Master of International Affairs

Master of International Affairs Courses

Planning Your MIA Studies at Marxe

Marxe MIA students develop career-relevant skills in writing and quantitative analysis and expertise in one of four areas of international affairs, or craft a special concentration. We also encourage our MIAs to take advantage of study abroad opportunities, The Washington Semester, or pursue internships in New York City.

Degree requirements: 42 credits (45 with internship)

7 core classes (21 credits)
3 required concentration course (9 credits)
2 approved electives (6 credits)
1 free elective (3 credits)
1 internship course (if required, 3 credits)
Capstone (3 credits)

View MIA course requirements before Fall 2025 here

Required Core Courses

Required Core

(24 credits, 27 credits if internship required)

Master Methods

PAF 9140 Budgeting and Financial Analysis I
PAF 9270 Data Collection and Description
PAF 9271 Data Analysis for Public Service or PAF 9272 Causal Analysis and Inference

Know the World

PAF 9184 International Institutions and Global Governance
PAF 9415 International Economics
PAF 9181 Comparative Public Policy and Administration

Connect

PAF 9420 Global Communication
PAF 9490 International Affairs Capstone Seminar

Internship

PAF 9195 Public Affairs Internship

Global Security Concentration

View pre-Fall 2025 requirements here

This concentration focuses on 21^st century security challenges including kinetic and cyber conflict, weapons proliferation, drug trafficking, terrorism, ethnic conflict, humanitarian disasters and the competition for scarce resources and displacement that will increasingly be the result of climate change.

Required

3 required concentration course (9 credits)
PAF 9436 International Security and the Liberal World Order
PAF 9434 Political Violence
PAF 9437 US Foreign Policy and National Security Structure

Approved Electives

2 approved electives (6 credits)
PAF 9104 Media, Politics, and Public Culture
PAF 9155 Governing without Government
PAF 9156 Emergency Preparation, Response & Recovery
PAF 9180 Policy Analysis
PAF 9186 Map Making for Public Policy
PAF 9187 Energy and Climate Policy
PAF 9199 Selected Topics in Public Affairs
PAF 9201 Mobilizing Digital Communication for the Public Good
PAF 9410 Global Economic Governance
PAF 9411 Comparative Urban Policy and Governance
PAF 9416 Global Growth
PAF 9417 Emerging Markets
PAF 9425 Western Hemisphere Affairs: Past, Present and Future
PAF 9426 Illicit Trade
PAF 9430 Diaspora, Migration and Transnational Life in the Western Hemisphere and Beyond
PAF 9431 The Policy Implications of Global Climate Change
PAF 9433 Race, Ethnicity, & Nationalism
PAF 9440 Trade Policy
PAF 9445 International Political Economy
PAF 9450 International Development
PAF 9455 International Regulatory Policy
PAF 9730 Comparative Health Systems
CIS 9230 Globalization and Technology

INGOs Concentration

View pre-Fall 2025 requirements here

As the number of INGOs expands throughout the world this concentration develops expertise in policy impact and practical management, preparing students for careers in nonprofits, international institutions, corporate foundations, and public-private partnerships.

INGO Required Courses

(9 credits)
PAF 9183 International Nonprofit Organizations
PAF 9151 Administration of the Nonprofit Sector
PAF 9450 International Development

Approved Electives

(6 credits from list below plus 3 credits from same list or another graduate program with adviser permission)
PAF 9411 Comparative Urban Policy and Governance
PAF 9417 Emerging Markets
PAF 9425 Western Hemisphere Affairs: Past, Present and Future
PAF 9426 Illicit Trade
PAF 9430 Diaspora, Migration and Transnational Life in the Western Hemisphere and Beyond
PAF 9431 The Policy Implications of Global Climate Change
PAF 9433 Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
PAF 9434 Political Violence
PAF 9435 Security in the Western Hemisphere: A Multi-Dimensional Approach
PAF 9436 International Security and the Liberal World Order
PAF 9437 US Foreign Policy and National Security Structure
PAF 9440 Trade Policy
PAF 9120 Public and Nonprofit Management I
PAF 9152 Fundraising and Grants Administration in Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations
PAF 9153 Budgeting and Finance for Nonprofits
PAF 9155 Governing without Government
PAF 9156 Emergency Preparation, Response, and Recovery
PAF 9157 Introduction to Philanthropy
PAF 9164 Social and Community Entrepreneurship
PAF 9174 Program Evaluation
PAF 9185 Environmental Policy
PAF 9186 Map Making for Public Policy
PAF 9187 Energy and Climate Policy
PAF 9201 Mobilizing Digital Communication
PAF 9199 Selected Topics in Public Affairs
PAF 9299 Selected Topics in Nonprofit Management
PAF 9699 Selected Topics in Public Policy
PAF 9730 Comparative Health Systems
PAF 9799 Selected Topics in Health Policy

Trade Policy and Global Economic Governance Concentration

View pre-Fall 2025 requirements here

Integration in a globalizing economy can be a path to economic success, but for many countries the promises of equity have yet to follow. Students learn about the nuts and bolts of international trade and commerce and the treaty relationships that advance or hinder public health, environmental regulation, worker safety, and family integrity.

TGEG Required Courses

3 required concentration course (9 credits)
PAF 9440 Trade Policy
PAF 9450 International Development
PAF 9417 Emerging Markets

Approved Electives

(6 credits from list below plus 3 credits from same list or another graduate program with adviser permission)
PAF 9177 Advanced Quantitative Methods
PAF 9185 Environmental Policy
PAF 9186 Map Making for Public Policy
PAF 9187 Energy and Climate Policy
PAF 9199 Selected Topics in Public Affairs
PAF 9410 Global Economic Governance
PAF 9416 Global Growth
PAF 9425 Western Hemisphere Affairs: Past, Present, and Future
PAF 9426 Illicit Trade
PAF 9430 Diaspora, Migration, and Transnational Life in the Western Hemisphere and Beyond
PAF 9431 The Policy Implications of Global Climate Change
PAF 9433 Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
PAF 9434 Political Violence
PAF 9436 International Security and the Liberal World Order
PAF 9437 US Foreign Policy and National Security Structure
PAF 9445 International Political Economy
PAF 9455 International Regulatory Policy
IBS 9767 Global Firms, Cultures, and Governments
LAW 9740 International Trade and Investment Law

Western Hemisphere Affairs Concentration

View pre-Fall 2025 requirements here

This is the only degree program in a policy school focused on all of North, Central and South America. Specific topics of study include migration, remission flows, intra-hemispheric security, trade policy and economic cooperation, regional planning, and energy production/policy.

WHA Required Courses

(9 credits)
PAF 9425 Western Hemisphere Affairs: Past, Present and Future
PAF 9435 Security in the Western Hemisphere

Approved Electives

(6 credits from list below plus 3 credits from same list or another graduate program with adviser permission)
PAF 9410 Global Economic Governance: Pacts, Actors, and Regimes
PAF 9411 Comparative Urban Policy and Governance
PAF 9416 Global Growth
PAF 9417 Emerging Markets
PAF 9426 Illicit Trade
PAF 9431 The Policy Implications of Global Climate Change
PAF 9433 Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
PAF 9434 Political Violence
PAF 9435 Security in the Western Hemisphere: A Multi-Dimensional Approach
PAF 9436 International Security and the Liberal World Order
PAF 9437 US Foreign Policy and National Security Structure
PAF 9440 Trade Policy
PAF 9445 International Political Economy
PAF 9450 International Development
PAF 9185 Environmental Policy
PAF 9186 Map Making for Public Policy
PAF 9187 Energy and Climate Policy
PAF 9199 Selected Topics in Public Affairs
PAF 9730 Comparative Health Systems
CIS 9230 Globalization and Technology
IBS 9767 Global Firms, Cultures, and Governments
LAW 9740 International Trade and Investment Law

Special Concentration

(18 credits completed in addition to the MIA Core Curriculum)

Working with a faculty adviser, students can design a rigorous program of study tailored to their interests and career ambitions. Examples may include climate and migration, hemispheric marketing, global health, international education, financial crimes and economic governance.

MIA Program Plans and Course Sheets

MIA Academic Plan – Enrolled PRIOR to Fall 2022 For ALL Concentrations

MIA Academic Plan – Enrolled Fall 2022 and after – For ALL Concentrations

MIA Special Concentration Application

MIA Trade Policy & Global Economic Governance Concentration – Fall 2022 and after

MIA Western Hemisphere Affairs Concentration – Fall 2022 & After

MIA International Non-Governmental Organizations Concentration – Fall 2022 and after

MIA Global Security Concentration Effective FALL 2023

MIA Course Handout