International Affairs

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Local:$ 33.8 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 33.8 k / Year(s) Deadline: Jan 7, 2025
StudyQA ranking:3318 Duration:

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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

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