The International Security Policy concentration is designed for students interested in international conflict and conflict management, defense policy, military strategy, arms control, intelligence, peacekeeping, coercion, negotiation, and alternatives to the use of force as an instrument of policy. It provides a conceptual foundation for understanding conflict and the political, economic, and military components of policies and capabilities for coping with the possibility of war, as well as expertise for analyzing specific functional and regional security issues.
Stephen Biddle, Professor of International and Public Affairs
Concentration Director
stephen.biddle@columbia.edu
Jessie Laufer
Concentration Coordinator
jel2187@columbia.edu
Stephen Biddle, Professor of International and Public Affairs; Director of the International Security Policy Concentration
Charles Carmakal, Lecturer (part-time) of International and Public Affairs
Elizabeth Cartier, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Thomas Christensen, Professor of International and Public Affairs
Peter Clement, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Lindsay Cohn, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Phoebe Donnelly, Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs
Stuart Gottlieb, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
David Gutschmit, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Scott Harold, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Jason Healey, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Sarah Kovner, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Erica Lonergan, Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs
Annemarie McAvoy, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Victoria Nuland, Professor of Practice of International and Public Affairs
Michael O'Hanlon, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Celestino Perez, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs
Neal Pollard, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Gregory Rattray, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Cynthia Roberts, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Professor of International and Public Affairs
Laura Samotin, Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs
Adam Segal, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Naomi Weinberger, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Evan Wolff, Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs
Keren Yarhi-Milo, Professor of International and Public Affairs
ISP students are expected to fulfill the following requirements for a total of 15 credits.
The required gateway course, INAF U6874 Foundations of International Security Policy
Two courses (or 6 credits) in ONE of five career focus areas -- their "primary area"
Two courses (or 6 credits) in electives -- can be taken from any focus area
The five ISP career-oriented focus areas are listed below, with each having a corresponding list of eligible courses. You will notice that many courses count for more than one focus area; this is by design and reflects the overlap in the professional requirements for success in different career fields within ISP. You may take more than two courses in a single focus area if you wish, enabling greater depth of preparation in a particular field; you may also experiment in other focus areas via your electives if you are less certain about which type of career you would like to pursue after graduation, or if you seek breadth of knowledge over depth.
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Points | ||
| IAIA U8215 | Applied Geopolitics: Risk Analysis | 1.50 |
| INAF U6122 | Viral Videos, Generative AI ＆ Geopolitics in a Changing World | 3.00 |
| INAF U6334 | Conduct of War | 3.00 |
| INAF U6344 | Military Technology Assessment | 3.00 |
| INAF U6348 | Engaging Non-State Armed Groups: Lessons from the UN and Beyond | 1.50 |
| INAF U6383 | Foundations of Cyber Conflict | 3.00 |
| INAF U6387 | Terrorism ＆ Counterterrorism | 3.00 |
| INAF U6388 | Modern Urban Terrorism | 3.00 |
| INAF U6430 | East Asian Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6443 | China and Its Military | 3.00 |
| INAF U6446 | Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics in Israel | 1.50 |
| INAF U6448 | Shock and Change: Strategic Surprises in Middle Eastern War and Peace | 1.50 |
| INAF U6455 | Counterterrorism and Policing | 3.00 |
| INAF U6474 | Economic Espionage | 3.00 |
| INAF U6509 | Basics of Cybersecurity | 1.50 |
| INAF U6523 | Cyber Risks ＆ Vulnerabilities | 1.50 |
| INAF U6524 | Cybersecurity ＆ Business Risk | 3.00 |
| INAF U6534 | Cyberspace in Modern Warfare | 3.00 |
| INAF U6539 | Law and Politics of Spying and Lying | 3.00 |
| INAF U6546 | Artificial Intelligence and Conflict Prevention: Practical, Policy, and Ethical Dimensions | 3.00 |
| INAF U6658 | Politics and Policies in South Asia | 3.00 |
| INAF U6671 | China’s Foreign Relations | 3.00 |
| INAF U6675 | US-China Relations in Historical Perspective: First Contact to Present | 3.00 |
| INAF U6832 | International Intelligence Systems | 3.00 |
| INAF U6848 | Threat Financing ＆ Anti-Money Laundering | 1.50 |
| INAF U6908 | Information Operations on Social Media | 1.50 |
| INAF U8142 | Intelligence ＆ US Foreign Policy | 3.00 |
| INAF U8488 | Contemporary Russian Security Policy | 3.00 |
| INAF U8565 | European Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U8876 | Nuclear Proliferation Concepts for Non-Scientists | 1.50 |
| INAF U8877 | Nuclear Weapons in Practice | 1.50 |
| INAF U8878 | Nuclear Theory, Politics, ＆ Strategies | 3.00 |
| REGN U6562 | Politics of the Caucasus | 3.00 |
| REGN U6652 | Central Asian Politics and Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U6654 | North Korea: State, Society, Diplomacy, and Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U6660 | Security and International Politics of the Persian Gulf | 3.00 |
| REGN U6719 | Middle East Conflicts ＆ Global Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U6855 | Chinese Foreign Policy | 3.00 |
| REGN U6870 | Japanese Foreign Policy | 3.00 |
| REGN U8588 | Modern Iran: From Monarchy to Islamic Republic | 3.00 |
| REGN U8757 | Ukrainian Foreign Policy: Russia, Europe and the US | 3.00 |
Non-SIPA Courses | ||
| POLS GU4471 | CHINESE POLITICS | 3.00 |
| POLS GU4472 | JAPANESE POLITICS | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4845 | NAT SECURITY STRAT OF MID EAST | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4848 | ISRAELI NATL SEC STRAT POL DEC | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8471 | CHINESE POLIT ECON-COMP PERSP | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8832 | THEORIES OF WAR AND PEACE | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8854 | CIVIL ＆ ETHNIC WARS | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4434 | ETH POL ACROS POST-SOV EURASIA | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4453 | POLITICS IN RUSSIA | 3.00 |
| POLS GU4496 | CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN POLITICS | 3.00 |
| POLS S4832Q | Strategic Intelligence and Political Decision Making | 3.00 |
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Points | ||
| INAF S6797Q | Special Operations and National Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6285 | Methods for Defense Analysis ＆ Assessment | 3.00 |
| INAF U6334 | Conduct of War | 3.00 |
| INAF U6344 | Military Technology Assessment | 3.00 |
| INAF U6348 | Engaging Non-State Armed Groups: Lessons from the UN and Beyond | 1.50 |
| INAF U6387 | Terrorism ＆ Counterterrorism | 3.00 |
| INAF U6394 | Writing About War: Seeking Narratives in Conflict | 3.00 |
| INAF U6430 | East Asian Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6443 | China and Its Military | 3.00 |
| INAF U6448 | Shock and Change: Strategic Surprises in Middle Eastern War and Peace | 1.50 |
| INAF U6490 | Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Global Challenges | 3.00 |
| INAF U6534 | Cyberspace in Modern Warfare | 3.00 |
| INAF U6576 | Data and Conflict | 3.00 |
| INAF U6675 | US-China Relations in Historical Perspective: First Contact to Present | 3.00 |
| INAF U6742 | Gender and International Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6909 | Emerging Technologies and Policy Impacts | 3.00 |
| INAF U8488 | Contemporary Russian Security Policy | 3.00 |
| INAF U8565 | European Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U8812 | Seminar on International Strategy | 3.00 |
| INAF U8876 | Nuclear Proliferation Concepts for Non-Scientists | 1.50 |
| INAF U8877 | Nuclear Weapons in Practice | 1.50 |
| INAF U8878 | Nuclear Theory, Politics, ＆ Strategies | 3.00 |
| REGN U6652 | Central Asian Politics and Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U6660 | Security and International Politics of the Persian Gulf | 3.00 |
| REGN U6719 | Middle East Conflicts ＆ Global Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U8757 | Ukrainian Foreign Policy: Russia, Europe and the US | 3.00 |
Non-SIPA Courses | ||
| POLS GU4845 | NAT SECURITY STRAT OF MID EAST | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4848 | ISRAELI NATL SEC STRAT POL DEC | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8832 | THEORIES OF WAR AND PEACE | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8854 | CIVIL ＆ ETHNIC WARS | 4.00 |
| POLS S4832Q | Strategic Intelligence and Political Decision Making | 3.00 |
| IEOR E4150 | INTRO-PROBABILITY ＆ STATISTICS | 3.00 |
| IEOR E4004 | Optimization Models and Methods | 3.00 |
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Points | ||
| INAF U6122 | Viral Videos, Generative AI ＆ Geopolitics in a Changing World | 3.00 |
| INAF U6267 | Climate-security: Examining the links between climate change, peace and security | 1.50 |
| INAF U6292 | The European Union in a Time of Global Polycrisis | 1.50 |
| IAIA U6310 | Diplomacy in Practice: the EU ＆ the World | 1.50 |
| INAF U6329 | Geopolitics of Energy Transition and Climate Change | 3.00 |
| INAF U6334 | Conduct of War | 3.00 |
| INAF U6346 | US Role in World Affairs I | 3.00 |
| INAF U6347 | US Role In World Affairs II | 3.00 |
| INAF U6348 | Engaging Non-State Armed Groups: Lessons from the UN and Beyond | 1.50 |
| INAF U6349 | US Policymaking on Peace Operations, Conflict, Prevention, ＆ Protection of Civilians | 3.00 |
| INAF U6361 | Gender, Conflict, and Peacebuilding | 1.50 |
| INAF U6387 | Terrorism ＆ Counterterrorism | 3.00 |
| INAF U6391 | Conflict Resolution | 3.00 |
| INAF U6394 | Writing About War: Seeking Narratives in Conflict | 3.00 |
| INAF U6430 | East Asian Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6431 | Asian Energy Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6442 | Failures and Successes of Three Decades of Peacemaking | 3.00 |
| INAF U6443 | China and Its Military | 3.00 |
| INAF U6446 | Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics in Israel | 1.50 |
| INAF U6448 | Shock and Change: Strategic Surprises in Middle Eastern War and Peace | 1.50 |
| INAF U6450 | Conflict in the 21st Century: Rethinking Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution | 3.00 |
| INAF U6486 | Humanitarian Engagement-Armed Actors | 3.00 |
| INAF U6490 | Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Global Challenges | 3.00 |
| INAF U6499 | Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy Practicum | 1.50 |
| INAF U6539 | Law and Politics of Spying and Lying | 3.00 |
| INAF U6549 | Peacebuilding After Mass Violence | 3.00 |
| INAF U6564 | Applied Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution: Fieldwork Competencies | 3.00 |
| INAF U6573 | Humanitarian, Development, and Peace Nexus | 3.00 |
| INAF U6658 | Politics and Policies in South Asia | 3.00 |
| INAF U6671 | China’s Foreign Relations | 3.00 |
| INAF U6675 | US-China Relations in Historical Perspective: First Contact to Present | 3.00 |
| INAF U6680 | Geopolitics of Oil and Natural Gas | 3.00 |
| INAF U6724 | Insurgency and Counterinsurgency | 3.00 |
| INAF U6742 | Gender and International Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6762 | Risk Management for UN Crisis ＆ Post-crisis Responses | 3.00 |
| INAF U6784 | The Practice of Economic Sanctions | 1.50 |
| INAF U6785 | Economic and Financial Statecraft | 1.50 |
| INAF U6792 | Foreign Policy Crisis Decision-Making | 3.00 |
| INAF U6796 | War and Captivity | 3.00 |
| INAF U6798 | Central Issues in American Foreign Policy | 3.00 |
| INAF U6802 | International Law | 3.00 |
| INAF U6882 | Yemen at War | 1.50 |
| INAF U6934 | Strategic Communications in International Organizations | 3.00 |
| INAF U8488 | Contemporary Russian Security Policy | 3.00 |
| INAF U8565 | European Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U8812 | Seminar on International Strategy | 3.00 |
| INAF U8876 | Nuclear Proliferation Concepts for Non-Scientists | 1.50 |
| INAF U8877 | Nuclear Weapons in Practice | 1.50 |
| INAF U8878 | Nuclear Theory, Politics, ＆ Strategies | 3.00 |
| INAF S6572 | COMPARATIVE FOREIGN POLICY | 3.00 |
| PUAF U6226 | History for Future Policymakers | 3.00 |
| PUAF U6801 | Negotiation ＆ Conflict Resolution | 3.00 |
| REGN U6230 | EU Policymaking ＆ New Global Challenges | 1.50 |
| REGN U6315 | Politics in the European Union | 3.00 |
| REGN U6536 | Post-Soviet Geopolitics | 1.50 |
| REGN U6562 | Politics of the Caucasus | 3.00 |
| REGN U6652 | Central Asian Politics and Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U6654 | North Korea: State, Society, Diplomacy, and Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U6719 | Middle East Conflicts ＆ Global Security | 3.00 |
| REGN U6855 | Chinese Foreign Policy | 3.00 |
| REGN U6870 | Japanese Foreign Policy | 3.00 |
| REGN U8588 | Modern Iran: From Monarchy to Islamic Republic | 3.00 |
| REGN U8757 | Ukrainian Foreign Policy: Russia, Europe and the US | 3.00 |
| REGN U8760 | Fragmentation of the World: Ukraine and Taiwan as Cases | 1.50 |
| SIPA U6700 | Inside the Situation Room | 3.00 |
Non-SIPA Courses | ||
| LAW L6546 | Global Constitutionalism | 3 |
| LAW L6269 | International Law | 4 |
| POLS GU4434 | ETH POL ACROS POST-SOV EURASIA | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4471 | CHINESE POLITICS | 3.00 |
| POLS GU4472 | JAPANESE POLITICS | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4845 | NAT SECURITY STRAT OF MID EAST | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4848 | ISRAELI NATL SEC STRAT POL DEC | 4.00 |
| POLS GR6411 | COMPARATIVE POLITICS SURVEY I | 4.00 |
| POLS GR6412 | COMPARATV POLITICS SURVEY II | 4.00 |
| POLS G6801 | Theories of International Relations | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8471 | CHINESE POLIT ECON-COMP PERSP | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8832 | THEORIES OF WAR AND PEACE | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8854 | CIVIL ＆ ETHNIC WARS | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8880 | DECISION MAKING AND DIPLOMACY | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4453 | POLITICS IN RUSSIA | 3.00 |
| POLS GU4454 | POLITICL SYSTEMS OF SOUTH ASIA | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4457 | Russian Propaganda Dom ＆ Global Politics | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4496 | CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN POLITICS | 3.00 |
| POLS GU4814 | GLOBAL ENERGY: SECURITY/GEOPOL | 3.00 |
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Points | ||
| INAF U6122 | Viral Videos, Generative AI ＆ Geopolitics in a Changing World | 3.00 |
| INAF U6383 | Foundations of Cyber Conflict | 3.00 |
| INAF U6386 | Policy Dilemmas in Cybersecurity | 3.00 |
| INAF U6509 | Basics of Cybersecurity | 1.50 |
| INAF U6518 | Cybersecurity: Technology, Policy, ＆ Law | 3.00 |
| INAF U6523 | Cyber Risks ＆ Vulnerabilities | 1.50 |
| INAF U6524 | Cybersecurity ＆ Business Risk | 3.00 |
| INAF U6529 | Cyberspace in Strategy and Grand Strategy | 3.00 |
| INAF U6531 | Cyber Conflict and Cybersecurity in the Indo-Pacific | 3.00 |
| INAF U6534 | Cyberspace in Modern Warfare | 3.00 |
| INAF U6546 | Artificial Intelligence and Conflict Prevention: Practical, Policy, and Ethical Dimensions | 3.00 |
| INAF U6906 | Policy Solutions for Online Mis/Disinformation | 3.00 |
| INAF U6908 | Information Operations on Social Media | 1.50 |
| EMPA U6105 | Strategic Management of Information and Communication Technologies for the Public Good | 3.00 |
Non-SIPA Courses | ||
| POLS GU4808 | CYBER STRATEGY ＆ INT'L POLS | 4.00 |
| Code | Title | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Points | ||
| INAF U6284 | The Politics of Defense in the United States | 3.00 |
| INAF U6285 | Methods for Defense Analysis ＆ Assessment | 3.00 |
| INAF U6334 | Conduct of War | 3.00 |
| INAF U6344 | Military Technology Assessment | 3.00 |
| INAF U6383 | Foundations of Cyber Conflict | 3.00 |
| INAF U6430 | East Asian Security | 3.00 |
| INAF U6443 | China and Its Military | 3.00 |
| INAF U6509 | Basics of Cybersecurity | 1.50 |
| INAF U6523 | Cyber Risks ＆ Vulnerabilities | 1.50 |
| INAF U6784 | The Practice of Economic Sanctions | 1.50 |
| INAF U6785 | Economic and Financial Statecraft | 1.50 |
| INAF U6798 | Central Issues in American Foreign Policy | 3.00 |
| INAF U6908 | Information Operations on Social Media | 1.50 |
| INAF U8488 | Contemporary Russian Security Policy | 3.00 |
| INAF U8876 | Nuclear Proliferation Concepts for Non-Scientists | 1.50 |
| REGN U6719 | Middle East Conflicts ＆ Global Security | 3.00 |
Non-SIPA Courses | ||
| POLS GU4845 | NAT SECURITY STRAT OF MID EAST | 4.00 |
| POLS GU4848 | ISRAELI NATL SEC STRAT POL DEC | 4.00 |
| POLS G6210 | Issues and Debates In American Politics I | 4.00 |
| POLS GR8210 | COLLOQ ON POLITICAL BEHAVIOR | 4.00 |
Matriculated students in this program can view their degree audit report on Stellic.
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