Joint and Dual Degrees

The Elliott School of International Affairs offers programs of study leading to a Master of Arts and a Juris Doctor in cooperation with the Law School, a Master of Arts and a Master of Business Administration in cooperation with the School of Business, and a Master of Arts and a Master of Public Health in cooperation with the Milken Institute School of Public Health. For each program, students must apply to and be accepted for admission by both schools.

Students in joint-degree programs must complete the requirements of both degrees before receiving either. A dual-degree program allows students to receive one degree prior to the completion of the second.

Please note that applicants to the JD/MA or MBA/MA will not be considered for Elliott School fellowships, but may be considered for funding from the Law School or Business School respectively. Please contact the Law School or Business School for information on funding opportunities.

M.A. & M.B.A

Joint Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration

The Elliott School of International Affairs and the GW School of Business offer a joint degree program leading to any of the Master of Arts degrees in the Elliott School and the Master of Business administration (MBA). Students must be admitted to both schools separately, and each school must approve the student's application to pursue the joint degree program.

The Elliott School counts up to 10 credits of coursework taken as part of the MBA toward the completion of the electives and/or specialization/concentration requirements of the MA degree with ESIA Program Director approval. The School of Business counts up to 12 credits of coursework completed in the MA program toward completion of the MBA elective requirement. All requirements for both degrees must be fulfilled. As degrees in joint programs are awarded simultaneously, degree requirements for both programs must be met before either degree is awarded.

Students should consult an advisor regarding detailed joint program requirements.

M.A. & J.D.

Joint Master of Arts and Juris Doctor  

The Elliott School of International Affairs cooperates with the George Washington University Law School in offering a joint-degree program leading to a Juris Doctor in combination with specific Master of Arts degrees.

A student must be admitted to both schools separately, and each school must approve the student's application to pursue the joint-degree program. Students must complete all the requirements for each degree. For students in the joint-degree program, the Elliott School counts 12 credits taken in international law courses as part of the J.D. degree toward the completion of the Master of Arts. The Law School, likewise, counts up to 12 credits of coursework completed in the M.A. program toward completion of the law degree. Students can normally complete the two degrees in four years of full-time study. All requirements for both degrees must be completed before either degree can be conferred.

M.A. & M.P.H.

Joint Master of Arts and Master of Public Health

Effective Fall 2022, new students will no longer be accepted to the dual MA/MPH program, as the current version of the program is being phased out.

The Elliott School of International Affairs cooperates with the Milken Institute School of Public Health in offering a dual-degree program leading to a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in combination with any of the Elliott School Master’s of Arts degrees.

The dual-degree program is offered to students who intend to pursue a field in global health as part of their Master of Arts and who select the global health track in their Master of Public Health program. The dual degree allows students to carry 12 credits from the M.P.H. into the M.A. and six credits from the M.A. to the M.P.H., reducing the total credit load to 67 from 85.

A full-time student may be able to complete both degrees within three years if courses are taken in summer terms. Students accepted into the dual-degree program may complete each degree separately.