Skip to main content
Pacific ocean view with Torrey Pines Glider Port

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.

Profile view of professionals/students seated and looking to the left

Program Highlights

Length

• 9 months full-time

• 18 months part-time

Delivery

On-campus

Cost

$950 per unit

Total Units

48 (12 courses)



Next Deadline: April 1, 2024 Request Information 2-Year, Full-Time Option

Curriculum

The MAS-IA 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 (Global Economics and Markets), as well as the systems and developments influencing policy creation (Politics of International and National Policy Making).

From there, you’ll choose nine courses depending on your professional path and regional interests. Our regional specializations offer a nuanced understanding of geopolitical dynamics in Pacific Rim nations, including China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

And finally, you’ll complete a capstone course to demonstrate your acquired knowledge and skills. Guided by our world-class faculty, you’ll perform research and develop actionable solutions to a pressing international challenge as part of this real-world project.

 

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

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.”


Upcoming Webinars and Events

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

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. For Standard Rounds, notifications will be made within 3 weeks of a completed application.

Fall 2024 Application Deadlines
Application Deadline Status
Standard: Round 1 Feb. 5, 2024 Closed
Standard: Round 2 March 4, 2024 Closed
Standard: Round 3 April 1, 2024
Standard: Round 4 May 6, 2024
Final Deadline June 27, 2024

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.

An offer of admissions will come through the formal application portal. All students are notified via email, with the email address listed on your application. Please make sure that you check your email thoroughly, including spam folders.

Looking to apply for Fall 2025? Application opens in Sept. 2024 and our first application deadline is in Oct. 2024.

Please reach out to Janaye Barker with any questions or schedule a personal 1:1 meeting with her today.

More FAQs

We invite you to explore additional frequently asked questions here.

Ready to create solutions that matter?

Request Information