All Master of Science in International Relations and Politics students must complete a thesis in the final semester.
The Master’s thesis is produced during the final year of graduate study, and is a culmination of IRP graduate work. It allows students to apply their learned quantitative and qualitative methodological skillset to a practical, field-relevant problem of their choice.
Some examples of students’ current and past Master’s thesis topics are listed below. Many are often published in the Carnegie Mellon University Journal of Politics and Strategy, which students can showcase to future employers or academic institutions as a demonstration of research, critical thinking, and analytical skills honed throughout the IRP program.
2022 Graduates (click on the links to view videos of their presentations)
| Student name | Thesis topic |
| Ruilin Chen |
The role of non-state actor IMF in corruption and bureaucratic quality in developing nations |
| Jordyn Gilliard |
Understanding the impact presidential rhetoric has on coalition building |
| Austin Goetz |
A Supreme Motivation: The Drivers of Senate Confirmation Vote Behavior from Bork to Jackson |
| Jeffrey Ko | Private Military Organizations, Resource Consessions, and Conflict Termination |
| James Summers | |
| Sujay Utkarsh | Politics and Climate Change: Understanding the Factors and Conditions That Lead to the Adoption of Corrective Climate Policies |
| Eoin Wilson-Manion | |
| Millie Zhang |
The Power of Positive Visual Narratives on Public Perceptions of Terrorism |
| Xiong "Cathy" Zhu |
Do BITs Cause Opposition Between Investor Right and Environmental Protection? |
2021 Graduates
| Student name | Thesis Topic | Thesis Advisor |
| Gabriella Bettino |
Treaties and Conflict: Lessons for the Military Application of Cyberspace |
Madison Schramm |
| Alexander Oh |
The Effect of Internet Regulation on Political Radicalization: A Case Study of Five Democratic Countries |
Daniel Silverman |
| Peter Rezk |
Reducing Police Discrimination: Lessons from International Departments |
Ignacio Arana |
Spring 2020 Graduates
| Student name | Thesis Topic | Thesis Advisor |
| Jure Erlic | Shuffling or Eliminating: The OECD Anti-bribery Convention's impact on global financial corruption | Daniel Hansen |
|
Aysar Gharaibeh |
Misinformation & Truth Distortion | Colin Clarke |
| Micah Rabin | Voter Suppression Rhetoric and Voter Turnout in United States’ Election Cycles | Dan Silverman |
| Kimberly Huang | Public-Elite Decision Making Gap on Drones in the US |
Dani Nedal |
| Antonio Freiria | Truman to Trump: Analyzing Foreign Policy Campaign Promises |
Ignacio Arana |
Spring 2019 Graduates
| Student Name | Thesis Topic | Thesis Advisor |
| Ian Asenjo | Reflections of Resistance: A Generational Comparison of the Sikh Diaspora | Dan Silverman |
| Kellen Carleton | Private Sector Compliance with Federal Cybersecurity Requirements | Molly Dunigan |
| Michael Gormley | Originalism: A Critical Analysis | Geoff McGovern |
| Raaga Kalva | Diversionary War by Tweet? An Analysis of Domestic Pressure and Foreign Policy Belligerence in the Trump Era | Dan Silverman |
| Jacqueline Puschmann | Like Father, Unlike Son: The Effects of Political Dynasties on Governance | Ignacio Arana |
| Colin Tait | The Transnational Diffusion of Peace | Ignacio Arana |
Spring 2018 Graduates
| Student Name | Thesis Topic | Thesis Advisor |
| Borge Feliz | Consequences of State Support for Non- State Armed Groups (NAGs) in Strategic Rivalries | Molly Dunigan |
| Alex Lin | Russia, Cyberspace, and Organized Crime | Colin Clarke |
| Alexandra Pasch | U.S. Secret Courts: A Primer on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts | Geoff McGovern |
| Rahmon Ross | Effects of Institutional Change on the Prevention of Terrorist Attacks following large scale terror events | Colin Clarke |
| Susanna Seltzer | Liberty and Safety: A Quantitative Analysis of Civil Liberties and Terror in the West | Gio Altamirano Rayo |
| Rob Stephens | A Loose Pack: Profiles of Lone Wolf Terrorists in the U.S. | Daniel Silverman |