MPA, International Development Policy and Management Specialization-MA, International Relations
To address the complex, pressing international affairs issues of our time, you’ll need an education that lives at the nexus of international development and international relations. At NYU, you can earn both an MPA with an International Development Policy and Management specialization and an MA in International Relations in just two years of full-time study. You’ll gain practical policy, management, and analysis skills and perspectives from a professional degree while also building a deeper and comprehensive understanding of international relations and politics. You’ll benefit from a unique cross-exposure, preparing you for a broad array of careers in international affairs in the United States or around the world.
Total credits required: 57
- 24 credits toward the Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations
- 10 Core credits
- International Relations (INTRL-GA 1700, 4 credits), Global and International History (INTRL-GA 1600, 4 credits), and Writing for International Affairs (INTRL-GA 3992, 2 credits)
- 4 Constrained Elective credits
- Qualitative Analysis I (INTRL-GA 1220), Regional and Comparative Politics (INTRL-GA 1450), or The World Economy (INTRL-GA 1900)
- 8 Elective credits
- 2 Master’s Thesis Seminar credits (INTRL-GA 4000)
- 10 Core credits
- 33 credits toward the Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy
- 15 Core credits
- 9 International Development Management & Policy Specialization credits
- 6 Elective credits
- For Core and Specialization courses, and a sampling of Elective courses, please visit the International Development Specialization checksheet.
- 3 Capstone credits
For the MA in International Relations, students must demonstrate proficiency in one language other than English by completing one of the following:
- Passing the GSAS foreign language proficiency examination
- Completing an intermediate-level foreign language course with a grade of B or better at NYU or another accredited institution. Students must submit an official transcript as proof of completion. While an undergraduate course may be used to satisfy the language requirement, credit and GPA impact from an undergraduate course may not apply toward either graduate degree.
- Completing secondary education or undergraduate degree in an institution where language of instruction is not English.
MPA students who enter NYU Wagner with less than two years of full-time, degree-relevant experience are required to satisfy the MPA's Professional Experience Requirement (PER) prior to beginning Capstone. In addition, all IR students are required to satisfy the MA program's Internship Requirement.
The same experience can be used to satisfy both the MA's Internship Requirement and the MPA's Professional Experience Requirement, as long it satisfies each program's fieldwork requirements as outlined via the links above.
MA Thesis Requirement
Students must write an MA thesis on a discrete piece of research. Students must enroll in the MA Thesis Seminar, INTRL-GA 4000 (2 points) in their fourth semester. The course is designed to provide structure and guidance to students writing a thesis. The thesis will be an academic work of 10,000-15,000 words dealing with an important and timely topic in international relations.
MPA Capstone Requirement
All Wagner MPA students are required to complete a capstone project. Each capstone project provides students with a year-long consulting or quantitative research project to resolve a problem or conduct an analysis for a public service organization.
Sample Schedule
Total Credits Required: 57 (33 for the MPA; 24 for the MA)
Key to Course Codes
-GA = Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) course (MA, International Relations)
-GP = Wagner Graduate School of Public Service course (MPA, Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy--International specialization)
Fall, Year 1 [15 credits]
Registration residency: Wagner
- INTRL-GA 1700 International Relations (4 credits)
- INTRL-GA 3992 Writing for International Affairs (2 credits)
- CORE-GP 1022 Introduction to Public Policy (3 credits)
- CORE-GP 1018 Microeconomics (3 credits)
- CORE-GP 1011 Statistical Methods (3 credits)
- Students who would prefer a lighter first-term plan may choose to move CORE-GP 1011 Statistical Methods to the summer term, as long as enrollment in an intensive quantitative course over the summer would not interfere with their professional development plans (e.g., satisfying the MPA's Professional Experience Requirement and the MA's Internship requirement with a full-time summer position).
January, Year 1 [3 credits]
Registration residency: Wagner
Spring, Year 1 [14 credits]
Registration residency: Wagner
- INTRL-GA 1600 Global and International History (4 credits)
- Choose one of the following: (4 credits)
- CORE-GP 1020 Management and Leadership (3 credits)
- CORE-GP 1021 Financial Management (3 credits)
Summer, Year 1
Focus on MA Internship/MPA Professional Experience Requirement
Fall, Year 2 [15.5 credits]
Registration residency: GSAS
- International Relations Elective (example): INTRL-GA 1750 Natural Resource Conflict (4 credits)
- International Relations Elective (example): INTRL-GA 1800 International Development (4 credits)
- PADM-GP 2202 Politics of International Development (3 credits)
- PADM-GP 2203 Economics of International Development (3 credits)
- CAP-GP 3226 Advanced Projects in International Development Policy and Management I (1.5 credits)
Spring, Year 2 [9.5 credits]
Registration residency: GSAS
- INTRL-GA 4000 Master’s Thesis Seminar (2 credits)
- CAP-GP 3227 Advanced Projects in International Development Policy and Management II (1.5 credits)
- MPA General Elective coursework (6 credits) -- Consider courses in the following Wagner focus areas: Growth, Sustainability, and Inequality; Organizations and Management in International Contexts; International Finance; and Health, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Aid.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Students generally enroll full-time, taking courses within the MPA, International Policy and Management Specialization and MA, International Relations programs concurrently. Students who waive a required course will take an elective in its place. Students graduate and receive a diploma from each school after successful completion of the dual-degree requirements for both degrees.
ADMISSIONS
Applicants are required to apply to NYU Wagner and to NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science, Program in International Relations. Once admitted to both, a student will qualify for the dual-degree program. For more information about admissions to Wagner or the Program in International Relations, please contact:
-
NYU Wagner Admissions
wagner.admissions@nyu.edu | 212.998.7414 -
NYU GSAS Program in International Relations
ir.masters@nyu.edu | 212.998.3799
Students apply separately to each school and join the MPA, International Development Policy and Management Specialization-MA, International Relations dual-degree program once they are admitted to both schools. Students enrolled in dual master's degree programs with other NYU schools are not eligible for NYU Wagner Named Fellowship programs.
ADVISEMENT
Students will work with advisors from both schools to carefully choose coursework that takes into consideration their unique academic and professional goals. The many sources of advisement that each school has to offer includes faculty advisors, program advisors, peer advisors, and NYU Wagner's Office of Career Services. Students leave the dual-degree program well supported and equipped with the frameworks and analytical skills that will serve them well in the complex and changing intersection of sectors and roles their careers may span.
For dual-degree program advisement, please contact:
-
Scott Statland, Associate Director, Advisement & Student Services
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
scott.statland@nyu.edu | 212.992.8717 -
Muserref Yetim, Clinical Associate Professor
NYU GSAS Program in International Relations
my397@nyu.edu