international relations phd washington dc

International Studies, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Nitze school of advanced international studies.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is for individuals who have already earned a Master's degree (or have other substantial research experience) and seek to further their expertise as scholars and practitioners of international relations. PhD students work closely with faculty advisors to develop an academic plan that best supports their dissertation research. Throughout the program students develop a comprehensive understanding of qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, international relations, economics, and regional studies.

PhD students begin their studies in Washington, DC. During the dissertation stage, students can explore opportunities to study at SAIS Europe, the Hopkins Nanjing Center, or at other prominent global institutions.

Johns Hopkins SAIS graduates are sought after by employers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Their knowledge of economics, analytical abilities, regional expertise, diplomatic skills, international experience, language proficiency, as well as capacity to apply theory to real-world problems, give students a distinct professional advantage.

PhD Fields of Study

PhD students will have one of the following concentrations (either a policy or region):

International Policy Areas

• American Foreign Policy
• Energy, Resources and Environment
• Global Theory and History
• International Development
• International Relations
• International Political Economy
• Strategic Studies

Regions of the World 

• African Studies
• Canadian Studies
• China Studies
• European and Eurasian Studies
• Japan Studies
• Korea Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Middle East Studies
• South Asia Studies
• Southeast Asia Studies

Faculty Advisors

Our faculty experts and scholars are internationally recognized for their scholarship, experience, and quality of teaching. They are award-winning scholars, authors, diplomats, thinkers, and senior ranking officials who are authorities on international economics and international relations and who have expertise in contemporary issues around the world.

All PhD students have a tenured, faculty advisor. The advisor has primary responsibility for coordinating the candidate’s research agenda. Another senior member of the dissertation committee or “second reader” monitors the student’s research throughout the dissertation project. Both the faculty advisor and the second reader are to be substantively involved in the student’s preparation of the prospectus and the dissertation.

While the student will work actively with the first and second readers to prepare a dissertation prospectus, the student should also consult with the three supporting committee members throughout the doctoral research.

Prospective and current PhD students are encouraged to use the Faculty Directory to identify individuals to approach about involvement in their research and dissertation.

Degree Requirements

Campus: Washington, DC

Duration: Four to nine academic years (average 5.5), Full-time

Course delivery: In-person

PhD Program Structure

The PhD is divided into pre-dissertation (resident) and dissertation (non-resident) stages.

In order to earn the degree, students must fulfill all requirements and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.33 or above.

Pre-dissertation, Resident Stage

Pre-dissertation status lasts up to two years for students who have completed the Master of Arts of International Relations (MAIR) degree at Johns Hopkins SAIS and up to three years for those without an MAIR degree from the school. Students complete coursework, comprehensive exams, and defend the dissertation prospectus.

Pre-dissertation students are on-campus full-time taking courses, attending seminars, and/or approved independent study. During this time students are required to take Research Methodology, Statistics , and Econometrics in addition to coursework agreed to by a faculty advisory. PhD students must successfully pass Theories and Methods of Qualitative Political Research and Research Design and Causal Inference, plus two other research training courses approved by their faculty advisor.  Prerequisites for Research Design and Causal Inference include Statistics for Data Analysis (waiver exam available) and Econometrics.

Within six months of passing the second comprehensive exam, students must prepare a written prospectus of the dissertation and present it in a formal defense that is open to members of the university faculty.

Dissertation, Non-Resident Stage

Students advance to the dissertation stage after successfully defending a prospectus and are not required to be on campus, however are still considered full-time status. Students should defend the dissertation within five years of the prospectus defense.

Comprehensive Exams

PhD students must select two examination areas (with no more than one regional area) from among the following :

• Comparative Politics
• Conflict Management
• Energy, Resources & Environment
• International Law
• International Political Economy/ Comparative Political Economy
• International Relations Theory
• Africa Studies
• Asia Studies (China, Korea, Japan, South Asia, Southeast Asia)

Comprehensive exams from other divisions of Johns Hopkins University may be considered on a case by case basis.

PhD Dissertation

At the time of application, students will propose a research topic they would like to pursue for their doctoral dissertation. During their course of study, students will hone this topic in consultation with a faculty advisor and defend a prospectus that outlines the dissertation’s research questions, mission, and methodology.

The PhD dissertation must be an original and analytical treatment of a subject of conceptual importance that involves the creation of new knowledge and not simply the master of existing knowledge. To conduct the research for, write, and defend the dissertation, a candidate will have a period of five years from the defense of the prospectus. It is understood that in fields with exceptionally difficult languages the process may take longer.

Master of Arts in International Relations

Create the Future You Envision with a Master's in International Relations

Request free program info, a world-renowned international relations master's degree.

Gain hands-on expertise in international relations from the experts at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Spend your first year studying at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy, or spend both years in Washington, D.C. — the epicenter of foreign affairs and policy — at our new location just steps away from the U.S. Capitol.

94% of the two-year Master of Arts in International Relations Class of 2021 were employed, pursuing fellowships or internships, or had gone on for further study within six months of graduation.

Explore Your Future at SAIS Today

Do You Aspire to be an International Relations Expert ?

As you strive to lead on the world stage, you will face many challenges. That's why at Johns Hopkins SAIS, we prepare you to overcome those obstacles. Develop tangible skills through rigorous coursework tailored to your personal and professional goals. Challenge yourself to think critically and execute hard skills at the top level of organizations that influence international relations and policy.

The Master of Arts in International Relations was designed for:

• People who want to make a difference in the world.
• Individuals who are looking to gain hands-on expertise in international relations from influential experts.
• Professionals looking to build a resume that allows for career advancement or a career change to organizations involved in foreign affairs and policy.

Develop Focused Expertise in Your Area of Interest

All students will study core concepts of leadership, decision-making, data analytics, economics, geopolitics, and research methods. Further expand your global expertise by exploring both a functional and regional focus area that aligns with your personal and professional goals.

• Development, Climate, and Sustainability
• International Economics and Finance
• Security, Strategy, and Statecraft
• Governance, Politics, and Society
• Technology and Innovation
• The Americas
• Europe and Eurasia
• The Middle East
• United States

Collaborate with Foreign Policy Experts

The reputation of Johns Hopkins SAIS as one of the world's most respected international relations programs attracts the best students and faculty from around the globe. Learn theory and applied practice that informs international relations as you work with world-class experts renowned for their scholarship, influence, networks, and practical experience. Supplement your studies with professional training that will prepare you for your future career in international relations.

Go beyond the classroom and gain real-world, cutting-edge expertise needed to address today's most pressing global challenges.

Become a SAIS student and enjoy:

• Guest lectures and presentations
• Study and Career Treks
• Staff Rides
• Practicum Project Courses
• Access to Internships
• Professional Skills Workshops

Tailor Your Experience

Advance Your Career

Johns Hopkins SAIS graduates have the competitive edge in the workplace thanks to their exposure to advanced quantitative training and our expert faculty. Starting salaries vary greatly depending on geographic location, employment sector, and functional area within the sector.

Recent Employers

• U.S. Department of State
• Climate Policy Initiative
• United Nations

Compensation by Sector

• Private: $74,269-$202,500
• Public: $69,805-$127,000
• Non-Profit: $50,625-$75,000
• Multilateral: $50,883-$125,000

Discover a World of Opportunities

Build Your Community in Washington, D.C.

Form lasting bonds in a close-knit group of fellow students and faculty who share your passion for international relations and who seek to make the world a better place. Gain unrivaled access to professional opportunities at leading global organizations supported by our global alumni network.

Share Global Experiences with Your Peers

Start your MA in International Relations at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy, and share unique experiences with your fellow students. Alternatively, students can spend both years studying just blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Graduate Prepared to Make a Difference

With campuses on three continents, SAIS truly has a global footprint. Benefit from our Global Career Services office and our global alumni network that will help connect you with incredible opportunities.

See How You Can Change the World

See What Our Students Have to Say

I chose SAIS because of the people, and not just the distinguished faculty and staff. Every SAIS student I had the privilege of meeting before I applied was incredibly kind, academically dynamic, and supportive. I instantly knew this was the kind of program I wanted to be a part of.

- Joy Woods, Public Service Fellow, Master of Arts in International Relations

[SAIS] provided the opportunity to explore the rich professional network of Washington D.C. The school offered a diverse range of classes and the right balance of both quantitative and qualitative courses to enrich my understanding of various areas such as international economics and international relations.

- Rohail Khan , '22, Master of Arts in International Relations

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College of Arts & Sciences

International Relations

The department’s graduate program in international relations prepares students for successful careers by introducing them to cutting-edge research across the field and training them to be productive and professional scholars. Our faculty members have produced award-winning research in the most selective journals—including the American Political Science Review, Foreign Affairs, International Organization, International Security, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and World Politics—as well as prestigious university presses—including Cambridge University Press, Cornell University Press, and Princeton University Press.

The best measure of our success as a graduate program is the track record of our students. In recent years, our students have taken tenure-track faculty positions at top universities, including Cornell University, the University of Texas, and McGill University. They have also been awarded highly competitive pre- and post-doctoral fellowships at Harvard University and Princeton University. We encourage our doctoral students to focus on publishing their research, and their work continues to appear in premier journals, including the American Political Science Review, International Organization, International Security, and International Studies Quarterly.

All of the department’s faculty members are well-versed in international relations theory, and the department has also developed a number of more specific core strengths:

-International Security (Andrew Bennett, Daniel Byman, Victor Cha, David Edelstein, Desha Girod, Lise Morje Howard, Matthew Kroenig, Charles Kupchan, Keir Lieber, Robert Lieber, Daniel Nexon, and Elizabeth Stanley): Together, this deep and diverse faculty exposes students to the most pertinent questions in the study of international security today. The specific research interests of the faculty include military intervention and occupation, terrorism, nuclear weapons, U.S. foreign policy, civil-military relations, post-conflict reconstruction, international order, the role of religion in international affairs, and the use of force in the modern world.

-International Political Economy (Marc Busch, Raj Desai, Kathleen McNamara, Abraham Newman, Nita Rudra and George Shambaugh): The evolving structure and behavior of the international political economy is a central concern of the department’s faculty. Approaching these questions from a variety of methodological and theoretical perspectives, our international political economy group investigates issues including the governance of trade and finance, the politics of currency, and international aid and development.

-International Law and Organizations (Anthony Arend, Marc Busch, Kathleen McNamara, Abraham Newman, and Erik Voeten): The department’s faculty produces important scholarship on the politics of international organizations as well as the evolution of international law. As with our other core strengths, the faculty approaches these questions from a variety of perspectives, producing well-trained and creative graduate students. Our faculty’s research in this area includes questions about the role of the United Nations Security Council, the development of the European Union, international financial institutions, the international law of the use of force, and emerging international environmental law.

-Methodology (Andrew Bennett, Marc Busch, and Erik Voeten: Our faculty is equipped to train graduate students in the full range of methodologies, including qualitative, quantitative, and formal approaches. Beyond the methodological strength of our international relations faculty, our students benefit from the methodological expertise of the department’s faculty in other subfields, including Michael Bailey and Hans Noel in U.S. Politics.

In addition to our core Government department faculty members, doctoral students benefit from faculty in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS), the Graduate Public Policy Institute (GPPI), and the McDonough School of Business (MSB) who teach and research issues in international relations. Abraham Newman (SFS) researches the consequences of the information revolution and standards of privacy for international relations. Dennis Quinn (MSB) explores the causes and consequences of international economic liberalization. Jennifer Tobin (GPPI) works on issues of international aid and development. The School of Foreign Service’s Security Studies Program houses three faculty members—Christine Fair, Bruce Hoffman, and Colin Kahl—who are conducting influential research on terrorism and insurgency. Finally, a variety of scholar-practitioners on the faculty, including Madeline Albright (SFS) and Anthony Lake (SFS), are able to share their real world experiences with our students.

Aside from classes, a centerpiece of our curriculum is the Georgetown University International Theory and Research Seminar (GUITARS). GUITARS meets on a regular basis each semester to discuss the most recent and most significant research in the field of international relations. Visiting faculty from around the world visit Georgetown to present their research, exposing graduate students to this scholarship as well as allowing them to interact and network with important scholars.

Finally, Georgetown offers a variety of institutional resources that support research and teaching that is of interest to our PhD students. The Mortara Center for International Studies advances the study of all aspects of international affairs. The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs explores the role of religion in relations between states, communities, and peoples. The Center for Peace and Security Studies is a forum for research at the nexus of theory and practice in international security.

In short, Georgetown’s Department of Government is quickly establishing itself as a leading place to pursue a doctorate in the field of international relations. We have a diverse and distinguished faculty that is eager to train the next generation of scholars of international relations. We hope you will join us.

The Department of Government also offers joint Masters/Ph.D. programs in Public Policy , Security Studies , German and European Studies , Latin American Studies , Eurasian-Russian-East European Studies , Arab Studies , and the Georgetown University Law School . In addition, it also offers Master’s degree in International Law and Government. Taking into account the Department, the School of Foreign Service, the Graduate Public Policy Program, and the Law School, Georgetown has an exceptionally distinguished, diverse, and large group of faculty in international relations, with an unusual blend of theoretical interests and practical policy experience.

Please see the Graduate Handbook for more details about our doctoral program, including requirements, courses, and faculty. Admissions information can be found here . Should any specific questions about the program remain, you may contact the Field Chair or our Graduate Program Officer .

Click here for information about the Georgetown University International Theory and Research Seminar (GUITARS)

Graduate Programs

The Walsh School of Foreign Service awarded its first graduate degree in the early 1920s. Since that time, the SFS has continued to develop an innovative approach to graduate education for professional careers in international affairs.

In a continually changing and unpredictable world, the overarching mission of the School is to prepare women and men to be creative leaders with a commitment to service and an understanding of the ethical component of global affairs. In order to achieve this mission, the School works to ensure that our graduate students have the proper substantive understanding of the international system and the necessary skills to thrive in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of international affairs.

“The #1 Master’s Program for International Affairs.” Foreign Policy, 2018

Thematic Programs

Master of science in foreign service.

The Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) is a broad international relations degree, providing students the opportunity to have a grounding in core courses that cross the critical disciplines of international relations, history, and economics before focusing in a particular concentration.

Master of Arts in Security Studies

The Master of Arts in Security Studies (SSP) affords students the opportunity to explore the field of security in-depth, covering issues from intelligence and defense analysis to emerging issues such as the perils of peace operations or the intricacies of information warfare.

Master of Global Human Development

The Master of Global Human Development (MGHD) provides students a general core of quantitative and analytical skills necessary for the development field and gives students the opportunity to develop a familiarity with one or more specialized areas of development, such as health, private enterprise, or environment/climate change.

Master of Arts in International Migration and Refugees

The Master of Arts in International Migration and Refugees degree addresses the pressing challenges from population movements and prepares students to navigate the intricate intersections of migration, displacement, and policy-making.

Master of Science in Environmental & International Affairs (MS-EIA)

This interdisciplinary Master of Science from the Earth Commons and the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s Science, Technology, and International Affairs program meets the growing demand for environmental science and policy expertise to address the most pressing global environmental issues of our time.

Regional Programs

Master of arts in arab studies.

Housed within the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS), the Master of Arts in Arab Studies (MAAS) offers a comprehensive interdisciplinary study of the region. CCAS is the only academic center in the United States focusing exclusively on the Arab world, and it has been doing so with distinction since 1975.

Master of Arts in Asian Studies

The Master of Arts in Asian Studies (MASIA) was established to meet the demands for rigorous academic study of Asia through a combination of regional expertise and functional skills in a degree program that prepares students for leadership in a variety of fields.

Master of Arts in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies

The Master of Arts in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (MAERES) provides a solid grounding in the languages and cultures of the region and interdisciplinary depth in the social sciences.

Master of Arts in German and European Studies

The Master of Arts in German and European Studies (MAGES) is a two-year, full-time, interdisciplinary course of study. The program encourages students to expand their studies and develop regional/thematic concentrations by connecting with other programs within the SFS.

Master of Arts in Latin American Studies

The Master of Arts in Latin American Studies (LAS) is designed for students pursuing careers in government, business, and international organizations in the U.S. and abroad as well as those who contemplate additional post-graduate work in the humanities or social sciences.

Joint Degree

Master of arts in international business and policy.

The Master of Arts in International Business and Policy (MA-IBP) provides working professionals with the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the drivers in business and international relations with the context of contemporary global issues.

Graduate Certificates

Thematic certificates.

• Certificate in Diplomatic Studies
• Honors Certificate in International Business Diplomacy
• Certificate in Global Human Development
• Certificate in Social Innovation and Global Development
• Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies
• Certificate in Gender, Peace & Security

Regional Certificates

• Certificate in African Studies
• Certificate in Arab Studies
• Certificate in Asian Studies
• Certificate in Eurasian, Russian, and Eastern European Studies
• Certificate in Latin American Studies

The Jackson School Ph.D. program advances problem-focused graduate education that combines a new cross-disciplinary approach with intensive area studies in the face of contemporary global and local challenges.

Regions & Themes

The Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) Ph.D. in International Studies provides a unique opportunity for candidates who seek a highly individualized graduate program grounded in applied area and global studies. The program reflects the Jackson’s School’s scholarly commitment to the centrality of history, culture, and politics in advancing the understanding of and engagement in world issues.

The program is designed to provide students with the flexibility to apply, and build on, their existing field connections, area knowledge, research questions, and language skills. Working with faculty with expertise in international and area studies, students design their studies in ways that will best support their career plans. Toward this end, students will have the opportunity to select a broad set of possible final products, from dissertation to policy papers, that best allows them to engage and share their research questions and conclusions.

Is the JSIS Ph.D. Program right for you?

Ph.d. program news.

Q&A with Greg Guedel Ph.D. ’16

Sharing our grief on the death of Hayim Katsman (Ph.D. ’21) in Israel

Doctoral candidate yasir zaiden pens article on recent us sanctions in sudan // foreign policy, saadia pekkanen co-edits special issue on space diplomacy in the hague journal of diplomacy.

Sarah Lohmann quoted in article on President of Finland’s trip to Washington // Seattle Times

Doctoral alum pens article analyzing turkey’s military response after the earthquake // foreign policy, jsis ph.d. program, jesús hidalgo.

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Graduate Program Information Request

Let us know what program you are interested in and we will email you more information directly.

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, The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, 2023 Skagit Lane, Thomson Hall , Box 353650 Seattle, WA 98195-3650

The Jackson School is a proud member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs .

© 2024 Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington | Seattle, WA

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Department of Political Science

Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

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PhD in Political Science

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The Ph.D. in Political Science program  prepares students  to be outstanding researchers and scholars at top universities, policy think tanks, consulting firms, and U.S. and international institutions. Working in small classes and with experienced faculty mentors, doctoral students construct a program around a major and minor field of study.

Recent dissertation topics have spanned women's organizations and the partisan gender gap, judicial politics in the Middle East, media freedom in Turkey, social justice in the corporate world, and coercive kidnappings in violent political organizations. Our students present their research at conferences around the country, earn awards and prestigious research grants for their scholarship, and publish articles in major journals, such as International Security, American Political Science Review, International Organization, Perspectives on Politics, and Journal of Politics.

Funding is guaranteed for five years, conditional on adequate progress.

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PhD Job Placement Data

The deadline for our MA program is April 1, 2025, for Fall 2025 admission. Our next PhD application deadline is Dec. 15, 2024, for Fall 2025 admission. If you have questions, please contact the Department Administrator by email: [email protected] .

Major and Minor Fields

Doctoral students choose both a major and minor field of study. Any of the major fields is also an option for a minor.

Major Fields

• American Politics
• International Relations
• Comparative Politics

Minor Fields

• Political Theory
• Public Policy
• Research Methods

Learn About Research by Field

Course Requirements 

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under  Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs .

The requirements for the  Doctor of Philosophy Program .

Additional requirements

In addition to required coursework, program requirements consists of two comprehensive examinations covering a primary and supporting field, an original research paper, and a dissertation demonstrating the capacity to undertake original and significant research. The research paper, to be completed by the second year in the program, must reflect the student's ability to conduct original research. Students prepare for the comprehensive exams by taking at least five courses in their primary field and at least four courses in their supporting field, selected according to departmental guidelines. Three primary fields are available: American politics, international relations, and comparative politics. In addition, political theory, public policy, and research methodology are available as supporting fields. Petitions for a self-designed minor field (e.g., political communications) composed primarily of courses not offered by the established fields can be jointly proposed by students and faculty. All students must complete a sequence of courses in research methodology comprising PSC 8101 , PSC 8108 , and PSC 8109 . 

A recommendation to the Dean for Admissions to candidacy, or the dissertation research stage, will be considered upon satisfactory completion of all coursework, research paper, field examinations, and successful defense of the dissertation prospectus. Students must pass their primary field examination with a satisfactory pass or above and must pass their supporting field examination with a bare pass or above in order to be considered eligible for promotion to candidacy. Admission to candidacy is permitted only if the student’s performance on the examinations and in the coursework gives a good indication of success in the second unit. Passing the field examinations does not in itself ensure admission to candidacy.

The dissertation prospectus must outline the central research question(s), relate the proposed research to the existing literature, detail a research methodology, and explain the nature of the original contribution that the completed project will provide. The prospectus must be presented and defended in an open forum, which all faculty and doctoral students are invited to attend. The full dissertation must be similarly defended. A dual degree program enables students to earn the master of public policy along with the PhD in the field of political science.

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The Elliott School of International Affairs

Building Leaders for the World

The Elliott School of International Affairs  prepares nearly 3,000 students each year for meaningful careers in international affairs. Our position in the heart of Washington, D.C. enriches our teaching and research by giving our students and faculty unparalleled opportunities to engage with the international leaders who walk through our doors on a regular basis.

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Elliott school spotlights.

Welcome to the Elliott School of International Affairs

“Every success story start with a dream. Here at the Elliott School, we are dedicated to transforming those dreams into reality through our world class education and focus on diverse perspectives in the field of international affairs…”

Explore the ways we prepare our students for meaningful careers in international affairs.

Kluge Fellowship Recipient Spotlight: Dr. Leniqueca Welcome

"Exploring Postcolonial Statecraft and Anti-Blackness in Trinidad Leniqueca Welcome, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs, was awarded a 9-month  Kluge Fellowship from the Library of Congress to work on her book manuscript. Dr. Welcome is..."

The 2024 APSIA Awards have arrived!

We are thrilled to announce that the Elliott School has been recognized by the Association of Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) for outstanding achievements in innovation for the Data Literacy Initiative/Data Analytics for Policy Professionals program and inclusion for the Generations Dialogue Project .

2024-2025 Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow

Harvard Radcliffe Institute is pleased to announce the selection of Jisoo M. Kim  as a fellow for the 2024–2025 academic year.

The full announcement for Kim's fellowship can be found here.  

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Graduate School

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

General information, program offerings:.

• Joint Degree

Director of Graduate Studies:

Graduate program administrator:.

The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) offers a distinctive curriculum that strikes a careful balance between theory and practice. Graduate students spend time developing analytical skills and acquiring a substantive knowledge about the world's most important domestic and international issues.

The School has a diverse faculty representing a wide range of disciplines and expertise, with 20 affiliated research centers and programs.

The School's resources enable students to earn graduate degrees without incurring indebtedness, thereby making it more feasible to pursue careers of public service in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Graduate Programs

The principal graduate program of the school is a two-year curriculum leading to the degree of Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.). Students can earn a dual degree in public affairs and law (M.P.A./J.D.) after four years of study at SPIA  and a collaborating law school. The School also offers a dual degree in business (M.P.A./M.B.A) with the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. 

The School also has a graduate program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in public and international affairs, as well as a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) for mid-career professionals.

Additional departmental requirements

Ph.D. – sample of written work, 25 page maximum. Applicants are required to select an academic subplan when applying.

M.P.A. – Course list. 4 page policy memo. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

M.P.A. – J.D. – Course list. 4 page policy memo. 2 page joint degree statement. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

M.P.A. - M.B.A. – Course list. 4 page policy memo. 2 page joint degree statement. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

M.P.P. – 4 page policy memo. Applicants are required to select a field when applying. Mid-career professionals are required to have a minimum of 7 years’ experience.

M.P.A. and M.P.P. - Must have 3 letters of recommendation: preference for 1 professional letter, 1 academic reference letter, and 1 letter from a faculty member, administrator, or professional who can comment on the applicant's commitment to public service.

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d., program description.

The purpose of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs' doctoral program is to train top-quality researchers in critical areas of public policy.  It offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs in two research clusters: Security Studies; and Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP).  The goal is to enroll eight students per year in the program, with four in each research cluster.

Core courses and individual requirements are determined by the faculty in each cluster. Both clusters require advanced politics and econometrics training for social science research.  A student in the STEP cluster must take at least eight courses in the first two years, and a minimum of three courses must come from within SPIA or from science or engineering departments, selected with approval of the primary adviser and the faculty coordinator of the STEP Ph.D. cluster.  A student in the Security cluster takes 12 courses during the first two years.  All students are required to maintain an overall grade average of 85 (B) or higher to remain in the Ph.D. program.  Full requirements are available on the SPIA website.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Writing Requirement

Students are required to complete an original research paper of publishable quality.

General exam

The examination covers two fields identified by the student in consultation with a faculty committee and includes two written components.  Students in both clusters may be required to complete an oral examination, depending on their performance on the written components. Students are expected to complete all parts of the general examination by the end of the second year.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully completes all coursework and the general examination.  It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that the M.A. requirements have been met.

A six-hour teaching assignment (precepting), usually following the general examination, is required.

Post-Generals requirements

A written research prospectus is required.

Dissertation and FPO

After a candidate successfully completes the general examination and defends the written prospectus, the Ph.D. program committee approves entry into the dissertation phase of the program.  

The student prepares a dissertation for review by the faculty. Departmental acceptance of the dissertation qualifies the candidate for the final public oral examination.  The Final Public Oral (FPO) examination is required by University regulations, and is conducted after the dissertation has been recommended for acceptance by the School.

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the FPO examination completed.

Program Offering: M.P.A.

The Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.) offers rigorous preparation for international and domestic policy careers.

This two-year, full-time residential program cultivates among its students and graduates a lasting commitment to public service.

Through its core curriculum and a wide variety of elective courses, students learn analytical skills that address the political, economic, quantitative, behavioral and normative aspects of complex policy problems. 

Each M.P.A. candidate selects a policy field in which to specialize from the school’s four fields of concentration: international relations, international development, domestic policy, and economics and public policy. Students may also earn a joint degree in public affairs and law (M.P.A./J.D.), or in public affairs and business (M.P.A./M.B.A.). Certificate programs offer additional areas of specialization in fields such as health policy; science, technology, and environmental policy (STEP); and urban policy.

Significant financial aid resources are dedicated to enable SPIA students the opportunity to receive graduate degrees without incurring loan indebtedness and to launch them into public service careers in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Students must complete 16 full-term courses in an approved plan of study, attaining an overall average in the 16 courses of 80 or better. The overall average includes actual grades in courses taken Pass/D/Fail. The curriculum of the M.P.A. program includes seven required core courses that address skills and techniques needed for the systematic study of public policy problems. The courses cover political analysis, quantitative methods, and economic and behavioral analysis. 

Additional requirements

Policy Workshops Graduate policy workshops are a unique part of the SPIA graduate curriculum.

Policy workshops provide students with an opportunity to use the analytical skills they have acquired in the first year in the program to analyze complex and challenging policy issues, usually for real clients. Each workshop consists of 8 - 10 students who work in teams to evaluate a policy challenge.

The workshops emphasize policy implementation, and it is this emphasis that distinguishes them from regular courses. The goal of the workshops is to understand a policy issue in great depth and to make policy recommendations that are both creative and realistic, given the relevant institutional and political constraints.

Policymaking in Diverse Societies half-term course All students must take at least one half-term course that focuses on policymaking in diverse societies during the two-year course of study.  A list of pre-approved courses will be made available to students each academic year.

Required summer course in Race, Power and Inequality  All students must take a summer course (SPI 500) Race, Power and Inequality which precedes all other core courses and is integrated into the four-week summer program. This is a for-credit half-term course, with mandatory PDF grading.

Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE) In late January, before spring semester courses begin, first-year M.P.A. students are required to take part in a policy project called the Integrated Policy Exercise, or IPE.

The IPE requires students to apply the skills they acquired in the fall term core courses. They are given briefing materials to review in advance and are then required to submit a comprehensive memo in response to a set of specific policy questions. The IPE is a trial run for the first-year qualifying examination (QE1).

Qualifying Examination 1 (QE1) In late April/early May, at the end of the second semester, students are required to take the QE1, a graded exercise that closely parallels the IPE.

The QE1 requires an integrated use of all the analytical skills acquired in the first-year core curriculum.

Qualifying Examination 2 (QE2) Second-year students are required to take and pass a second qualifying exam (QE2) in their chosen field of concentration at the end of the second year.

Internship Students must successfully complete an internship approved by the Internship Committee.

Program Offering: M.P.P.

The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs offers a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree for mid-career professionals who are rising leaders in international and domestic public policy.  This residential program is designed for mid-career professionals with seven or more years of public service experience in government agencies or nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad.

The M.P.P. program provides rigorous training in economic, behavioral, political, and organizational analysis. Students may also choose to specialize and earn a certificate in one of the following: health and health policy (HHP); science, technology, and environmental policy (STEP); or urban policy (UP).

To qualify for the degree, M.P.P. candidates must successfully complete eight courses.

A typical M.P.P. program of study will include a specialization in one of the school’s four fields of concentration:

• International Relations
• International Development
• Domestic Policy
• Economics and Public Policy

All M.P.P. students begin with a six-week summer program that includes intensive courses in microeconomics and statistics, and a policy analysis and leadership seminar.

The summer program is designed to enhance students’ preparation for graduate-level courses. The seminar aims to introduce them to the approaches they will encounter in SPIA courses during the academic year, while also helping them get to know their peers and refine their learning objectives for the year.

Program Offering: Joint Degree

Some students may wish to combine the School's program in public affairs with study for a degree in a related professional field.

A joint M.P.A.-J.D. degree program that combines public affairs with the study of law is offered in cooperation with the law schools of New York University, Columbia, Stanford, and Yale. On occasion, joint programs with other law schools have been approved by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the cooperating law school.

The joint program shortens the time involved in obtaining the two degrees and makes possible an effective combination of the several disciplines involved in public policy analysis. Participating students spend five semesters at the cooperating law school and three semesters at SPIA, thus reducing by two semesters the normal time required to earn the two degrees. Enrollment in the joint program requires a separate application and admission to each school.

For a small number of exceptionally strong candidates, the School will accept applications for a joint program that combines public and international affairs with the study of business administration. Proposals giving a detailed rationale for such a joint program must be submitted at the time of application. At this time, Stanford’s Graduate School of Business is the only cooperating business school. A joint degree programs will normally shorten by one semester the length of time required to complete each of the individual programs.

• Amaney A. Jamal
• David S. Wilcove (acting)

Director of Graduate Studies

• Denise L. Mauzerall

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• Susan L. Marquis
• Gary J. Bass
• Roland J. Benabou
• Alan S. Blinder
• Carles Boix
• Charles M. Cameron
• Miguel A. Centeno
• Christopher F. Chyba
• Janet M. Currie
• Rafaela M. Dancygier
• Pascaline Dupas
• Kathryn J. Edin
• Christopher L. Eisgruber
• Aaron L. Friedberg
• Filiz Garip
• Noreen Goldman
• Bryan T. Grenfell
• Gene M. Grossman
• G. John Ikenberry
• Harold James
• Seema Jayachandran
• Jennifer L. Jennings
• Henrik J. Kleven
• David S. Lee
• Frances E. Lee
• John B. Londregan
• Nolan McCarty
• Atif R. Mian
• Helen V. Milner
• Sanyu A. Mojola
• Eduardo Morales
• Andrew Moravcsik
• Layna Mosley
• Michael Oppenheimer
• Pietro Ortoleva
• Elizabeth L. Paluck
• Grigore Pop-Eleches
• Deborah A. Prentice
• Markus Prior
• Emily Pronin
• Stephen J. Redding
• Richard Rogerson
• Cecilia E. Rouse
• Kim Lane Scheppele
• Eldar Shafir
• Jacob N. Shapiro
• Patrick T. Sharkey
• Stacey A. Sinclair
• Paul E. Starr
• Zeynep Tufekci
• James Raymond Vreeland
• Keith A. Wailoo
• Leonard Wantchekon
• Mark W. Watson
• Elke U. Weber
• Ismail K. White
• Jennifer A. Widner
• David S. Wilcove
• Deborah J. Yashar
• Julian E. Zelizer
• Owen M. Zidar

Associate Professor

• Elizabeth M. Armstrong
• Alin I. Coman
• Thomas Fujiwara
• Alexander Glaser
• Adam M. Goldstein
• C. Jessica E. Metcalf
• Jonathan F. Mummolo
• Hye Young You

Assistant Professor

• Benjamin H. Bradlow
• Tanushree Goyal
• Naima N. Green-Riley
• John R. Grigsby
• Saad A. Gulzar
• Allan Hsiao
• Patricia A. Kirkland
• Aleksandra Korolova
• Jonathan Mayer
• Rebecca L. Perlman
• Karthik A. Sastry
• Maria Micaela Sviatschi
• Guadalupe Tuñón
• Andreas B. Wiedemann

Associated Faculty

• Alison E. Isenberg, History
• Guy J.P. Nordenson, Architecture

Lecturer with Rank of Professor

• Robert L. Hutchings
• Ethan Kapstein
• Stanley N. Katz
• W Bentley MacLeod

Professor of the Practice

• Heather H. Howard
• Alicia Adsera
• Frederick D. Barton
• Barbara C. Buckinx
• Andrew Buher
• Selene Campion
• Wendy Castillo
• Alan R. Chernoff
• Ramon J. Cruz Diaz
• Lauren Davis
• Lynda G. Dodd
• Kathleen Donnelly
• Darcie Draudt-Véjares
• Edward P. Freeland
• Varun Gauri
• Arbel Griner
• Jean B. Grossman
• William G. Guthe
• Razia Iqbal
• Gregory B. Jaczko
• Tessie Krishna
• Daniel C. Kurtzer
• John A. Maldonado
• Elliot J. Mamet
• Anastasia Mann
• Babak Manouchehrifar
• Carol L Martin
• Daniel J. Meuse
• Ashoka Mody
• Amal Mudallali
• Timothy J. Nelson
• Deborah N. Pearlstein
• Minh-Thu D. Pham
• Juan C. Pinzon
• Dafna H. Rand
• Etienne Rosas
• Kenneth Roth
• Timothy D. Searchinger
• Thomas A. Shannon
• Arian M. Sharifi
• Alyssa B. Sharkey
• Tsering Wangyal Shawa
• Sam van Noort

Visiting Professor

• Martin S. Flaherty

Visiting Associate Professor

• Alisa C. Lewin

Visiting Assistant Professor

• Melissa M. Valle

Visiting Lecturer

• Eduardo Bhatia
• Martha B. Coven
• Mickey Edwards
• David Ehrenberg
• Brian Kelly
• Robert Malley
• Steven Strauss
• Leonor Tomero

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

ENE 549 - Integrated Assessment Modeling for Climate Policy Making (also SPI 583)

Pol 506 - qualitative methods (also spi 595), pop 507 - generalized linear statistical models (also spi 509), spi 500 - race, power, and inequality, spi 501 - the politics of public policy, spi 502 - psychology for policy analysis and implementation, spi 503 - management of non-profit organizations, spi 504 - policy issues and analysis of civil society, non-profits, and philanthropy, spi 505 - financial management in the corporate and public sectors, spi 506 - the sociology of organizations, spi 507b - quantitative analysis for policymakers, spi 507c - quantitative analysis for policymakers (advanced), spi 508a - econometrics for policymakers: applications (half-term), spi 508b - econometrics for policymakers (half-term), spi 508c - econometrics for policymakers (advanced), spi 508d - econometrics and public policy (accelerated), spi 511b - microeconomic analysis for policymakers, spi 511c - microeconomic analysis for policymakers (advanced), spi 512b - macroeconomic analysis for policymakers, spi 512c - macroeconomic analysis for policymakers (advanced), spi 515b - program and policy evaluation, spi 515c - program and policy evaluation: impact evaluation tools, spi 519a - negotiation, persuasion and social influence: theory and practice (also psy 528a), spi 521 - domestic politics, spi 522 - microeconomic analysis of domestic policy, spi 523 - legal and regulatory policy toward markets, spi 524 - the political economy of central banking, spi 525 - public economics and public policy, spi 527a - topics in domestic policy, spi 527b - topics in domestic policy, spi 527c - topics in domestic policy, spi 527d - topics in domestic policy, spi 528a - topics in domestic policy, spi 528b - topics in domestic policy, spi 528c - topics in domestic policy, spi 528d - topics in domestic policy, spi 528f - topics in domestic policy, spi 528g - topics in domestic policy, spi 529 - great leadership in historical perspective, spi 530 - values based leadership, spi 531 - identity, power, and policy, spi 533 - planning theory and process (also arc 535), spi 534 - land use policy and planning, spi 535 - planning methods, spi 537 - urban inequality and social policy (also soc 537), spi 538 - urban economics, spi 539 - urban politics and policymaking, spi 540 - urbanization and development, spi 541 - international politics, spi 542 - international economics, spi 543 - international trade policy, spi 544 - international macroeconomics, spi 547 - the conduct of international diplomacy, spi 548 - weapons of mass destruction and international security, spi 549 - national security policy, spi 550 - phd gateway in security studies, spi 552 - the politics of globalization, spi 555a - topics in ir, spi 555b - topics in ir, spi 555c - topics in ir, spi 555d - topics in ir, spi 555e - topics in ir, spi 555f - topics in ir, spi 556a - topics in ir, spi 556b - topics in ir (also las 566/pol 564), spi 556c - topics in ir, spi 556d - topics in ir (also pol 522), spi 556e - topics in ir, spi 556f - topics in ir, spi 556g - topics in ir, spi 558 - human rights, spi 559 - the rule of law, spi 561 - the comparative political economy of development (also pol 523), spi 562b - economic analysis of development, spi 562c - economic analysis of development (advanced), spi 564 - poverty, inequality and health in the world (also pop 564), spi 565 - social determinants of health (also pop 565/soc 565), spi 566a - topics in health (also pop 566), spi 568 - economics of health in developing countries, spi 571 - topics in development, spi 571a - topics in development, spi 571b - topics in development, spi 571c - topics in development, spi 571d - topics in development, spi 572 - topics in development, spi 572a - topics in development, spi 572b - topics in development, spi 572c - topics in development, spi 574 - making government work, spi 576a - topics in regional and country studies, spi 576b - topics in regional and country studies, spi 581a - topics in economics, spi 581c - topics in economics, spi 582a - topics in economics, spi 582b - topics in economics, spi 582c - topics in economics, spi 582f - topics in economics, spi 585a - topics in step, spi 585b - topics in step, spi 585c - topics in step, spi 586a - topics in step, spi 586b - topics in step (also eeb 516), spi 586d - topics in step, spi 586e - topics in step, spi 586f - topics in step (also cos 586), spi 588 - extramural summer research project, spi 589 - methods in science, technology, and environmental policy, spi 590a - economic perspectives on inequality (half term), spi 590b - politics of inequality and redistribution (half-term) (also pol 598), spi 590c - sociological studies of inequality (half-term) (also soc 571), spi 590d - psychological studies of inequality (half-term) (also psy 590), spi 590s - workshop in social policy, spi 591 - policy workshops, spi 591a - policy workshop, spi 591b - policy workshop, spi 591c - policy workshop, spi 591d - policy workshop, spi 591e - policy workshop, spi 591f - policy workshop, spi 591g - policy workshop, spi 591h - policy workshop, spi 592 - policy workshops, spi 593 - policy analysis: selected topics (half-term), spi 593a - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593b - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593c - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593d - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593e - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also soc 585), spi 593f - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593g - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593h - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593i - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593j - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593k - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593l - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593m - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593n - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593o - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593p - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593q - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593r - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also pop 593r), spi 593s - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593t - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 593z - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594 - policy analysis: selected topics (half-term), spi 594a - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594b - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594c - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also pop 594c), spi 594d - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594e - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594f - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594g - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594h - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594i - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594j - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594k - topics in policy analysis (half term), spi 594l - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594m - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594n - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594o - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594p - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594q - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594r - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594s - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594t - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also pop 594t), spi 594u - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594v - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594w - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594x - topics in policy analysis (half-term), spi 594y - topics in policy analysis (half-term) (also ene 594), spi 595b - phd seminar: qualitative research design (also pol 509), spi 597 - public policy approaches to health and health care, spi 598 - epidemiology (also pop 508), spi 599 - extramural public policy fellowship.

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AU’s Model UN Team is No. 1—Again

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For the third year in a row, American University’s Model UN (AUMUN) topped the Best Delegate North American College Model UN Final Rankings , released last week. AU is only the second school to three-peat.

“Our rise to one of the most successful teams in the nation is a testament to each team member’s dedication and love for both this activity and our program,” said head delegate Ellie White, SIS/BA ’25.

Model UN —which draws hundreds of thousands of students each year, from middle school to college—immerses participants in diplomacy and international relations by simulating the international governing body headquartered in New York City.

In college, weekend conferences follow two formats: general assembly, where participants are assigned a country or committee, and crisis committees, which require delegates to navigate fictional catastrophes like nuclear war.

Students hone their public speaking, critical thinking, and research skills, which enable them “to hit the ground running” after graduation, said SIS dean Shannon Hader. “Model UN is not just about great competition, achievement, and performance. The Model UN activities, training, and cultivation help students build professional skills at a level that is truly impressive. It sets them up to walk into their next adventures as leaders who will continue to grow and learn.”

AUMUN’s 55 members bested Harvard, Georgetown, Boston University, and the University of Chicago, which round this year’s top five. AUMUN attended nearly half of all available conferences, racking up more than 100 individual honors and five delegation awards.

AUMUN—part of the American University International Relations Society (AMIRS)—has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last 10 years. The team emerged from the top 50 in 2014–15 to land in the top 25 the following year. AUMUN reached the top five for the first time in 2018–19—and hasn’t budged in the six years since.

“Because of how successful the team has been in the last three to five years, I do think there are more students coming to AU with the intention of trying out for the AU Model UN team,” said SIS professor Jeff Bachman, director of AMIRS.

Thanks to its national reputation, AUMUN is one of the most competitive student groups to join. Each year, about 180 students try out for about 18 spots.

Students selected after two rounds of interviews are required to attend one conference each semester. Arjun Mishra, CAS/BS ’27, SIS/BA ’27, said the selection process, while daunting, is worth it.

“Really, the most grueling part of being on the team is trying out,” said Mishra, who also participated in Model UN during high school in Queens, New York. “That’s just the hard first step that leads to four years of fun, enjoyment, and travel.”

AUMUN has also helped Eagles build community at AU. Students hang out together outside of competitions and Wednesday night practices; they also boast two thriving Facebook Messenger groups, one for current students and another that includes alumni.

“We definitely are a close-knit community,” said White, who met her closest friends on campus through AUMUN. “And for me, it’s one of the most special organizations to be a part of on campus—and to know there is a whole community of people that have your back.”

In part, that community comes from traveling together—an essential but expensive aspect of Model UN. Additional funding will be critical to the team’s future success. The School of International Studies Dean’s Fund has provided significant financial support to AUMUN in recent years to help defray travel costs and decrease the barriers to participation. A number of SIS alumni—including Loren Danzis, SIS/BA ’93, and Nic Valbuena, SIS/BA ’23—have been inspired to personally contribute, as well.

“I hope that it’s relieved a little bit of the financial stress, so that members can focus on the substance of the competition,” Hader said. “They don’t need to think first, ‘What is this going to cost?’ Instead, they can think, ‘What can I contribute?’” 

Mishra said that financial support from SIS and donors has opened a world of opportunity.

“I’ve gotten to travel to places I’ve never been to,” he said. “I went to North Carolina last semester and Montreal this semester. It’s fun to meet people [from] other schools, not just in the US but also from Canada and international students too.”

Learn how you can support AUMUN.