StudyQA — Master: International Affairs — George Washington University

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Globalization of economic, political, social and cultural activity has created new opportunities and challenges for tomorrow's leaders in international affairs. Rarely have we lived in such an uncertain world, one in which the need for increased international understanding and cooperation has become essential, not simply necessary.

The Elliott School's M.A. program in International Affairs is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the contemporary issues in international affairs while developing an in-depth knowledge of at least one specialized area. Upon completion of the core requirements, students may select courses from one or more major fields based on global issues or regions of the world. Graduates of the program have followed a wide variety of exciting careers in diplomacy and public service, business, security, conflict resolution, development and public health.

Program Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
9-12 credits in core field courses
IAFF 6101	IA Cornerstone
HIST 6030	History and Its Uses in International Affairs
Either
ECON 6280	Survey of International Economics
And three additional elective or major field credits
Or
ECON 6283 & ECON 6284	Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy and Survey of International Macroeconomics and Finance Theory and Policy
12 credits in either a Global Issues or Regional Focus major field (as outlined below)
9-12 credits in electives
May include up to 6 credits of foreign language study, a second field of expertise, or other relevant course work
Students are strongly encouraged to take IAFF 6501 (or its equivalent)
3 credits in skills courses
Skill-based professional workshops (1 credit each)
4 credits in capstone course sequence
IAFF 6898 & IAFF 6899	Capstone Workshop and Capstone Course
Thesis option
Three credits of electives may be used to pursue a thesis. To propose a thesis, a student must have a GPA of a least a 3.5 after completing 20 credit hours in the M.A. program. The thesis subject must be approved in advance by a faculty member who has agreed to direct the thesis, a second faculty member who will servce as an additional reader, and the Program Director. Thesis requirements are outlined in full in the Graduate Bulletin. Students must take an additional professional skills course (total of 4 skills courses) to complete their degree through this option

Global Issues Major Fields

Conflict and Conflict Resolution Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
IAFF 6171	Introduction to Conflict Resolution
Electives
9 additional credits from the following:
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (International Law and the Use of Force)
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (Reinventing the United Nations)
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (National Security & Humanitarian Law)
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (US Foreign Policy and International Organizations)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Conflict Prevention and Early Warning)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Insurgency and Counterinsurgency)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (International Peacekeeping)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Politics of Peace Agreements)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Security Challenges in Africa)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Stabilization and Peacebuilding)
IAFF 6318	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Political and Ethnic Conflict in South Asia)
PSC 6476	The Arab-Israeli Conflict
Up to two relevant courses in the GW Law School (requires permission from the Law School dean of students)*

Global Energy and Environmental Policy Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
IAFF 6158	Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy
ECON 6295	Special Topics
IAFF 6151	Environmental Policy
PPPA 6066	Environmental Policy
Electives
6 credits from the following:
ECON 6237	Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
EMSE 6260	Energy Management
EMSE 6290	Climate Change: Policy, Impact
ENRP 6140	Introduction to Environmental Law
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (Managing the World’s Water)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Climate Change and Community Development)
IAFF 6141	International Science and Technology Policy Cornerstone
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Environmental Security)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Energy Security)
IAFF 6198	Special Topics in International Trade and Investment Policy (International Climate Change Policy)
IAFF 6378	Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Oil: Industry, Economy, Society)
IAFF 6501	Quant Analysis Int'l Aff Prac
IBUS 4900	Special Topics (Global Energy)
LAW 6454	International Environmentl Law
LAW 6455	Int'l Climate Change Law
LAW 6460	Envir&Energy Policy Practicum
PUBH 6122	Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Policies, Politics, and Programs
PUBH 6130	Sustainable Energy and the Environment

Global Gender Policy Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
IAFF 6102	Global Gender Policy
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (Research Methods in Global Gender Issues if not selected as part of core requirement)
Or three one-credit skills classes
IAFF 6502	Professional Skills I
IAFF 6503	Professional Skills II
One additional skills class on a variety of topics, with approval of the program director
No more than a total of four skills courses can be applied to a graduate degree.
Electives
6 additional credits from the following:
ANTH 6501	Gender and Sexuality
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (Research Methods in Global Gender Issues)
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (Women, War, and Peace)
IAFF 6136	Gender and Development
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender, Tourism, and Development)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender, Disaster & Policy)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Violence, Gender & Humanitarian Assistance)
PHIL 6238	Feminist Ethics and Policy Implications
PSYC 8275	Women and Health
SOC 6271	Gender and Society
SOC 6273	The Sex Industry
WSTU 6230	Global Feminisms
Students may take ONE undergraduate class for graduate credit with permission from the program director, academic advisor, and instructor (who must agree to assign additional work) at the graduate level:
IAFF 2190W	Special Topics (Women in Global Politics)
IAFF 3183	Special Topics in Development Policy (Human Trafficking)

Global Health Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
PUBH 6400	Global Health Frameworks
ANTH 6505	Medical Anthropology
Electives
9 additional credits from the following:
GEOG 6223	Seminar: Population and Health
PUBH 6128	Global Environmental and Occupational Health
PUBH 6440	Global Health Economics and Finance
PUBH 6441	Global Health Organizations and Regulations
PUBH 6435	Global Health Program Development and Implementation
PUBH 6436	Global Health Program Management and Leadership
PUBH 6443	Global Health Agreements and Conventions
PUBH 6480	Public Health in Complex Emergencies
PUBH 6482	International Food and Nutrition Policy

International Affairs and Development Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
One of the following:
IAFF 6122	Development Policy and Practice
ECON 6250	Survey of Economic Development
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Poverty Alleviation and Bottom Up Development)
Electives
9 additional credits from the following:
Culture, Society and Development
ANTH 6301	The Anthropology of Development
ANTH 6508	Ethics and Cultural Property
ANTH 6507	Nationalism and Ethnicity
ANTH 6391	Anthropology and Contemporary Problems (Refugees and Displaced People)
ANTH 6505	Medical Anthropology
ANTH 6501	Gender and Sexuality
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Indigenous People and Development)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender and Development)
ANTH 6591	Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
ANTH 6591	Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
ANTH 6702	Issues in Latin American Anthropology
GEOG 6223	Seminar: Population and Health
IAFF 6358	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Indigenous Social Movements)
SOC 6273	The Sex Industry
Economic Development Policy
ECON 6221	Economics in Policy Analysis
ECON 6237	Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
ECON 6250	Survey of Economic Development
ECON 6269	Economy of China I
ECON 6270	Economy of China II
ECON 6271	Economy of Japan
ECON 6283	Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy
ECON 6284	Survey of International Macroeconomics and Finance Theory and Policy
ECON 6285	Economic Development of Latin America
ECON 8358	Urban Economics
IAFF 6358	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Political Economy in Latin America)
PSC 6373	Political Economy of Industrializing Asia
Gender and Development
ANTH 6501	Gender and Sexuality
GEOG 6223	Seminar: Population and Health
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender and Development)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender, Disaster and Policy)
SOC 6273	The Sex Industry
WSTU 6230	Global Feminisms
WSTU 6270	Seminar: Selected Topics (Global/Domestic Labor Studies)
WSTU 6270	Seminar: Selected Topics (Gender and Islamic Activism)
Global Health
ANTH 6302	Issues in Development
ANTH 6505	Medical Anthropology
ANTH 6591	Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
GEOG 6223	Seminar: Population and Health
PUBH 6400	Global Health Frameworks (strongly recommended)
PUBH 6411	Global Health Qualitative Research Methods
PUBH 6440	Global Health Economics and Finance
PUBH 6442	Comparative Global Health Systems
PUBH 6443	Global Health Agreements and Conventions
PUBH 6480	Public Health in Complex Emergencies
PUBH 6482	International Food and Nutrition Policy
Humanitarian Assistance
ANTH 6505	Medical Anthropology
EMSE 6305	Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6320	International Disaster Management
EMSE 6325	Medical and Public Health Emergency Management
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Violence, Gender, Humanitarian Assistance)
LAW 6540	Refugee and Asylum Law **
Institutions and Politics
PSC 6230	Comparative Govt & Politics 1
PSC 6336	Political Economy of Developing Areas
PSC 6373	Political Economy of Industrializing Asia
PSC 6383	Comparative Politics of Latin America
PSC 6439	International Political Economy
PSC 6442	Politics and Practice of International Institutions
PSC 6476	The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSC 8334	Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective
PSC 8337	Theories of Political Development
PSC 8388	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Development in Africa)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Democracy and Governance Development)
International Business
IBUS 6404	New Global Competitive Framewk
IBUS 6401	International Business Strategy
IBUS 6402	Managing in Developing Countries
IBUS 6301	International Business Finance
MBAD 6241	Global Perspectives
MGT 6291	Entrepreneurship
International Development Management
PPPA 6057	International Development Administration
PPPA 6058	International Development NGO Management
PPPA 6059	International Development Management Processes and Tools
PPPA 6016	Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation
International Education
EDUC 6601	International and Comparative Education
EDUC 6602	Regional Studies in International Education
EDUC 6610	Programs and Policies in International Education
EDUC 6620	Strategies and Analysis in International Education
EDUC 6640	Selected Topics in International Education
EDUC 6650	Education and National Development
Natural Resources and the Environment
ECON 6237	Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
EMSE 6220	Environmental Management
GEOG 6223	Seminar: Population and Health
GEOG 6244	Urban Sustainability
GEOG 6261	Geographical Perspectives on Latin America
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Climate Change and Sustainable Development)
IAFF 6151	Environmental Policy
LAW 6454	International Environmentl Law **
PPPA 6066	Environmental Policy
SMPP 6210	Strategic Environmental Management

International Economic Affairs Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
Students must take ECON 6283 and ECON 6284 to satisfy the core field requirement
Students must demonstrate proficiency in introductory statistics by having taken a satisfactory undergraduate course an equivalent course at USDA or STAT 1051, 1053, 1111 or IAFF 6501
At least 6 credits from the following:
PPPA 6014	Economics in Policy Analysis
PPPA 6015	Benefit-Cost Analysis
ECON 6237	Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
ECON 6250	Survey of Economic Development
ECON 6255	Economics of Technological Change
ECON 6269	Economy of China I
ECON 6271	Economy of Japan
ECON 6285	Economic Development of Latin America
ECON 6292	Topics in International Trade (Economics of U.S. Trade Policy)
ECON 6292	Topics in International Trade (Technology Trade & the Multinational Firm)
ECON 6293	Topics in International Finance
ECON 6295	Special Topics
ECON 6295	Special Topics
Electives
Remaining credits selected from the following:
IAFF 6142	Technology Creation/Diffusion
IAFF 6198	Special Topics in International Trade and Investment Policy
IAFF 6198	Special Topics in International Trade and Investment Policy
IAFF 6318	Special Topics in Asian Studies
IAFF 6358	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Migration, Remittances, and Development in Latin America)
IAFF 6378	Special Topics in Middle East Studies
IBUS 6202	Regional Strategy for Multinationals
IBUS 6297	International Management Experience
IBUS 6301	International Business Finance
IBUS 6405	Legal Aspects of International and Multinational Business
PSC 6439	International Political Economy
Recommended skills courses
IAFF 6502	Professional Skills I (Analyzing International Economic Data)
IAFF 6502	Professional Skills I (Developing Trade Policy Options)
IAFF 6502	Professional Skills I (Financial Statement Analysis)
IAFF 6502	Professional Skills I (Micro-Enterprise Lending)
IAFF 6502	Professional Skills I (Nuts and Bolts of U.S. Trade Policy)
IAFF 6503	Professional Skills II (The Art and Practice of Global Investing)
IAFF 6503	Professional Skills II (Negotiating Skills)
IAFF 6503	Professional Skills II (Understanding the U.S. Federal Budget)
MBAD 6211	Financial Accounting
MBAD 6234	Financial Management
Only one MBAD skills course can be used within the International Affairs degree

International Law and Organizations Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (International Organizations and International Norm)
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (National Security & Humanitarian Law)
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (Reinventing the United Nations)
IAFF 6118	Special Topics in International Affairs (US Foreign Policy and International Organizations)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Care of Children in Complex Emergencies)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Global Food Security)
IAFF 6138	Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Non-State Actors)
IAFF 6186	Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Politics of Peace Agreements)
IAFF 6198	Special Topics in International Trade and Investment Policy (International Climate Change Policy)
IAFF 6338	Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (European Union Foreign Policy)
IAFF 6338	Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (Transatlantic Relations in the 21st Century)
IAFF 6999	Thesis
LAW 6386	**
LAW 6520	International Law **
LAW 6534	Law of the European Union **
PSC 6439	International Political Economy
PSC 6444	Politics of International Law

International Security Studies Concentration

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required
PSC 6349	International Security Politics
Electives
9 credits from the following:
Courses are grouped into issues areas to help guide students in choosing appropriate coursework; students do not necessarily need to select one concentration, however, what is important is that there is a logic and believable narrative to their course choices. Students should consult their major field faculty advisor to help with this determination.
Transnational Security Issues
ANTH 6507	Nationalism and Ethnicity
IAFF 6158	Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy (Cyber Security)
IAFF 6163	Transnational Security

4-Year Bachelor Degree
Completed Online Application: With $75 non-refundable application fee.
Current Résumé: Uploaded through the online application system.
Three Letters of Recommendation: From professional and/or academic references.
Statement of Career Objective: In no more than 500 words, describe your career objectives and how the program will help you meet those objectives.
Include a photocopy of the biographic/identification page of your passport with your application.
Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual band score below 6.0.
TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based.
PTE Academic: 68.
Official GMAT Score or GRE Score