International Relations and Security Studies (MA)

Programs are approved by the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs of the Hellenic Republic.

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Contact the Admissions Office

Call +30 211 999 5309 (office) or email athensadmissions@webster.edu

or Admissions Director, Margarita Lazarou, at margaritalazarou@webster.edu

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200,000+

Alumni from our Global Campuses

Navigate Global Complexity From One of the World's Oldest Cities

The Master of Arts in International Relations and Security Studies at Webster Athens provides a distinct vantage point for analyzing the forces shaping our world. From the cultural vantage point of the historic city of Athens, the program enables students to dissect the legal, historical and socioeconomic factors defining modern global politics.

Our curriculum goes beyond the classroom, preparing you to lead in an era of rapid geopolitical change. Whether you are exploring the dynamics of global governance or the integration of culture into international security, you will gain the expertise required for high-impact roles in government agencies, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and multinational corporations.

The Webster Athens Advantage

The master's degree in International Relations and Security Studies at Webster University is designed for the modern professional. By taking advantage of Webster’s expansive global footprint, students can study at our campuses worldwide, gaining a truly international education.

Expert Faculty

Learn from noted scholars and active practitioners who bring real-world security and policy experience into the classroom.

Academic Flexibility

Our program offers the flexibility to study on a full-time or part-time basis, allowing you to balance your degree with your professional life.

Strategic Foundation

Master the nuances of international law, humanitarian issues and structural security, providing a robust foundation for those pursuing a PhD or high-level leadership.

Webster students having fun among Athens ruins

Webster Athens graduates in cap and gown

Career Outcomes and Professional Pathways

Our graduates transition into influential roles across the public and private sectors. Webster alumni are making a tangible difference at organizations such as Meds for Kids, Boeing, ABB and Enterprise, as well as within government ministries and international legal practices.

Career titles our graduates can work toward include:

National Security Analyst
Policy Advisor
International Program Manager
Security and Business Ethics Research Analyst
Intelligence Analyst
Foreign Service Officer

Webster's Master of Arts in International Relations and Security Studies Program

The master’s degree in International Relations and Security Studies at Webster University is unique for its integration of academic rigor and global mobility. Our students don’t just study international affairs; they live them. By leveraging Webster’s expansive global footprint, you have the opportunity to study abroad at our campuses worldwide, gaining firsthand experience in different geopolitical environments. Throughout your journey, you are mentored by faculty who are not only noted scholars but also active practitioners, bringing current security insights from the field directly into the Athens classroom.

Students who complete the MA in International Relations and Security Studies will be equipped with the following skills and expertise:

Master the Global Landscape: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of various subfields within international relations.
Map Strategic Threats: Identify key actors, issues, threats, institutions and legal frameworks in both national and international security contexts.
Conduct High-Level Research: Exhibit strong research skills, utilizing qualitative and quantitative methodologies to answer questions and solve complex problems.
Analyze and Solve Policy Challenges: Analyze complex international security issues and propose evidence-based solutions.
Communicate With Impact: Communicate effectively in written form, tailored to diverse audiences, including policymakers, security experts and academic peers.
Leverage AI and Technology: Apply AI tools and technologies to enhance research capabilities and effectively communicate analytical insights to stakeholders in the fields of international relations and security.

The MA in International Relations and Security Studies requires 36 credit hours (12 courses) including 12 credit hours of core courses, 18 credit hours of specialization track courses and 6 credit hours of electives.

IRSS 5000 Introduction to International Relations and Security Studies (3 hours)
IRSS 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives (3 hours)
IRSS 5200 Security Policy Development and Artificial Intelligence (3 hours)
IRSS 6000 Capstone (3 hours)
or IRSS 6250 Thesis* (6 hours)
or IRSS 6300 International Relations and Security Studies Lab (3 hours)

International Relations Track (18 credit hours): Choose 4 courses from the international relations cluster and 2 courses from comparative cluster.

International Relations Cluster
- IRSS 5400 International Political Economy (3 hours)
- IRSS 5510 Theories of International Relations (3 hours)
- IRSS 5530 International Law (3 hours)
- IRSS 5540 International Organizations (3 hours)
- IRSS 5550 War and Diplomacy (3 hours)
- IRSS 5590 International Security (3 hours)
- IRSS 5860 Issues in International Relations and Security Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5870 International Law and Politics of Outer Space (3 hours)
- IRSS 6500 Internship (3-6 hours)
Comparative Cluster
- IRSS 5625 Middle East/West Asia Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5635 Western European Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5645 Asian Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5655 African Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5665 South and Central Asia Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5675 Central and Eastern European Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5685 Latin America Area Studies (3 hours)

Security Studies Track (18 credit hours): Choose 4 courses from one cluster and two courses from one of the remaining clusters.

International and National Security Cluster
- IRSS 5400 International Political Economy (3 hours)
- IRSS 5560 U.S. Foreign Policy (3 hours)
- IRSS 5590 International Security (3 hours)
- IRSS 5625 Middle East Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5635 Western European Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5645 Asian Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5655 African Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5665 South and Central Asia Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5675 Central and Eastern European Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5685 Latin America Area Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5860 Issues in International Relations and Security Studies (3 hours)
- IRSS 5890 Terrorism in World Politics (3 hours)
- IRSS 6500 Internship (3-6 hours)
Cybersecurity Operations Cluster
- CSSS 5000 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 hours)
- CSSS 5120 Cybersecurity Infrastructures (3 hours)
- CSSS 5130 Cybersecurity Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence (3 hours)
- CSSS 5140 Cybersecurity Strategic Operations (3 hours)
- CSSS 5160 Encryption Methods and Techniques (3 hours)
- CSSS 5210 Cybersecurity Law and Policy (3 hours)
- CSSS 5220 Cybersecurity Threat Detection (3 hours)
- CSSS 5250 Use and Protection of Space Assets (3 hours)
Criminal Justice Cluster
- CRIM 5050 Organization and Administration of Criminal Justice (3 hours)
- CRIM 5060 Policing and Law Enforcement (3 hours)
- CRIM 5070 Institutional and Community Corrections (3 hours)
- LEGL 5450 American Constitutional Law (3 hours)

Any additional graduate courses, totaling 6 credit hours.

Learn More

Founded in 1915, Webster is an independent nonprofit university with students studying at campus locations in North America, Europe and Asia, and in a robust online learning environment. With its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Webster University’s network of faculty, staff, students and alumni forge powerful bonds with each other and their communities around the globe. The University is committed to engaged learning experiences and empowering our students to become catalysts for change. In 2014, Webster Athens joined our network to bring the best of American education with the only fully owned and controlled (academically and financially) accredited campus of a U.S. university in Greece.