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. This program can be completed in 2 years on a full-time basis. Part-time students take longer to complete the program and work with an advisor to craft an individualized academic plan.

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)
  • 33 credits toward the Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy

For the MA in International Relations, students must demonstrate proficiency in one language other than English by completing one of the following:

  • Passing the CAS Foreign Language Placement Exam. See CAS Placement Examinations for dates and registration for the language placement exams. Students must place in the first intermediate level or higher and email their results to ir.masters@nyu.edu and their academic advisor. At the latest, the student should register for the exam the semester prior to their graduation. Please note if the student does not pass the exam prior to graduation, they will need to postpone graduation.
  • Completing an intermediate level language course with a grade of B or better at NYU or another accredited institution. See degree and concentration requirements for specific language requirements. The student must submit an official transcript as proof of completion. Contact ir.masters@nyu.edu to alert them of arriving transcript. The transcript should be addressed to the Program Administrator at the program's address.
  • Language proficiency at the B2 (vantage or upper intermediate) level or C1 (Effective operational proficiency or advanced) level. See Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) chart for level group. See here for more information regarding CEFR. The student must submit the exam result and/or certificate as proof of proficiency. Please email to Program Administrator prior to the final semester of study. 
  • Completing secondary education or an undergraduate degree in an institution where the language of instruction is not English. Concentration students need to demonstrate the language of instruction is in their required concentration language(s). In this case, please contact ir.masters@nyu.edu to confirm language requirement completion before your second year in the program.

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

January, Year 1 [3 credits]

Registration residency: Wagner

Spring, Year 1 [14 credits] 

Registration residency: Wagner

Summer, Year 1

Focus on MA Internship/MPA Professional Experience Requirement

Fall, Year 2 [15.5 credits]

Registration residency: GSAS

Spring, Year 2 [9.5 credits]

Registration residency: GSAS

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 separately to NYU Wagner and to NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science. Once admitted to both, a student will qualify for the dual-degree program. 

Students enrolled in dual master’s degree programs with other NYU schools are not eligible for NYU Wagner Named Fellowships. However, applicants will still be considered for one-time, merit-based scholarships. If awarded, the scholarship will only be applied during the student’s period of residency at NYU Wagner.

For more information about admissions to Wagner or the Program in International Relations, please contact:

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, Associate Program Director, Director of Graduate Studies, and Clinical Professor
    NYU GSAS Program in International Relations
    my397@nyu.edu