Degree Requirements

M.A. in International Affairs -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• A core field (nine to 15 credits) taken in the first year, which provides students with a fundamental understanding of key political, economic and historical issues in international affairs
• A one-credit capstone course
• A major field (twelve credits) in one of the following areas:
  • Global Issues Fields:
    • Conflict and Conflict resolution
    • International Security Studies
    • International Economic Affairs
    • International Affairs and Development
    • International Public Health
    • Technology and International Affairs
    • International Law and Organization
    • U.S. Foreign Policy
  • Regional Fields
    • Asia
    • Europe and Eurasia (including Russia)
    • Middle East
    • Latin America
• Background preparation: candidates must be proficient in a modern foreign language.

  For more information please click here.

M.A. in Asian Studies -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• Three fields of study, two of which (six to 12 credits each) must be selected from the following:
  
  • Modern Asian History
  • Contemporary Asian Politics And Society
  • International Relations Of Asia
  • Asian Economies
    
• A one-credit capstone course
• Professional specialization field (six credits)
• Electives (six or more credits)
• Background preparation: two years (or the equivalent) of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or another approved East Asian language.

  For more information please click here.

Master of International Studies -

• 28 credit hour, dual-degree program completed at an Elliott School partner university abroad, including:
  
• A core field (nine credits)
• A one-credit capstone course
• Major field courses (12 credits) in:
  
  • Conflict And Conflict Resolution
  • International Affairs And Development
  • International Economic Affairs
  • International Law And Organizations
  • Global Health
  • International Security Studies
  • Technology Policy And International Affairs
  • U.S. Foreign Policy
    
• Electives (six credits)
• Background preparation: candidates must be proficient in a modern foreign language

M.A. in International Trade and Investment Policy -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• A core field (15 credits)
• A one-credit capstone course
• A major field (12 credits) which must be selected from the following:
  
  • International Economic Policy Analysis
  • International Business
  • Development Economics
    
• An elective field (11 credits)
• Background preparation: two years (or the equivalent) of a modern foreign language and a full-year course in introductory economics (one semester each of micro- and macroeconomics); intermediate micro- and macroeconomics and one semester of statistics highly recommended.

  For more information please click here.

M.A. in International Developmental Studies -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• Core courses (10 credits), six concentration courses in a focused specialization (18 credits), and four analytical courses in policy analysis, management, economics and research methods (12 credits)
• Background preparation: a bachelor's degree in a social science, although students from other disciplines with a demonstrated interest in development may apply, introductory micro- and macroeconomics courses, and at least two years of study (or equivalent) of a modern foreign language. Students with work experience in development-related fields and with developing country experience will be given special consideration.

  For more information please click here.

M.A. in International Science and Technology Policy -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• A core field (minimum of 15 credits), an elective field (minimum of nine credits), a seven-credit analytical competency requirement, and a three-credit research project
• Background preparation: strong analytical skills and a demonstrated interest in policy issues with significant science or technology dimensions; no foreign language requirement.

  For more information please click here.

M.A. in Security Policy Studies -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• A core field (nine credits) in the national security and defense policy-making process
• A three-credit capstone course
• Two concentrations (18-21 credits) selected from the following:
  
  • Transnational Security Issues
  • Intelligence
  • U.S. National Security Policy And Process
  • Political Psychology
  • Defense Policy And Defense Programs
  • Conflict And Conflict Resolution
  • Homeland Security
  • Strategic Concepts And Military History
  • Science, Technology, And National Security
  • Security and Development
  • A regional field, such as:
    
    • East Asia
    • the Middle East
    • Latin America
      
• An upper level economics course (three credits)
• Four one-credit skills courses
• Background preparation: a full-year course in introductory economics (one semester each of micro- and macroeconomics); two years (or the equivalent) of a modern foreign language or one semester of statistics.

  For more information please click here.

M.A. in Global Communication -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• Core courses (18 credits) in Strategic Communication, International Relations, Quantitative Methods, and International Economics
• A one-credit capstone course
• A specialization chosen from:
  
  • Conflict and Conflict Resolution
  • U.S. National Security Policy and Process
  • Communication and Information Technology in International Affairs
  • Global Health, International Economic Affairs
  • International Development
  • International Law and Organizations
  • U.S. Foreign Policy
  • Asian Studies, European and Eurasian Studies
  • Middle Eastern Studies
  • Latin American and Hemispheric Studies
    
• Background preparation: candidates must be proficient in a modern foreign language.
  

  For more information please click here.

M.A. in European and Eurasian Studies -

• 40 credit hours, including:
  
• A core field (15 credits) selected from the following:
  
  • International Economics
  • Political Economy And Business
  • International Organization, Diplomacy And Globalization
  • International Security Policy
  • Science, Technology And International Affairs Field
  • International Education
  • International Health Policy And Programs
  • European And Eurasian Cultures
  • A cornerstone course (three credits), a course in international economics (three credits), a professional specialization (nine credits), a skills workshop (one or two credits), elective courses (five or six credits), a capstone course (three credits), and a thesis option (six credits)
  • Background preparation: two years (or the equivalent) of a major European language (or Russian).

    For more information please click here.

  M.A. in International Policy and Practice -

  • 27 credit hours, including:
    
  • A special seminar on dynamics of international affairs (three credits), an international or comparative politics course (three credits), an international economics course (three credits), and six elective courses (18 credits)
  • Background preparation: candidates must be mid-career professionals who already possess an advanced degree or have a B.A. plus eight years of relevant work experience; no foreign language requirement

  M.A. in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies -

  • For information lease click here.

  International Partners Master's Degree (MIS) -

  • For information please click here.

  Joint Degrees

• J.D./M.A. for all M.A. programs with The George Washington University Law School.

• M.A./M.B.A. in International Business (for International Affairs, International Trade and Investment Policy, Asian Studies, European Studies, and Latin American and Hemispheric Studies) with the GW School of Business.

• M.A./M.P.H. with The George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services.

  Core Courses

  Skills Courses

  The Elliott School has pioneered a professional skills-based graduate curriculum, which helps students to develop the fundamental skills they need for success in internationally-oriented careers. This curriculum complements more traditional courses that provide substantive background and theoretical insights on international trends and issues. This curriculum also develops abilities to analyze and forecast international events; formulate as well as advocate policies and strategies; and lead, negotiate and work in various cross-cultural environments. In addition, it provides students with practical and technical knowledge about the way particular agencies or industries work.

  Capstone Project

  At the conclusion of our graduate programs, all graduate students participate in a capstone project in which they address a policy problem by applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during their course of study.

  Study Abroad

  Students can complement their studies with study abroad at one of 18 universities across the globe. Students from the partner universities can also study at the Elliott School. The partners are: University of Sydney, Australia; Universidad Torcuato di Tella, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florian