Master the Future

CMIST Launches Master of Science in Security, Technology and International Relations

Technological change is fundamentally altering what it means to be human, influencing the distribution of wealth, challenging the definition of truth and shaping the future of global stability. In response to these shifts, the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) launched a new graduate degree, the Master of Science in Security, Technology, and International Relations (MS STAIR). This program is designed to equip tomorrow’s leaders with the skillset to navigate the ever-changing landscape at the intersection of emerging technologies and global security.

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) provides an interdisciplinary approach to studying global and national security issues, policies and strategies. Alongside exposure to the technological advances happening at CMU, the MS STAIR program offers a rigorous curriculum that combines political science and international relations.

"The MS-STAIR is the first master’s degree at the intersection between international relations and 21st century technologies,” said CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin. “Our graduates will be prepared to analyze and shape the global frameworks that are defining our future."

Students who want to accelerate their professional careers will find this program particularly appealing. The degree spans 12-months in which students spend their fall and spring semesters in Pittsburgh, Pa., taking courses at Carnegie Mellon’s main campus. Students can choose from a list of core course options in international relations and technology alongside critical exposure to the innovative technological advances that are happening at CMU.

The program also includes advanced skills-training courses in qualitative and quantitative social science methods for program evaluation and policy writing and analysis to further enhance our students’ expertise to better inform and persuade diverse audiences across various industries.

Students then transition to Washington, D.C. for a summer semester to complete their curriculum and an internship related to emerging technology, national security, international relations or political science. The internship, the culmination of the program, enables students to synthesize their coursework while developing their professional networks and gaining practical experience. With CMIST’s facility located in Capitol Hill — across from the U.S. Capitol building and adjacent to the U.S. Supreme Court — students benefit from privileged access to current and former policymakers, courses taught by experienced professionals and valuable networking opportunities.

In addition, the MS STAIR-AMP program offers CMU undergraduates the ability to complete their master's degree in just two semesters beyond their bachelor's degree. The accelerated version of the graduate degree is open only to CMU undergraduates who have completed the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program.

“Emerging technologies like drones, AI, cyber and social media are rapidly changing the nature of international competition, warfare and business,” said Joshua Schwartz, assistant professor at CMIST whose research includes the spread and proliferation of military technology. “By the end of this program, students will be well-prepared to help employers navigate the rapidly changing landscape of international politics and technology.”

The MS STAIR program prepares students and professionals alike to assume strategic roles in analyzing, managing, predicting and adapting to emerging technologies' impacts on the U.S. and the world. With its comprehensive curriculum and hands-on experience opportunities, graduates are uniquely positioned to ethically and skillfully shape the future.

Students interested in making a positive impact on the global stage can learn more about this new degree on the CMIST website.

Please contact Graduate Program Manager, Mark Gardner with further questions.