 330 Technology and War
  • SISU 330 U.S. Grand Strategy
  • SISU 330 Endogenous Forces in the Formation of American Foreign Policy
  • SISU 330 Critical Diplomacy