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Cultivate the Skills You Need for a Dynamic International Career
Located at the edge of the Pacific, the Master of International Affairs program at UC San Diego's School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) prepares future leaders who want to address the world's most pressing global challenges with a unique focus on Asia and the Americas. As a GPS student, you’ll be equipped with in-depth regional expertise, advanced analytical skills and a network of global connections. When you graduate, you’ll be positioned for an impactful career in diplomacy, at an international organization or in the private sector.
Join the GPS community to shape a more connected and sustainable world.
Program Highlights
Length
2 years full-time
Delivery
On-campus
Total Units
98
Curriculum
The MIA requires 98 units for completion. All students take 8 required core courses during the first year and a capstone course in the second. Students in the program select 1 career track and 1 country/regional specialization to fulfill the units required.
Foundational Courses
8 courses in the core subject areas:- Economics
- Management
- Policy
- Political Science
- Quantitative Methods
Capstone Project
1 course from the following:- Strategy and Negotiations
- Policy Responses to Global Problems
- Evaluating Technological Problems
- Real-World Projects in Energy and the Environment
Career Tracks
5 courses in a functional area:- International Development and Nonprofit Management
- International Economics
- International Environmental Governance
- International Management
- International Politics
Regional Specializations
Components:- 2 designated courses: 1 on the economy and 1 on the political system of the region
- A language requirement
- China
- Korea
- Japan
- Latin America
- Southeast Asia
Language proficiency is a crucial component, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to navigate diverse cultural and professional environments.
Graduate Spotlights
Jeff Arkin, ‘99
Federal Budget and Intergovernmental Issues, Government Accountability Office (GAO),
Washington, D.C.
“GPS provided me with the analytical skills needed to conduct GAO work, both in terms of quantitative and qualitative analysis, as well as writing about complex policy topics in a concise and direct way.”
Karla Yee Amezaga, MIA ‘16
Data Policy and Artificial Intelligence Lead, World Economic Forum, San Francisco, CA
“The quantitative and qualitative analytical skills I developed throughout the classes at GPS, along with the connections forged with peers and alumni, helped set my career path toward harnessing the potential of data and technological progress for the good of humanity and the planet.”
Jonathan Grady, MIA ’16
Founding Principal, The Canary Group, New York, NY
His passion for international affairs, data, game theory and the Asia-Pacific brought him West to seek his master’s degree. “UC San Diego has one of the best China studies departments in the country, and they are a very evidence-based, data-driven school. It really opened a new world for me.” Fast forward to today: Grady is the founding principal of an artificial intelligence-driven forecasting service.
Ready to create solutions that matter?
Questions? Contact Martha Welby at (858) 327-3209.