Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology

CMU's Home for Political Science and International Relations

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Design your tomorrow. Your future starts here.

CMIST's graduate programs are professional degrees designed to equip students with the strategic mindset and technical acumen essential for navigating the complex landscape of technology and policy. Whether you aspire to shape the future of technology governance, lead digital transformations, or understand the geopolitical implications of emerging technologies, our programs offer the specialized knowledge and skills to propel your career to new heights.

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MITS

Master of Information Technology Strategy

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MS STAIR

Master of Science in Security, Technology, and International Relations

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MS STAIR-AMP

Master of Science in Security, Technology, and International Relations - Accelerated Masters Program 

Master of Science in International Relations and Politics (MS IRP): 2016 — 2025

The Master of Science in International Relations and Politics (MS IRP), including its accelerated version (MS IRP-AMP), has been discontinued. The accelerated program was approved in 2015 with its first cohort beginning in 2016, while the traditional two-year MS IRP degree program was approved in Fall 2019 and welcomed its first cohort the following year. Enrollment into the MS IRP ceased in Fall 2024, and the program officially concluded in May 2025 with the graduation of its final students. This program, which ran from 2016 to 2025, has been succeeded by the Master of Science in Security, Technology, and International Relations (MS STAIR). The MS STAIR program builds upon the strengths of the MS IRP, and integrates equipping graduates in international relations, security studies, and political science with applied technological comprehension and skill sets necessary to navigate global relationships and cooperative policies in the context of emerging technologies.

Academic Highlights

  Graduate Advising

Mark Gardner
Mark Gardner is the Graduate Program Manager at CMIST. He oversees the Master of Information Technology Strategy and the Master of Science in Security, Technology, and International Relations. Mark has several responsibilities guiding current graduate students throughout their academic experience, including advising on course selection and registration, helping students identify and apply for internship and scholarship opportunities, and managing capstone projects—to name a few. Mark also works with prospective students to inform and support them as they navigate different graduate program options.