Skip to content

Master of Public Administration and Master of Arts in International Relations


Earn both a master of public administration (M.P.A.) and a master of arts in international relations (M.A.) in just two years (58 credits). This dual degree program is excellent preparation for careers in government, global consulting firms, NGOs and international organizations. The M.A. in international relations program includes a required global internship; students can spend up to two semesters studying and interning in D.C. or abroad—in the summer and fall of their second year.

Apply directly to this dual degree program or add the second degree once admitted.

Four Maxwell students standing together by a railing

Explore Atlantis: A Translatlantic Dual Degree Program

Earn master’s degrees in international relations (M.A.) and either public administration (M.P.A.) or public policy (M.P.P.) in two years of study: one at the Maxwell School in Syracuse and the other at the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany.

Learn More

Students outside WhitmanSchool of Management

Dual Graduate Degree Program: Business Administration and Public Administration or International Affairs


Earn two professional degrees in as few as two years and develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful at the intersection of where governance and business happens around the globe.

Graduates of the M.B.A./M.P.A. program or the M.B.A./M.A. in international relations prepare for positions of influence and leadership in government, private firms, NGOs and nonprofit organizations responsible for implementing public policy in domestic and international context.

These 76-credit dual-degree programs are STEM designated and offered with the Martin J. Whitman School of Management.

Dual Graduate Degree Program: Law and Public Administration


Earn both a juris doctorate (J.D.) and a master of public administration (M.P.A.) in just three years of study—the same time required of a J.D. alone. Graduates are prepared to move across sectors in a range of careers that demand both legal and policy analysis such as environmental law, health care law, national security, tax policy and finance, and immigration law and policy.

It is possible to apply to both the College of Law and Maxwell School simultaneously through separate applications and receive a conditional offer of admission to Maxwell for the following year. However, most students apply to the Maxwell School as a first-year law student. To apply as a current student, please view dual J.D./M.P.A. or J.D./M.A. program application and checklist on Answers.

Exterior of Dineen Hall College of Law with students
Sven Erik Kaiser

I am Maxwell.

To have an understanding, a comfort, a background in both the law and in the government was a perfect place to start my career.”

Sven Erik Kaiser ’86 J.D./M.P.A.

Senior Policy Advisory, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency

 

Related Certificates of Advanced Study

Students enrolled in any graduate degree program at Syracuse University may be eligible to earn a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) from the Maxwell School while they work toward the requirements of their program. There are many options to choose from. Below are a few of our newest offerings. Please visit our certificates page for a complete list.

Data Analytics for Public Policy

Gain advanced skills in managing and analyzing large amounts of data, and familiarity with the public policy and governance issues raised by the use of new forms of data.

Conflict and Collaboration

Learn how to apply skills in communication, negotiation, mediation and engagement to resolve conflicts and solve problems in diverse settings.

Students looking at computer screens in classroom
Public Administration and International Affairs Department
215 Eggers Hall