Learn More About Our School

Two-year, full-time degree program focused on Asia and the Americas. Students choose one of our five regions: China, Korea, Japan, Latin America or Southeast Asia — and achieve language proficiency by graduation. In addition, all MIA students choose one of the specializations below:

• International Development and Nonprofit Management
• International Economics
• International Environmental Governance
• International Management
• International Politics

Core Courses

• Quantitative Methods I & II
• Microeconomics for Policy and Management
• Policy Making Processes
• Globalization, the World System and the Pacific
• International Economics
• International Politics and Security
• Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers
• Capstone

For course descriptions, click here.

Featured Faculty

“My research on ‘The New New Civil Wars’ details how the internet has likely helped increase the number of civil wars to one of the highest levels in recorded history. It also reveals that these new 21st century civil wars tend to be longer, fought by a greater number of factions and enjoy substantial international support than in the past.”
— Barbara F. Walter

• Richard Feinberg
  Research Topics: Cuba, Latin America, U.S. foreign policy, corporate social responsibility, democratization
• Elizabeth Lyons
  Research Topics: Technology and innovation strategy, international management and organizational economics
• Gordon McCord
  Research Topics: GIS and spacial data analysis, health policy, development economics, environmental policy
• Ulrike Schaede
  Research Topics: Japan, Japanese business organization, management and financial markets
• Barbara F. Walter
  Research Topics: International security, civil wars, extremist groups, terrorism/counter-terrorism, social media and propaganda

[ back to top ]

Two-year, full-time degree program for students who want to focus on one or more policy areas from the list below. A regional focus is optional.

• American and Comparative Business Regulation
• Environmental Policy
• Health Policy
• Inequality and Social Policy
• Peace and Security
• Program Design and Evaluation

Core Courses

• Quantitative Methods I & II
• Microeconomics for Policy and Management
• Policy Making Processes
• Market Failures and Policy Interventions
• Policy Analysis and Public Welfare
• Public Finance
• Policy Analysis and Decision Theory
• Capstone

For course descriptions, click here.

Featured Faculty

“My research has helped California move toward on-cycle local elections, which bring out a lot more voters, help more racial and ethnic minorities get into office and lead to local government policies more in line with the preferences of the broader public.”
— Zoltan Hajnal

• Renee Bowen
  Research Topics:Commercial diplomacy, microeconomic theory and international trade
• Zoltan Hajnal
  Research Topics: American racial and ethnic politics, immigration, election administration, voting rights, political behavior
• Agustina Paglayan
  Research Topics:Education policy, comparative politics, labor market institutions, politics of policymaking in Latin America
• Lauren Prather
  Research Topics: Foreign policy, migration, democracy promotion and democratization
• David Victor
  Research Topics: Energy and climate change policy, international law and human rights

[ back to top ]

Two-year, full-time, research heavy degree for students who want to take a deep dive into the study of China. At least two years of prior experience with Mandarin Chinese is required for admission to the degree program. During their second year, students take a three- quarter research series guided by faculty.

• Chinese Economy
• Chinese Environment
• Chinese Foreign Relations and Security
• Chinese Politics and Public Policy

Core Courses

• Quantitative Methods I, II & III
• Microeconomics for Policy and Management
• Policy Making Processes or International Economics
• Globalization, the World System and the Pacific
• International Politics and Security or Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers

For course descriptions, click here.

Featured Faculty

“I examine issues relating to industry, trade, finance and China’s transition to a market economy. China is interesting in so many dimensions. The challenge has been that the most important topics have continuously changed. The issues are always being refreshed.”
— Barry Naughton

• Michael Davidson
  Research Topics: China, electricity markets, energy and climate change policy
• Ruixue Jia
  Research Topics: Development economics, economic history and political economy
• Barry Naughton
  Research Topics: Chinese economy, foreign trade and investment and economic reform
• Weiyi Shi
  Research Topics: Political economy, foreign policy, trade and investment
• Victor Shih
  Research Topics: Chinese finance, banking policies and politics

Designing and Implementing an Interdisciplinary Capstone Project

This research project is closely guided by faculty during the second year of the degree program. The capstone fosters a mastery of research design and methods for the study of contemporary China and requires critical analysis of original and secondary Chinese sources.

[ back to top ]

Our executive degree for professionals who have at least five years of full-time work experience can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time (for U.S. citizens and permanent residents). Students choose one of our five regions: China, Korea, Japan, Latin America or Southeast Asia — language background or coursework is not required for this degree. In addition, all MAS-IA students choose a specialization below:

• International Relations
• International Political Economy
• International Public Policy
• Environmental Policy and Sustainability
• Security of the Asia-Pacific (part-time, evening option available)

Core Courses

• Politics of International and National Policy Making
• Economies of the Pacific Rim or Microeconomics for Policy and Management
• Workshop on Policy Issues in the Pacific Rim (capstone)

For course descriptions, click here.

Featured Faculty

“I research and teach courses on Asian and Chinese security and technology. Our curriculum focuses on current debates about the security of states, the causes and contexts of conflict, environments and conditions that foster cooperation and the factors that generate both instability and peace.”
— Tai Ming Cheung

• Tai Ming Cheung
  Research Topics: Chinese and East Asian defense and national, security affairs, especially related to economic, industrial, technology and innovation issues
• Stephan Haggard
  Research Topics: International relations and security, globalization, East Asia, North and South Korea
• Joshua Graff Zivin
  Research Topics: Environment, public health, international development, innovation
• Kate Ricke
  Research Topics: Climate change and public policy
• Vice Adm. Robert Thomas (retired)
  Research Topics: National security affairs, military, peace and conflict, Asia-Pacific region

Security of the Asia-Pacific track

The MAS-IA career track in Security of the Asia-Pacific (SAPAC) benefits professionals seeking career advancement in various security-related vocations. This track is among the approved civilian degrees in the U.S. for the Navy’s Politico-Military curriculum (National Security/International Relations and Diplomacy) and Foreign Area Officers specializing in China, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

[ back to top ]

Joint program with the UC San Diego Department of Political Science. The program has a required first-year curriculum in which students focus on coursework in politics and research methods. During the second year, students begin to focus their coursework on their chosen area of research, completing the 18 required courses for advancement to candidacy. There is a research and teaching component as well.

Featured Faculty

“I encourage students to understand cause and effect in the courses I teach — why are people acting the way they do, what are their interests, what types of tools can you leverage to change those interests to solve a particular problem. Whether it’s human rights, climate change or global security, that’s the way to change the world!”
— Emilie Hafner-Burton

• Emilie Hafner-Burton
  Research Topics: International law and regulation, human rights, election violence, trade and investment, behavioral economics, political psychology and social networks policies
• Craig McIntosh
  Research Topics: Development economics, agricultural and resource economics, foreign aid, microeconomics and anti-poverty

[ back to top ]