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 School ranks top 10 for 10 public affairs specialties
March 20, 2018
Syracuse, N.Y., March 20, 2018—Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is once again among the top-ranked graduate schools of public affairs in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Grad Schools, and is highly ranked in eleven of the twelve public affairs specialties.
“We’re proud to receive the recognition of our peers across so many categories of excellence — ten specialties ranked in the top 10 — as we pursue our mission to provide the very best professional education for our students,” says
David M. Van Slyke, dean of the Maxwell School. “The strength of Maxwell’s professional programs has always been in its flexibility and diversity, drawing not only on the breadth of expertise of its public administration and policy faculty but also
its award-winning social science disciplinary scholars.”
In the Best Graduate School of Public Affairs category, Maxwell is ranked #2. The School has consistently held the number one or number two spot since the rankings began in 1995.
Among specialty areas, Maxwell remains ranked #1 for Public Management and Leadership, and climbs to #2 in the areas of Nonprofit Management, Public Finance and Budgeting, and Information Technology and Management.
The range and versatility of Maxwell’s program is reflected also in its very strong standing among two new categories: the School ranks #5 in the area of International/Global Policy and #6 in the area of Local Government Management.
Specialty Rankings:
#1 Public Management and Leadership
#2 Nonprofit Management
#2 Public Finance and Budgeting
#2 Information Technology and Management
#5 International/Global Policy
#6 Local Government Management
#7
Urban Policy
#7 Environmental Policy and Management
#8 Public Policy Analysis
#9 Social Policy
#11 Health Policy and Management
“It’s gratifying to see the Maxwell School earn the high regard of its peers across the spectrum of specializations, especially in areas where the university is making strategic commitments, such as internationalization,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud.
The U.S. News public affairs program rankings are based on a reputational survey of deans, directors, and department chairs representing 282 master’s programs in public affairs and administration, with a response rate of 49 percent.
About the Maxwell School (@MaxwellSU)
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is Syracuse University’s home for innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research in the social sciences, public policy, public administration, and international relations. It is consistently ranked among America’s top graduate school of public affairs (U.S. News & World Report), offering highly regarded professional degrees alongside advanced scholarly degrees in the social sciences; and it is also home to Syracuse University’s undergraduate programs across the social sciences.
Maxwell scholars conduct wide-ranging research through nine interdisciplinary centers, each focused on a topical area within public affairs, such as governance, social and economic policy, conflict and collaboration, public wellness, aging, energy and environment, national security, regional studies, and more. For more information, please visit www.maxwell.syr.edu.
About Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience. The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.
Press Contact:
Jessica Smith
Director, Communications and Media Relations
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
315.443.5492
Jsmith13@maxwell.syr.edu
