Carnegie Mellon University
Institute for Politics and Strategy  ›  Graduate Degrees  ›  MS IRP  ›  Curriculum

MS IRP Curriculum

The MS IRP is a two-year full-time program with a required internship in the summer between the first and second years.  Students may take a maximum of 54 units per semester and a minimum of 36 units per semester. Part-time options are available only after consultation with the department.

Curriculum (186 units)

Core Courses (96 units)

Students must complete all of the following core courses.

Internship (84-705): (0 units)

Students are required to complete a summer internship in a related field between the first and second year of the program.  The internship will allow students to synthesize the program’s studies in the context of practical and hands-on experiential learning opportunities.  IPS has dedicated staff to support students in all aspects of the internship process. 

Thesis (84-799): (18 units)

Students must complete a graduate-level thesis paper (84-799) in the final semester. Please view the Thesis Proposal Guidelines for further details.

Concentration Courses (72 units)

Students must complete one course in each of the four concentration areas (48 units), plus an additional two courses (24 units) in chosen concentration.

International Relations

International Security

Comparative Politics

American Politics

Important Documents

Graduate Handbook
Master's Thesis Guidelines
MS IRP Curriculum Handout

MS IRP Brochure

MS IRP brochure cover

Fall 2023 MS IRP Brochure