International Relations and Security Studies (MA)

This program is offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is available online, at the St. Louis main campus and at select international campuses. Please see the Campus Locations and Offerings section of this catalog for a list of campuses where this program is offered.

Program Description

Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of various subfields within international relations..
• Identify key actors, issues, threats, institutions and legal frameworks in both national and international security contexts.
• Exhibit strong research skills, utilizing qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
• Critically analyze complex international security issues and propose evidence-based solutions.
• Communicate effectively in written form, tailored to diverse audiences, including policymakers, security experts and academic peers.
• Apply AI tools and technologies to enhance research capabilities and effectively communicate analytical insights to stakeholders in the fields of international relations and security.

Program Curriculum

36 credit hours

Core Courses (12 credit hours)

Specialization Track Courses (18 credit hours) 

• Six courses from the chosen track, outlined below

Electives (6 credit hours)

• Any graduate credits

Specialization Track Courses

International Relations track 
Choose 4 courses from the international relations cluster and 2 courses from the comparative cluster

International Relations cluster

• IRSS 5400 International Political Economy (3 hours)
• IRSS 5510 Theories of International Relations (3 hours)
• IRSS 5530 International Law (3 hours)
• IRSS 5540 International Organizations (3 hours)
• IRSS 5550 War and Diplomacy (3 hours)
• IRSS 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• IRSS 5860 Issues in International Relations and Security Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5870 International Law and Politics of Outer Space (3 hours)
• IRSS 6500 Internship (3-6 hours)

Comparative cluster

• IRSS 5625 Middle East/West Asia Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5635 Western European Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5645 Asian Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5655 African Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5665 South and Central Asia Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5675 Central and Eastern European Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5685 Latin America Area Studies (3 hours)

Security Studies track
Choose 4 courses from one cluster and two courses from one of the remaining clusters. 

International and National Security cluster

• IRSS 5400 International Political Economy (3 hours)
• IRSS 5560 U.S. Foreign Policy (3 hours)
• IRSS 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• IRSS 5625 Middle East Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5635 Western European Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5645 Asian Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5655 African Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5665 South and Central Asia Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5675 Central and Eastern European Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5685 Latin America Area Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5860 Issues in International Relations and Security Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5890 Terrorism in World Politics (3 hours)
• IRSS 6500 Internship (3-6 hours)

Cybersecurity Operations cluster

• CSSS 5000 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 hours)
• CSSS 5120 Cybersecurity Infrastructures (3 hours)
• CSSS 5130 Cybersecurity Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence (3 hours)
• CSSS 5140 Cybersecurity Strategic Operations (3 hours)
• CSSS 5160 Encryption Methods and Techniques (3 hours)
• CSSS 5210 Cybersecurity Law and Policy (3 hours)
• CSSS 5220 Cybersecurity Threat Detection (3 hours)
• CSSS 5250 Use and Protection of Space Assets (3 hours)

Criminal Justice cluster

• CRIM 5050 Organization and Administration of Criminal Justice (3 hours)
• CRIM 5060 Policing and Law Enforcement (3 hours)
• CRIM 5070 Institutional and Community Corrections (3 hours)
• LEGL 5450 American Constitutional Law (3 hours)

Dual Degree Option: MA in International Relations and Security Studies/MS in Criminal Justice 

48 Credit Hours

Upon completion of the 48 credits, two separate diplomas are issued at the same time. The two degrees cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

Required Courses

• CRIM 5000 Ethics and Decision Making in Criminal Justice (3 hours)
• CRIM 5100 Theories of Crime and Justice (3 hours)
• LEGL 5480 Criminal Actions (3 hours)
• IRSS 5000 Introduction to International Relations and SEcurity Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives (3 hours)
• IRSS 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• CRIM 6000 Capstone (3 hours)
  OR IRSS 6000 Capstone (3 hours)
  OR IRSS 6250 Thesis* (6 hours)

*The six credit hours for IRSS 6250 are drawn from the 3 hours reserved for the IRSS 6000 capstone and 3 elective credit hours in the program. 

Electives

• 4 additional courses from the following:
  • Any course with the CRIM prefix
  • One of the courses can be LEGL 5450
• 4 courses from the International Relations and National Security cluster in the MA in International Relations and Security Studies
• 1 additional course drawn from electives in either the MA in International Relations and Security Studies or the MA in Criminal Justice

Dual Degree Option: MA in International Relations and Security Studies/MS in Cybersecurity Operations 

54 Credit Hours

This program is only available at at select U.S. locations. 

Upon completion of the 54 credits, two separate diplomas are issued at the same time. The two degrees cannot be awarded separately or sequentially under this arrangement.

Required Courses

• CSSS 5000 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 hours)
• CSSS 5120 Cybersecurity Infrastructures (3 hours)
• CSSS 5130 Cybersecurity Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence (3 hours)
• CSSS 5140 Cybersecurity Strategic Operations (3 hours)
• CSSS 5150 Cybersecurity Risk Management (3 hours)
• CSSS 5160 Encryption Methods and Techniques (3 hours)
• CSSS 5180 Social Engineering (3 hours)
• CSSS 6000 Practical Research in Cybersecurity (3 hours)
• IRSS 5000 Introduction to International Relations and Security Studies (3 hours)
• IRSS 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• IRSS 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives (3 hours)
• IRSS 6000 Capstone (3 hours)
  OR IRSS 6250 Thesis* (6 hours)

*The six credit hours for IRSS 6250 are drawn from the 3 hours reserved for the IRSS 6000 capstone and 3 elective credit hours in the program. 

Electives

• 2 elective courses chosen from the MS in Cybersecurity Operations
• 4 electives chosen from the International Relations track of the MA in International Relations and Security Studies

Admission

See the Admission section of this catalog for general admission requirements. Students interested in applying must submit their application online at www.webster.edu/apply. Transcripts should be sent from your institution electronically to transcripts@webster.edu. If this service is not available, send transcripts to:

Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119 

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are admitted to their graduate program upon completion of all admission requirements. Students are advanced to candidacy status after successfully completing 12 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. In specialized programs, courses required as prerequisites to the program do not count toward the 12 credit hours required for advancement.