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Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs (MAS-IA)

At the edge of the Pacific. Driving policy globally.

The Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs program at the School of Global Policy and Strategy is designed for seasoned professionals – with 5+ years of work experience – seeking higher-level organizational challenges with global implications. You’ll gain an executive’s mindset and skills that include policy analysis and formulation, cross-cultural diplomacy, and the ability to address regional-specific challenges with insight and precision. From here, you can make an impact anywhere.

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Program Highlights

Length

• 9 months full-time

• 18 months part-time

Delivery

On-campus

Cost

$997 per unit

Total Units

48 (12 courses)



Next Deadline: June 30, 2025 Request Information 2-Year, Full-Time Option

Curriculum

The program offers a comprehensive and highly personalized curriculum. You’ll begin with two required core courses that give you a foundational understanding of global economies, as well as the systems and developments influencing policy creation. The core rounds out with a capstone workshop on policy issues. From there, you’ll choose a career track and regional interest. 

Career Track

Career Impact

5%

Foreign Private

23%

Foreign Public

41%

U.S. Military

5%

U.S. Nonprofit

15%

U.S. Private

11%

U.S. Public


Graduate Spotlights

Headshot of Reed HarbeckLt. Reed Harbeck, MAS-IA ‘23
U.S. Navy, San Diego, CA
“The MAS-IA degree’s Security of the Asia-Pacific track is exactly what I need for my future career. Thanks to this degree, I’ll have a much better understanding of what I’m walking into in my new role as a foreign area officer in Southeast Asia.”

Headshot of Rummer BershteinRummer Bershtein, MAS-IA ‘21
Booz Allen Hamilton, McLean, VA
“The professors taught me how to deep-dive into research and then curate that research into a coherent package. They also taught me to look critically at everything placed in front of me and gave me the resources to be a problem solver.”

 

Discover the MAS-IA program at GPS: where career aspirations meet unparalleled Asia-Pacific expertise, fostering diverse perspectives and driving global impact. It’s all right here.

 

Watch the Video


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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this program designed for?

The professionals who thrive in this program are driven problem solvers who want to create a better world. They’re curious, critical thinkers who break down silos. Students must have a minimum of five years of work experience for this program; for those with less experience, we recommend our two-year, full-time Master of International Affairs or Master of Public Policy. 

About 34% of MAS-IA students are military officers, especially those representing the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army branches, while the remainder reflects diverse professional backgrounds, including market consultants, economists, analysts in policy, finance, or trade, foreign diplomats and ministry officials, and defense contracting analysts.

Are there scholarship opportunities?

The MAS-IA is a self-supported program and does not offer scholarships. Approximately 80% of students in the program receive partial or full employer funding. Nearly all, self-funded domestic students leverage FAFSA student loans to provide financial support throughout the program. International students can seek scholarship opportunities on popular databases as well as the U.S. Department of State.

Is there an online option?

All courses are conducted in person and typically meet either once a week for just under three hours or twice a week for 80 minutes.

What’s the difference between part-time and full-time?

The MAS-IA curriculum has a total of 12 courses (48 credits), which is the same amount of coursework whether you enroll part-time or full-time. For full-time students, the degree takes one academic year to complete and requires that four courses be taken each quarter for three consecutive quarters (Fall, Winter and Spring). To accommodate working professionals, the program can be completed part-time in two years, with two courses taken each quarter for six quarters. 

Please Note: only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the part-time program; international students must enroll in full-time study to maintain non-immigrant (F-1 or J-1) status.

Can I begin in the winter or spring?

All MAS-IA students must begin in the fall quarter. Incoming students are required to take two core courses, Global Economics and Markets and Politics of International and National Policy Making, which serve as the foundation for the rest of the program. These courses are only available in the fall.

What careers do graduates pursue after graduation?

A majority of students are sponsored by their employer with the intention of returning and advancing within their current career, while a portion (about 20%) of graduates transition to a new career immediately after graduation. See “Who is this program designed for” above.

Deadlines

Application Deadlines
Deadline
April 14, 2025
May 12, 2025
June 30, 2025 (Final) 

All required application documents must be on file by the posted deadline. If documents are missing, your application may be moved to the next round. Please reach out to Janaye Barker with any questions or schedule a personal 1:1 meeting with her today.

Looking to apply for Fall 2026? Application opens in Sept. 2025 and our first application deadline is in Oct. 2025.

Application Tips and Tricks

To get started on your application for the Master of Advanced Studies in International Affairs (MAS-IA) degree program, keep these things in mind: 

  • Share your experience:
    • This is a degree for people looking to augment their career skill set, so you need 5+ years of professional experience. 
  • A statement of purpose is your chance to shine! 
    • Be clear about your goals.
    • Help us understand why now is the right time for you to earn this degree.
    • If you’ve been out of school for a while, talk about how you plan to get back in the academic groove. 
  • Academic transcripts and letter of recommendation
    • If you went to school for an undergraduate or graduate degree, we’ll need to take a look at your transcript.
    • If you didn’t perform well in your undergrad, don’t lose heart! Your past is not your future. Use your essays to talk about what went wrong and where you are now. 
    • Choose a recommender that knows you well and can speak to your untapped potential. 
  • You’ll have a 30-minute interview so we can learn more about you. 
    • We aim for interviews to be casual. It’s a great way to connect with staff on campus.
    • Be prepared to talk about your experience and provide some examples of challenges you’ve faced, and also your accomplishments.
    • Last but not least, feel free to bring your questions. It's a great time to learn more. 

This may seem like a lot. But we host regular workshops covering these items — and a lot more — in greater detail. 

More FAQs

We invite you to explore additional frequently asked questions here.

Ready to create solutions that matter?

Request Information

Questions? Contact Janaye Barker at (858) 351-4015.