Prepare to lead and make a difference in communities around the globe. At Maxwell, you’ll find faculty, students and alumni who are dedicated to the idea that well-trained public service-minded professionals can change the world.
Whether you are just starting out in your career or you are a seasoned professional, you’ll find a Maxwell program designed to help you:
- fill gaps in knowledge,
- build skills and confidence to take on a leadership role in your organization,
- prepare to move across sectors and,
- boost your ability to drive change.
Our Approach
We’ve situated a world-class team of public administration faculty among an equally accomplished faculty of the social sciences. This dynamic mix of educators and scholars creates a one-of-a-kind experience in which students immerse in interdisciplinary coursework and topical research at one of 14 research centers within the school.
You’ll reach your professional ambitions—fast. Our professional degrees provide exceptional preparation to advance your career in as few as 12 months, letting you get back to work more quickly than most other programs. And, if you have seven years of experience, you may qualify for one of our midcareer executive programs—with course options that are even more flexible and efficient.
Follow this link to learn more.
complete master’s degree options in as few as 12 months
award-winning faculty of national and international renown
global professional network 37,000 strong
Explore Master’s Degrees
Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
Prepare to lead positive change through a rigorous yet efficient array of skills-building courses.
- On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
- 40 credits plus optional internships
- Complete full-time in 12 to 18 months
Executive Master of Public Administration—On Campus or Online
Fill gaps in your knowledge with a program tailored to your career goals—five to seven years of experience required. An online option for working professionals provides added flexibility.
- Online or on campus in Syracuse, N.Y., options (separate programs)
- 30 credits
- Complete part- or full-time in as few as 12 to 15 months
International Relations
Master of Arts in International Relations
Satisfy your curiosity about the world, and develop skills and knowledge to change it for the better.
- On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
- 40 credits with a required global internship
- Required career track selection to focus your studies
- Complete full-time in 18 months
Master of Arts in Public Diplomacy and Global Communications
Prepare to drive change in a range of international contexts through effective public and interpersonal communications. One powerful degree, two schools: the Maxwell School and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
- On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y., and Washington, D.C.
- 43 credits with a required global internship
- Complete full-time in 18 months
Executive Master's in International Relations
Improve your leadership and management skills and global affairs knowledge—seven years of experience required.
- On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
- 30 credits
- Complete on a part- or full-time basis
Doctoral Program
PhD in Public Administration
Educate the next generation of public service leaders and conduct research that moves the field of public administration and policy analysis forward.
- On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
- 72 credits (36 credits beyond the M.A.)
- Full-time residential program, typically completed in 4.5 years
Department Admission Events
We offer a range of in-person and virtual opportunities to learn more about the Maxwell School and degree programs offered by the Public Administration and International Affairs Department, answer questions about the application process, and help you work toward your goals.
See All Department Admission EventsSchedule a One-on-One Meeting
to ask more in-depth questions not covered in the group information sessions. These individual meetings are informational in nature and are not admission interviews.
Request a MeetingStudy in Washington, D.C.
Our D.C. headquarters at the Syracuse University Center in DuPont Circle, gives students access to leading minds in the world of policy and international affairs, competitive internships, employment opportunities and a deeply engaged network of D.C.-based alumni.
Need a midcareer boost? Explore our Certificates of Advanced Study
We offer a variety of regional, topical and skills-based Certificates of Advanced Study (CAS) to help you focus and refine your expertise. Some CAS can be earned as part of a master's program while others can be earned independent of a degree. Learn to use data to formulate and analyze policy, deepen your knowledge of effective public management practices, develop techniques to promote collaboration and resolve conflicts, broaden your expertise in a specific region of the world, and more.
Maxwell invites undergrad students of color to Public Policy Camp
September 7, 2018
The Maxwell School of Syracuse University is pleased to partner with the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) to host a one-day “Public Policy Camp” designed to introduce promising young students of color to the field and to help ensure that diverse perspectives are represented in leadership roles wherever public policies are made and implemented.
This year’s camp, titled Moving Beyond Activism to Good Public Policy: Having a Voice at the Table, will be held Friday, September 28, from 9 am to 4:30 pm in the Dr. Paul and Natalie Strasser Legacy Room, Eggers Hall 220. The event is free and open to undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors across New York State by prior registration.
APPAM/Maxwell Public Policy Camp participants will:
- engage with students from across New York State, as well as Maxwell School faculty and alumni on public and social issues;
- learn about the skills that can transform social activism into good public policy;
- meet leaders who live and work in the policy field;
- explore the career possibilities gained by having a public policy and administration skill set; and
- leave excited about public policy as an academic, personal, and professional pathway.
Participants will leave armed with not only new knowledge and a network of fellow students sharing their public service/activist spirit but also a host of alumni and faculty contacts for continued advice and mentorship, as well as resources for next steps so they can be successful in achieving their public service goals.
“Having diverse perspectives at the policy table leads to better, more effective and inclusive public policy,” says Robert Bifulco, associate dean and chair of the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs. “There continues to be a lack of trained policy professionals of color in leadership positions in the public policy community. We must work collectively to address this problem, and we are proud to partner with APPAM on this initiative.”
Please visit https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/policy-camp/registration/ to register and for more information about deadlines and travel subsidies for qualified participants. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until the venue reaches capacity.
09/07/18
