The M.A. program attracts students from a wide variety of educational, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Of a typical entering class of 80 students, 40% are international. About half the students are women.

M.A. students complete a 40-credit program that draws upon the rich resources of the entire Maxwell School, other colleges in the University (particularly the College of Law and the School of Management), and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. A flexible 31-credit option is available for midcareer professionals who have significant relevant experience.

For the M.A. degree, there are five required courses: History of International Relations, Microeconomic Theory for International Relations, Quantitative Skills, and a choice of either Comparative Foreign Policy or Culture in World Affairs. students also complete a 1-credit Capstone Seminar. Full-time students can complete the M.A. degree in 16 months.

The remainder of the curriculum is flexible. M.A. students select two Career Tracks. They choose courses to develop expertise in global markets, foreign policy, global security, global development policy, transnational leadership and organization, and intercultural communication and negotiation.

Professional internships are an integral and required part of the M.A. curriculum. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the off-campus features of the program:

The seven-week Summer Practicum in Washington, D.C., has two components: a policy seminar that meets all day once a week with a wide range of policy professionals from the international and domestic arenas and a substantial internship that applies policy analysis skills.

The seven-week Geneva Practicum in International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, offers professional internships in such institutions as the World Trade Organization, the International Organization for Migration, and the World Health Organization.

The Global Europe Program provides a pragmatic introduction to the European Union and economic, political, and social issues in European countries. It begins with a seminar in Syracuse and continues with additional study and internships in London, Brussels, or other European cities.

The Global South Program in Santiago, Chile, offers a seminar on the history and politics of 20th-century Latin America; a seminar on contemporary social, political, and cultural issues in Chile and Latin America; and the choice of either a supervised internship in Santiago or an independent research project.

Other off-campus options include the semester-long Global Development Program in Washington, D.C., as well as study abroad exchange programs with the International University of Japan, The Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies of Waseda University, Yonsei University, and the University of Cape Town.

The Seminar on Multilateral Peacekeeping, held in Syracuse and New York City, gives students an academic grounding on multilateral peacekeeping and practical skills in planning and implementing peacekeeping operations. Students meet at the United Nations and at SU’s Lubin House with representatives from the U.N. and various nongovernmental organizations to analyze current missions and take part in simulation exercises.

The Seminar on European Perspectives on War revolves around a week of lectures and discussion with scholars and practitioners during spring break in London. Students interested in conflict resolution, mediation, and social movements often work closely with Maxwell’s Program on the Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts.

Applicants to the M.A. program must demonstrate proficiency in a second language equivalent to at least two years of university-level study. All are required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. Admitted students begin their studies in the fall semester.

Approximately one-third of our students receive some merit-based financial support from the program. Competition is keen for the several graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships awarded each year. Other students receive need-based support through SU’s Office of Financial Aid and may compete for assistantships awarded by other SU departments, and non-SU fellowships and funding opportunities.

Preparation for professional careers begins early. The Maxwell School’s director of career services and the program’s graduate director and global programs coordinator work with each student to discuss career objectives, abilities, and programs of study to meet the changing demands of the global marketplace. Professional skills workshops prepare students for policy advocacy, videoconferencing, and the design of policy simulations. In recent years, the program has successfully emphasized careers with intergovernmental organizations, international nongovernmental organizations, and multinational businesses.

The international relations program operates out of offices in Eggers Hall. Students in the Maxwell School’s two professional master’s programs—international relations and public administration—share the Academic Village, which features comfortable study areas, lockers, a kitchen, and a lounge. The students also have exclusive access to a 30-unit computer lab.

Students benefit from Maxwell’s membership in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), an elite group of 23 professional schools of international affairs. APSIA promotes the value of an international relations degree to employers and obtains and disseminates information about career opportunities.

Throughout their education in international relations at the Maxwell School, students work closely with professors and each other. They forge ties that they maintain for many years, even as they disperse around the globe. Those ties form the foundation of the supportive network of alumni for which Maxwell is widely known.

Joint Degree Programs

Many students opt to pursue joint degrees with other colleges of Syracuse University. A joint degree program with the College of Law enables students to earn the M.A. in international relations and the J.D. in three years. Within Maxwell, a popular two-year program leading to a joint degree in public administration and international relations has been supplemented recently with a comparable joint degree in economics and international relations. Participants in these highly integrated courses of study enjoy the full range of offerings in both programs. Prospective students interested in pursuing joint degrees must be accepted by both programs and should indicate this preference on their applications.

The Pre-Ph.D. Track

The international relations program does not offer a Ph.D., but rather a pre-Ph.D. track within the master's program. Students are  encouraged to apply simultaneously for the I.R. master's degree and to one of Maxwell's eight doctoral programs. Pending acceptance by both programs, students then pursue a coordinated M.A. and Ph.D. program. 

International Relations contact:

Ryan Williams
Associate Director
International Relations Program
225 Eggers Hall
Syracuse University
Syracuse NY 13244-1090
USA

Telephone 315-443-2306
Fax 315-443-9204
E-mail irgradir@maxwell.syr.edu