International Affairs Master of Arts

Preparing the Next Generation of Global Leaders

We live in dynamic and consequential times. Global challenges continue to reshape how governments cooperate, govern, and innovate. The rules-based international order established with U.S. leadership after World War II is under increasing strain. New geopolitical, economic, and social realities are reconfiguring power relations among and within states. In this shifting landscape, it is more important than ever for a new generation of experts to bring deep knowledge, sophisticated perspectives, and sharp insights to issues on the international agenda.

The Masters of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs delivers a world-class curriculum that prepares you to meet today’s global challenges and those that will define the years and decades ahead. You will graduate ready to think critically, act strategically, and lead with confidence in a rapidly changing world.

Read more about the value and opportunities that come with the MAIA degree when you download a program preview.

Career Preparation for a Global Marketplace

MAIA prepares you to be competitive in a wide range of careers in international affairs, including in

• National and local government (e.g., foreign service, defense, homeland security, intelligence, and public administration);
• Global and regional international organizations (e.g., the United Nations, World Bank, NATO, ASEAN, OAS, African Union);
• Non-governmental and private sectors (e.g., humanitarian and advocacy NGOs, philanthropic organizations, and multinational corporations).

Our graduates are competitive, adaptable, and well-positioned to succeed across sectors. In fact, 87 percent of our graduates are employed within six months of graduation.

MAIA 2025 Employment Report

Location and Unmatched Access

At the Center of Policymaking in Washington, D.C.

Located directly across from the U.S. State Department, the Elliott School sits at the heart of intersecting local, national, and global policy-making. The World Bank, IMF, and OAS are just steps away, with the White House and countless government agencies, NGOs, and think tanks within short walking distance. Home to the U.S. federal government, global institutions, world-class museums and cultural institutions, and more than 175 foreign embassies, MAIA’s home in Washington, DC provides a unique international city experience. 

Professional Networks and Internships 

Our connections, strong alumni base, and networks open doors to exceptional internships and global professional connections.

The D.C. Experience

MAIA: A Strong Academic Foundation with Professional Focus

MAIA’s core curriculum in international politics, history, and economics provides a rigorous, multidisciplinary foundation. Students choose from a wide array of specialized courses that explore critical global issues in depth. As the world evolves, so do our course offerings, ensuring your education remains relevant and forward-looking.

Download our MAIA Program Preview

Customized and Flexible for Your Goals

Tailor your MAIA degree to your interests and career plans by choosing from 14 thematic or regional concentrations. Study full-time or part-time, with the flexibility to switch tracks as your needs change. Starting in fall, spring or summer, and taking classes in the evening, allows you to advance your education while maintaining professional momentum, and to take full advantage of special events and exclusive networking opportunities. Short-term study abroad opportunities deepen your global competence, regional knowledge, and networks worldwide.

Program of Study

Bridging Theory and Practice: The Global Capstone Experience

Theory and practice come together in the MAIA through one-credit skills courses and the Global Capstone Project, a two-semester, four-credit experience. Working individually or in teams, students develop concrete, policy-oriented solutions to real-world challenges faced by governmental or non-governmental organizations in the U.S. or abroad.

Read more about our skills courses and the Global Capstone experience.

World-Class and Diverse Faculty

The Elliott School’s world-class faculty includes leading scholars and experienced policy practitioners with expertise across regions and critical issues. Faculty bring real-world insight into the classroom and connect students to academic, policy-making, intergovernmental, and NGO communities in Washington, DC, and around the world. 

An International and Engaged Student Community

MAIA students come from diverse academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds. Some enter directly from undergraduate studies, others bring professional experience, and many are pursuing career transitions. More than 20 percent of MAIA students are international, representing over 40 countries globally, creating a truly global learning environment. A dedicated MAIA Student Board fosters collaboration and engagement among students, faculty, and program staff.

Academic and Career Support—From Day One

Career coaches and academic advisors from the Elliott School Graduate Student Services team work closely with you and your program directors to align your coursework with your career goals. We provide individualized advising and career planning throughout your studies. The results speak for themselves: 87 percent of our graduates are employed within six months of graduation.

Prerequisites for the MAIA Program

Language

Academic coursework in a modern foreign language, which will prepare students to complete the program’s language requirement*, is required at the time of application. This can be demonstrated by:

• Study that is equal to two semesters of university level coursework or equivalent.
• Completion of formal language training as part of employment (ex. Peace Corps).
• Growing up in a household where the language is spoken.

*Students need to have a solid foundation in a second language before enrolling to be successful in completing the language requirement during the program.

Economics

Course background in economics (micro- and macroeconomics) is a prerequisite to help prepare students to complete the graduate-level economics course(s) required within the M.A. in International Affairs curriculum. Course(s) must be successfully completed through an accredited institution in:

• Introductory Microeconomics
• Introductory Macroeconomics

-OR-

• Principles of Economics (I and II)

Spring applicants must fulfill this prerequisite at the time of application.

Fall applicants may be admitted even if they have not fulfilled the economics prerequisite. In this case, the student is required to take the course(s) at a regionally accredited college/university prior to enrollment at the Elliott School. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the required coursework before classes begin. 

Enrolling students who have completed these courses at the time of application will be required to complete online assessment(s) prior to the start of classes. AP credit cannot be used to meet the Economics Prerequisite. The Elliott School will not accept courses taken through services such as Coursera, Udemy, and other massive open online course (MOOC) services.

Contact Us

The graduate admissions counselors are some of the exceptional resources available to you through the Elliott School of International Affairs. Contact us directly with your requests or questions about the MAIA program. We’ll help you explore the benefits, align this opportunity with your career goals, or compare the MAIA degree with our other master’s programs in international affairs.