The mission of the University of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) is to prepare students to make significant contributions to society through leadership in public service in government, nonprofit organizations, or the private sector. We accomplish this mission through quality teaching, rigorous research, and service to communities and constituencies-at the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct-domestically and around the world.
Contact Information
Recuitment & Admissions Office
Suite 3601 Posvar Hall
412-648-7640
E-mail: spia@pitt.edu
www.spia.pitt.edu
Admissions
SPIA admits persons who have demonstrated intellectual competence and high motivation in an academic and/or professional environment and who will enrich the quality of life in the school. Individuals from varied cultural, academic, and social backgrounds provide an exciting frame of reference for the stimulating exchanges so vital to a dynamic academic process. The following are required of all Master applicants: transcripts, application and fee, TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS score (if international), letters of recommendation, essays, and resume.
You can begin any of our master’s degree programs (MPA, MID, or MPIA) in either the fall or spring terms. Applications to the PhD program are for the fall term only. Applications to the mid-career master’s degree (MPPM) and non-degree programs are accepted for the fall, spring, or summer terms.
Admission Prerequisites
It is desirable, but not mandatory, that PhD applicants have an earned a master’s degree in public and international affairs or a degree in one of the social sciences and work experience prior to undertaking doctoral study.
Admission Requirements
All applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a degree that is equivalent to a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. Applicants are expected to have a B+ or better average (3.0 GPA) in their work to date. To be competitive for merit scholarships, applicants normally need at least a 3.5 GPA. The admissions committee also takes into consideration GPA within the major, GPA within the last two years, extenuating circumstances, length of time since graduation from college, rigor of the undergraduate program, and other factors.
Doctoral applicants are only eligible for admission to full-time status in the Fall Term.
Application Requirements
Online Application
Complete and submit the online application in its entirety. All application materials can be submitted electronically using the online system, with the exception of official academic transcripts.
Application Fee
The non-refundable application fee may be paid by credit card. You will be prompted to pay the fee at the end of the online application process. The application fee is waived for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, AmeriCorps Volunteers, Truman Scholars, Pickering Fellows, Coro Fellows, Rangel Fellows, McNair Fellows, Teach for America alumni, City Year alumni, Payne Fellows, Catholic Volunteer Network alumni, and veterans/active duty members of the US Armed Forces.
TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Language Test Scores (International Applications Only)
International applicants must submit a score from one of three possible English tests: the TOEFL, the IELTS, or the Duolingo English Test.
Score reports must be sent directly from the testing agency to SPIA. SPIA’s institutional code for TOEFL score reports is 2574.
The minimum TOEFL score required for admission is 80 on the Internet-based test, although 90 or above is strongly preferred. The minimum IELTS score required for admission is 6.5 (overall, and in each of the subsections). The minimum Duolingo English Test score required for admission is 115.
Exceptions: International students who have completed a degree at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States are not required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test score. International students who are citizens of certain English-speaking countries are also exempt.
GRE or GMAT scores
For all of our master’s programs, GRE or GMAT scores are optional and not required for admission. If you’re applying to the MPA, MPIA, MID, or PhD program, you may choose to submit scores from one of these tests as supplemental material, if you feel that they show evidence of your abilities beyond what the rest of your application reflects.
If you’re applying to the mid-career MPPM program (online or on campus) or the non-degree program, you should not submit GRE or GMAT scores. Supplemental materials submitted to those programs will not be reviewed.
If you are submitting test scores, you must order an official score report, sent directly from the testing agency to us. (GRE reports can be ordered at www.gre.org; GMAT reports can be ordered at www.mba.com.) Copies of your own score report are not acceptable. Our institutional code for the GRE is 2574.
Résumé
All applicants should upload a current résumé/curriculum vitae, showing relevant awards, academic achievements, full- and part-time job experience, internships, and volunteer work.
Personal Essay - (Master & PhD applicants)
Fall PhD Applicants:
For doctoral applicants, identify the broad topic and research questions you envision as the focus of your doctoral dissertation research. Explain the importance of your research questions and identify the SPIA faculty member with whom you’d like to work. There is a limit of 5,000 characters (approximately two double-spaced, typed pages).
Master’s Applicants:
Prompt 1: Use your essay to introduce yourself to the admissions committee. In under 400 words, share your professional goals and why you think a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public & International Affairs can help you attain them. Describe your motivation and unique skills for pursuing graduate work in public and international affairs.
Prompt 2: At the University of Pittsburgh School of Public & International Affairs, we nurture a community of students with diverse backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. In under 400 words, describe how your personal and professional experiences might shape how you engage with issues in public & international affairs.
Optional Essay (Master’s Applicants) and Research Proposal/Writing Sample (PhD Applicants)
Master’s Applicants: If there are any special circumstances you would like the admissions committee to consider, highlight them in the optional essay. Use this essay to include information that you feel is important, but that you’re unable to include elsewhere on the application. There is no penalty for leaving this blank.
PhD Applicants: As an applicant to the Ph.D. program, you are required to submit an additional essay that discusses your potential dissertation research. Describe the idea and why it is important. Further, discuss the main questions to be investigated and the types of evidence that would be needed to support conclusions. Finally, identify the SPIA faculty with whom you would like to work. There is a 5,000 character limit (approximately two double-spaced, typed pages). PhD Applicants are also asked to upload a single-authored writing sample in English that is 25 pages or less. The writing sample does not need to be a published paper but should demonstrate academic or professional research.
Academic Transcripts
When you’re completing the online application, you’ll be asked to upload copies of your official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, whether or not you earned a degree. You should upload a scanned copy of an official transcript generated by your university’s registrar’s office. Self-reported transcripts, student grade reports, or copies of unofficial transcripts are not acceptable.
It is not necessary to submit hard copies at the time of application, as long as your scanned copies are uploaded successfully. If you are admitted, you will then be required to submit final, official transcripts directly from your university’s registrar’s office to us. The official copy must exactly match the scanned copy that you submitted at the time of application.
If you do not have access to technology that will allow you to submit a scanned copy of your transcript at the time of application, you may submit an official copy instead. The official copy must be sent by mail directly from your university’s registrar’s office to School of Public and International Affairs (3601 Posvar Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260).
Two Letters of Recommendation
Letters should be written by professors who have taught you or supervisors who have overseen your work, either professionally or in a volunteer capacity. If you graduated from college less than three years ago, at least one, if not both, of your letters should be from professors. Letters written by friends, family members, work colleagues, or anyone who has not taught or supervised you are not acceptable.
All letters must be submitted online. When you complete the online application, you will be prompted to enter the names and email addresses of your recommenders. The system will automatically send them an email explaining how they can upload their letters.
Admission Deadlines: Fall Term
US Citizens/Permanent Residents:
- MPA, MPIA, MID (First Priority) - February 1
- MPA, MPIA, MID (Second Priority) - April 15
- MPA, MPIA, MID (Third Priority) - June 1
- MPPM - June 1
- Non-degree - August 1
- PhD - January 15
International Students:
- All applications - January 15
Application Deadlines: Spring Term
US Citizens/Permanent Residents:
- MPA, MPIA, MID, MPPM - November 1
- Non-degree - December 1
International Students:
- MPA, MPIA, MID, MPPM - August 1
Application Deadlines: Summer Term
US Citizens/Permanent Residents:
- MPPM - March 1
- Non-degree - April 1
International Students:
School-Based Funding
Applicants to the Master of International Development, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Public and International Affairs programs are automatically considered for partial tuition scholarships if they apply by the February 1st priority deadline, with decisions communicated by March 31st. These scholarships are highly competitive, not guaranteed, and limited to full-time students. While full funding is not available for our master’s programs, we encourage all applicants to explore external funding opportunities and complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal aid.
For those pursuing the Master of Public Policy and Management program, we offer a 20% tuition discount for specified government employees. Additionally, we partner with a number of organizations to offer specialized scholarships. For details, please visit our Scholarship Partners page.
Most students who are accepted to our doctoral program are awarded four years of funding. This allows you to complete your required coursework and your doctoral dissertation. Typically, students receive graduate student assistantships (GSAs) and/or teaching assistantships (TAs), which provide salary, tuition, fees, and medical insurance. If you have an assistantship, you’re required to work 20 hours per week as assigned by the associate dean. Assistantships will be renewed each academic year if you are in good academic standing and making normal progress in achieving your doctoral milestones.
Admission Information
Application Process
SPIA only accepts online applications. Payment for the application fee can be made by credit card. The application fee, if not waived, is non-refundable; it does not apply toward the payment of tuition.
Tuition Deposit
Once admitted to SPIA, a student is required to submit a US$200 tuition deposit to secure their place in the incoming class. The deposit is applied to the tuition and is non-refundable. Payment can be made by credit card.
Admission Status
Admission to degree programs in the School are competitive and based on the relative strength of all credentials required in support of the application. Admission may be granted or denied only by the dean of the school or his or her designee. However non-immigrant students may be denied visa documents for non-academic reasons by the Office of International Services. Acceptable students are admitted to SPIA with “full”, “provisional”, or “non-degree” status, depending on their qualifications and objectives. The qualifications described below represent SPIA’s minimum standards.
Full Graduate Status
For admission with full graduate status, an applicant must demonstrate, in the judgment of the admissions committee, that they clearly possess the skills, aptitude, and academic preparation necessary to succeed in graduate study. The judgment of the admissions committee is based on a holistic review of all application materials submitted, including, but not limited to, undergraduate grade point average, letters of recommendation, full- or part-time work experience, and the student’s personal essay(s). Only students with full graduate status will be considered for School-based funding or be graduated.
Provisional Status
Applicants who are graduates of a recognized college or university but who do not qualify for admission to full graduate status because of deficiencies in either their undergraduate program or their academic achievement may be considered for provisional graduate status if strong evidence of their ability to complete a graduate program is provided. Courses taken to remove deficiencies do not contribute toward the completion of graduate degree requirements. Transfer from provisional to full graduate status is possible only after removal of deficiencies and other conditions noted at the time of admission and satisfactory progress in graduate work. A student on provisional status is not eligible to be considered for School-based funding or to be graduated.
As a requirement of provisional status, a student must complete 6 (for part-time students) or 12 (for full-time students) SPIA credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better by the end of their first term (for full-time students) or by the end of their second term (for part-time students). By meeting these requirements, status will be changed to full graduate status, which will allow the student to become eligible for graduation. The student will not be eligible to pursue any joint degree programs until they have obtained full graduate status. If a student fails to meet the conditions of your provisional admission, the student will be dismissed from the school. If a student defers their admission to a future term, the same conditions will apply.
Non-Degree Status
Applicants to the non-degree program must have a bachelor’s degree and are held to the same admissions standards as anyone applying to a degree program. In most cases, only U.S. citizens/permanent residents are eligible. International students may not apply as non-degree students unless they are participating in one of SPIA’s exchange partnerships with foreign universities.
Non-degree students are typically admitted for one semester only, to take a specific class or classes. Most often, they are graduate students at other universities who want to transfer the SPIA credits into their home schools. Some non-degree students are taking classes for professional training or for personal enrichment. In their essays, non-degree applicants should explain what courses they intend to take and for what purpose.
The non-degree program is not appropriate for students who are trying to improve their credentials so that they may apply to a SPIA degree program. Students who are not yet qualified for a degree program would not be admitted to the non-degree program. If a non-degree student wishes to enter a degree program, they must submit a new application to SPIA. No more than 6 credits earned under non-degree status can be applied to a degree program.
Part-Time Status
Admission procedures for part-time students are the same as those for full-time students.
Guaranteed Admission Program (University of Pittsburgh Undergraduate Students only)
Prospective undergraduates who apply to the University of Pittsburgh may be offered guaranteed admission to SPIA at the time they are admitted to the university’s undergraduate program. The decision to offer this guaranteed rests entirely with the undergraduate admissions committee. To be considered for graduate/professional school guarantees, prospective freshmen must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens (i.e. permanent resident aliens, refugees, or legal immigrants), apply to the School of Arts and Sciences or a regional campus, unless otherwise noted, and indicate the pre-professional field of study on their admissions application. The guarantee is void if the student does not enroll in/graduate from the University of Pittsburgh’s undergraduate program or does not apply to SPIA within three years of graduating from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree.
Additional requirements:
• A separate application is not necessary for consideration. All first-year applicants to the Dietrich School of Arts and Science who choose a social science major will be considered for the guarantee. In addition, applicants who chose “Public and International Affairs” in the Guaranteed Admission Program dropdown box on the Application for Undergraduate Admission will also be considered for the guarantee. Only prospective first-year students can be considered for the guarantee.
• Maintain a minimum 3.5 grade point average while satisfying the minimum course work requirements for the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.
• Demonstrate a commitment to public service through internships, volunteer, and/or work experience in the fields of public and international affairs.
• Apply to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public & International Affairs, or Master of International Development programs. The offer of guaranteed admission remains in effect for three years after graduation from Arts & Science with a bachelor’s degree.
Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program (4+1 for University of Pittsburgh Undergraduate Students only)
Exceptionally able undergraduate students from the Deitrich School of Arts and Sciences or the College of General Studies may be admitted to SPIA with full-graduate status. These students may use 12-24 credits based on SPIA degree program to satisfy their requirements for the baccalaureate degree. Eligible students must be in good academic standing with a minimum overall GPA of 3.5, have completed at least 108 credits to be admitted for the MPIA degree or have completed at least 96 credits to be admitted for the MPA and MID degrees, have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better for all three SPIA degrees, have completed all General Education and major requirements and have no “g” grades.
For the MPIA degree, students will spend their last term in their senior year as an undergraduate student, taking 12 SPIA credits while finishing any remaining undergraduate requirements (ideally no more than 3-6 credits). At the end of that term, students will graduate with their bachelor’s degree on schedule. In year five, students will finish their remaining 24 SPIA credits and graduate with their master’s degree.
For the MPA & MID degrees, students will spend their last two terms in their senior year as an undergraduate student, taking 24 SPIA credits while finishing any remaining undergraduate requirements (ideally no more than 3-6 credits). At the end of the second term, students will graduate their bachelor’s degree on schedule. In year five, students will finish their remaining 24 SPIA credits as a graduate student and graduate with their master’s degree.
Deferred Admission
Students accepted to a degree program at SPIA may request deferral of their term of entrance for a period of up to one academic year. The request for deferral must be made in writing and must be received by May 1. If approved, the student is sent a new letter confirming the deferral and stating the new term for beginning their course of study. If the student has been awarded School-based funding, the award will not be deferred.
Readmission
If a student wishes to return to SPIA and complete the degree after being made inactive, the student must file a complete application for readmission (and fulfill all current application requirements). Readmission is not guaranteed, nor does it necessarily reinstate the student to the status enjoyed prior to being dismissed/becoming inactive. To be readmitted, the student must demonstrate proper preparation to meet all current admission and degree requirements. If curriculum and/or policies have changed since a student’s prior term of enrollment, the student will be held to the new set of requirements and standards. Readmission is automatic, however, for students who receive prior approval for a formal leave of absence. Leaves of absence may not exceed 12 months.
Statute of Limitations
There is a six-year statute of limitations on returning to SPIA to resume a degree. If a student terminates their enrollment for any reason prior to graduating, or becomes inactive for any reason, that student must re-enroll at SPIA within six years of the final term of enrollment to resume progress toward the degree. After six years have passed, any credits a student has previously earned can no longer be applied toward a SPIA degree.
Tuition
Visit the following page, https://www.tuition.pitt.edu/ for up-to-date tuition and mandatory fee rates. Note that there are different tuition rates for Pennsylvania residents and non-residents.
Academic Standards
Students are in good academic standing when they earn acceptable grades for graduate work and make normal progress toward the degree. Specifically, full-time students must earn a minimum of 9 credits per term with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all courses. Part-time students are held to the same standards. However, they are expected to do so while carrying less than 9 credits per term.
Students receiving school-based funding are held to higher standards. Master’s students must earn, after two terms, 24 credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Doctoral students must earn 24 credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Provisional Status
Students admitted with provisional status must complete 6 (for part-time students) or 12 (for full-time students) SPIA credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better by the end of their first term (for full-time students) or by the end of their second term (for part-time students). By meeting these requirements, status will be changed to full graduate status, which will allow the student to become eligible for graduation. If a student fails to meet the conditions of your provisional admission, the student will be dismissed from the school.
Probation
Students are automatically placed on academic probation when they fail to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 and earn the appropriate number of credits for their status. Students are also placed on academic probation automatically if they receive two G or I grades in one term and/or earn a grade of U, C- or lower.
Dismissal
Students who fail to correct the deficiencies of their academic probation within a specified time period (normally one term) are subject to dismissal.
For additional information on academic standards and procedures, students are referred to SPIA’s Handbook of Academic Policies and Procedures for Master’s Degree Programs, SPIA’s Handbook of Academic Policies and Procedures for the Doctor of Philosophy, and the University’s Guidelines on Academic Integrity: Student and Faculty Obligations and Hearing Procedures.
Acceptance of Transfer Credits from Outside Institutions
Students who have completed graduate courses in degree-granting graduate programs at other accredited institutions within the past seven (7) years prior to admission to SPIA should submit official transcripts from those institutions at the time they apply so that the courses can be evaluated for transfer credits or waivers. If the source institution is located in the United States, the institution must be regionally accredited in order for the credits to be transferrable. Graduate-level courses taken while a student was enrolled in an undergraduate program are generally not eligible to be transferred into SPIA. Under normal circumstances, only graduate-level courses taken after a student has earned a bachelor’s degree may be evaluated as transfer credits. (See “Enrollment in Graduate Courses as an Undergraduate” above.) A maximum of 12 credits can be transferred for students enrolled in the MPA and MID degree programs. A maximum of 9 credits can be transferred for students enrolled in the MPIA degree program. A maximum of 6 credits can be transferred for students enrolled in the MPPM program. Students admitted with provisional status cannot transfer credits until full graduate student status has been granted.
Official transcripts certifying graduate courses completed at another regionally accredited institution can be evaluated for acceptability as transfer credits, provided grades of B or better (GPA = 3.0) or its equivalent has been earned. Other documentation such as course syllabi and descriptions will be required to support the student’s request. The documents must prove that the course(s) are substantially similar in content to existing SPIA course(s) in order for the transfer to be approved. Transfer (advanced standing) credits are entered as block transfer credits (advanced standing) on the student’s transcript. Grades and quality points are not recorded for credits accepted by transfer.
The completion of requirements for advanced degrees must be satisfied through registration at the Pittsburgh campus of the University. Graduate students already enrolled, may, when approved in advance by the director of student services, spend a term or more at another graduate institution, to obtain training or experience not available at the University, and transfer those credits toward the requirements for a SPIA degree. In such instances, neither the University nor SPIA is responsible for any financial assistance to the graduate student.
No credits will be granted toward a SPIA degree for work completed in extension courses, correspondence courses, or those offered in the off-campus center of another institution unless those credits are approved for equivalent graduate degrees at that institution, and provided that the institution has a regionally accredited program.
Acceptance of Transfer Credits from Other Graduate Schools at the University of Pittsburgh
With the exception of students enrolled in formal joint-degree programs, students who earn/have earned credits while enrolled as a graduate student at another University of Pittsburgh school may petition for some of their credits to count toward the SPIA degree. Typically, no more than six credits earned while enrolled in another graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh may be counted toward the SPIA degree. In most cases, such credits will not be listed as transfer credits on the student’s SPIA transcript, and will count only as free electives. The final decision on course acceptability rests with the SPIA director of academic programs & advising and the University of Pittsburgh Registrar.
Statute of Limitations
The purpose of the statute of limitations is to ensure that a graduate degree from SPIA represents mastery of current knowledge in the student’s field of study.
Requirements for the professional master’s degrees must be completed within a period of five consecutive calendar years from the students’ initial registration for graduate study. Joint degrees that require coursework in excess of 50 credits may be granted a longer statute of limitations.
Under exceptional circumstances a candidate may apply for an extension of the statute of limitations. The request must be approved by the division director and submitted to the dean for final action. Each student who requests an extension of the statute of limitations must be prepared to demonstrate proper preparation for the completion of all current degree requirements.
Advising and Career Development
Academic Advising: Each student is assigned a faculty and academic advisor based on, whenever possible, the compatibility of student and faculty academic interests. Faculty advisors are responsible for counseling their advisees about career opportunities in the student’s area of study; for counseling advisees who have been placed on probation; and for approving the advisee’s school-wide required and elective courses, proposed thesis or dissertation topics, and supervised internships. Academic, faculty advisors and students monitor academic progress and identify areas where corrective action on the part of students may be required. It is essential, therefore, that students consult periodically with their advisors. Unless students subsequently request a change, faculty members originally assigned will continue as advisors throughout the students’ program of study. If, however, a change in faculty advisor is requested, students must obtain the signed approval of the new advisors. Based on a student-focused approach, we provide students with a academic advisor who serves as the first point of contact for class registration, counseling advisees who have been placed on probation, and preparation for graduation. Additionally, academic advisors support students by providing information necessary to navigate the logistical challenges of graduate school and connect students to resources at the University of Pittsburgh.
Career Development: SPIA places great emphasis on assisting students in determining the best and most appropriate positions available. In addition to faculty advisors, the school provides resources and guidance for students throughout their course of study as they devise strategies to identify professional opportunities. Among the many services offered through Career Development are individual career advising, internship and job search assistance, and a series of career-related workshops and special events. Extensive reference materials on jobs, fellowships, and internships are made available in a variety of ways, including SPIA Career Launch, SPIA’s online career management system for students and alumni. Workshops cover such topics as resume preparation, job search strategies, negotiation skills, networking, and using technology in securing employment. Special events include Foreign Service information sessions, mock interviews for the Presidential Management Fellowship Program, an internship fair, and networking events with alumni, foundations, and agency representatives on campus and in Washington, D.C.
Concentration and Degree Options
SPIA offers the following degrees:
Master of Public Administration (MPA) Public Administration, MPA , including concentrations in:
- Energy & Environment
- Governance & International Public Management
- Policy Research & Analysis
- Public & Nonprofit Management
- Social Policy
- Urban Affairs & Planning
Master of Public and International Affairs (MPIA) Master of Public and International Affairs , including concentrations in:
- International Political Economy
- Security and Intelligence Studies
- Human Security
Master of International Development (MID) Master of International Development , including concentrations in:
- Energy & Environment
- Governance & International Public Management
- Human Security
- Nongovernmental Organizations & Civil Society
- Social Policy
- Urban Affairs & Planning
- Traditional accelerated mid-career master program
- Online accelerated mid-career master program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Minors
Students have the flexibility to customize their education as any concentration can be taken as a minor. Adding a minor will help differentiate your education, deepen your knowledge base and broaden professional marketability. Each minor consists of a 9-credit sequence of courses within your chosen subject area. This is taken in addition to general required courses and courses for your area of concentration. Any course taken to fulfill a requirement for your degree or concentration cannot count towards your minor. A course my not be double-counted. An approved course must be substituted.
For SPIA minors, click on this link:
SPIA Minors
Joint Degrees
SPIA students may pursue two graduate degrees simultaneously, through SPIA’s partnerships with other professional schools at the University of Pittsburgh (and two foreign universities). Joint programs reduce the number of credits needed for each degree, allowing students to earn two master’s degrees in just three years, or a master’s degree and a law degree in just four years.
To participate in a joint degree program, students apply separately to both schools, and must meet all of the usual admissions requirements (including entrance exams like the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT, where applicable). If admitted to both schools, students spend one full year in SPIA followed by a second full year in the other program (or vice versa). During the third and/or fourth year, they spend a minimum of one additional term in SPIA, earning a total of 36 SPIA credits.
Although it is possible to apply to both schools at the same time, currently enrolled students may still apply for a joint degree as long as they have not yet completed one year or, in the case of current law students, two years of full-time study.
Full-time students in the MPA, MPIA, or MID programs may be eligible to participate in the following joint programs:
Juris Doctor with University of Pittsburgh School of Law: The joint JD allows students to combine the study of law and policy, preparing them equally well for employment in the judicial or executive branches of government. Graduates are positioned to work in international law firms, nonprofit advocacy, and in public or nonprofit agencies that require knowledge of legal issues such as refugee services and the Department of Justice.
Master of Business Administration with University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business - MPIA and MID students only: Combining a SPIA degree with an MBA opens many opportunities for a career in international finance, government financial regulation, or multinational corporations. Students with both degrees are highly marketable in the fields of international business and international economic policy.
Master of Public Health with University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health: Students pursuing a joint MPH gain a unique perspective on public management, government responses to epidemics, and the effect of sanitation on international development. They study health policy and the science behind it, both at the local level and on the world stage, where disease recognizes no borders. Graduates are employed by medical relief agencies, nonprofit organizations that distribute vaccines, and government authorities responsible for protecting society from epidemics.
Master of Social Work with University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work: Today’s community building arena demands well-trained professionals across a wider array of skills and systems than one degree program may offer. That’s why the joint degree program between SPIA and School of Social Work provides students with focused professional education in the community building arena to prepare them for careers in non-profit and government organizations, community development, social policy, and urban and regional affairs.
Master of Science in Information Science with University of Pittsburgh School of Information Science: The joint MSIS degree allows SPIA students to combine the study of public management and information technology management, at a time when both fields are increasingly interconnected. Students are prepared to pursue public or nonprofit-sector careers that require strong knowledge of modern information systems.
Master of Quantitative Economics with University of Pittsburgh’s Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences: The joint MQE/MPA degree allows a student to pursue two graduate degrees simultaneously between the Department of Economics and the School of Public and International Affairs. This streamlined, 2 ½ years joint degree program is built for students seeking training in public policy, public administration, and data analytics. It is ideally suited for students looking to enter mid-career positions as policy/data analysts in both the public and private sectors.
Joint Degrees at Kobe University, Japan: Through a special partnership, students may combine their SPIA degrees with one of several degrees offered by the Graduate School of International Cooperative Studies at Kobe University: the Master of International Affairs, Master of Laws, Master of Economics, or Master of Political Science. The Kobe GSICS curriculum is in English.
Pitt Student - Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program (4+1) for University of Pittsburgh Undergraduate Students only)
The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program for Pitt undergraduate students to complete their bachelor’s degree while working on a master’s degree at SPIA.
Exceptionally able undergraduate students from the Deitrich School of Arts and Sciences or the College of General Studies may be admitted to SPIA with full-graduate status. These students may use 12-24 credits based on SPIA degree program to satisfy their requirements for the baccalaureate degree. Eligible students must be in good academic standing with a minimum overall GPA of 3.5, have completed at least 108 credits to be admitted for the MPIA degree or have completed at least 96 credits to be admitted for the MPA and MID degrees, have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better for all three SPIA degrees, have completed all General Education and major requirements and have no “g” grades.
For the MPIA degree, students will spend their last term in their senior year as an undergraduate student, taking 12 SPIA credits while finishing any remaining undergraduate requirements (ideally no more than 3-6 credits). At the end of that term, students will graduate with their bachelor’s degree on schedule. In year five, students will finish their remaining 24 SPIA credits and graduate with their master’s degree.
For the MPA & MID degrees, students will spend their last two terms in their senior year as an undergraduate student, taking 24 SPIA credits while finishing any remaining undergraduate requirements (ideally no more than 3-6 credits). At the end of the second term, students will graduate their bachelor’s degree on schedule. In year five, students will finish their remaining 24 SPIA credits as a graduate student and graduate with their master’s degree.
Interested in applying? First, talk to your undergraduate advisor to make sure you are eligible, and make an appointment with a SPIA admissions counselor to discuss the program (spia@pitt.edu). Submit a complete application to SPIA by February 1 of your junior year, and be sure to check the box to indicate that you are applying for the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program. One of your two letters of recommendation must be written by Susan Crain in the Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office, confirming that you are eligible for the program.
Special Academic Opportunities/Programs
SPIA offers a variety of academic programs to complement the degree programs offered, including area studies, exchange programs, and research and travel grants.
Centers, Institutes and Initiatives
The Matthew B. Ridgway Center for International Security Studies - educates the next generation of security analysts and produces scholarship and impartial analysis that informs the options available to policymakers who must confront diverse challenges to international and human security on a global scale.
The Ford Institute for Human Security - conducts research that focuses on a series of transnational threats to the human rights of civilian populations and makes independent research and policy papers available to both domestic and international policymakers.
The Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership - reaffirms SPIA’s commitment to creating ethical leaders and provides an institutional platform from which to launch an innovative program of teaching, research, and public service on issues of ethics and accountability in all areas of public life.
Center for Analytical Approaches to Social Innovation (CAASI) - translates a real-world problem from the community into a set of quantitative research questions and engages experts across disciplines to solve them.
Center for Governance and Markets - to understand the diverse institutions and governance arrangements that affect social order and human well-being in the United States and around the world. Generating knowledge of ways in which individuals and communities overcome challenges to living free, prosperous, and peaceful lives.
The Gender Inequality Research lab (GIRL) - is an interdisciplinary research forum for scholars and practitioners collaborating on policy-relevant research on gender inequality.
Area Studies
The University of Pittsburgh is home to several internationally recognized area studies centers. Many of these centers have been designated National Resource Centers (NRCs) by the US Department of Education, certifying their status as leading centers of their kind in the United States. The NRCs sponsor numerous programs and offer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships for which SPIA students (U.S. citizens only) are eligible.
UCIS offers graduate certificates that SPIA students can pursue concurrently with their degrees, allowing them to focus their studies on a particular region or theme. It is normally possible to complete the requirements for a SPIA master’s degree and a UCIS certificate in two years. For further information, click here, https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/main/graduate-students
GSPIA Programs Abroad
SPIA has developed a number of international partnerships that offer students the possibility to study abroad for a regular academic term, during the summer, or-in a double degree program-for an entire year or more. Program availability is subject to change.
International Development and Asian Affairs in Kobe, Japan
This program enables students to earn a Certificate in International Development and Asian Affairs from GSICS at Kobe University while completing their masters degree from SPIA.
Public Administration and/or International Studies in Seoul, Korea
The exchange program enables students to earn credits toward their SPIA degree by taking courses in the Graduate School of Public Administration and/or the Graduate School of International Studies at Seoul National University. SPIA and Seoul National University also offer a dual-degree program that will give students the option to earn both a Master of Public Administration from Seoul National University and one of SPIA’s four master’s degrees.
Public Policy and International Affairs in Paris, France
This program enables students to earn credits toward their SPIA degree by taking courses at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (in French), or at its English-language wing, the Paris School of International Affairs.
Government or Political Science in Bogota, Colombia
This program enables students to earn credits toward their SPIA degree by taking courses at the Department of Political Science at the University of the Andes, one of Latin America’s leading institutions. Coursework is in Spanish.
Public Management in Nanjing, China
This program enables students to earn credits toward their SPIA degree by taking courses at Nanjing University’s School of Public Management. Coursework is in Chinese.
International Relations, Madrid, Spain
This program allows students to earn credits toward their SPIA degree by taking courses at the School of International Relations, IE University. Coursework is in English.
Budget permitting, each year the Office of the Dean and the school’s academic programs make available small grants to students. Uses for these grants can include attending professional development conferences, presenting papers, and supporting internships and study abroad activities. These grants are awarded through a highly competitive selection process.
Faculty
Lisa S. Alfredson, Professor, PhD, London School of Economics
Luke Condra, Assistant Professor, PhD, Stanford University
Sabina E. Deitrick, Associate Professor, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
George W. Dougherty, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Georgia
Nicola Foote, Professor, PhD, University College London
Muge Kokten Finkel, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Virginia
Shanti Gamper-Rabindra, Associate Professor, Phd, Massachusetts Insitute of Technology
Ryan Grauer, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Melinda Haas, Assistant Professor, JD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Princeton University
Gary Hollibaugh, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Rochester
Daniel Jones, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Michael Kenney, Associate Professor, PhD, University of Florida
So Jin Lee, PhD, Duke University
Michael Lewin, Senior Lecturer, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Huafang Li, Assistant Professor, PhD, Rutgers University
Siyao Li, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Sera Linardi, Assistant Professor, PhD, California Institute of Technology
Jennifer B. Murtazashvili, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Ilia Murtazashvili, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lisa Nelson, Associate Professor, PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Erica Owen, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of Minnesota
Andrea Pena-Vasquez, PhD, University of Notre Dame
Zoila Ponce de Leon, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Marcela Gonzalez Rivas, Assistant Professor, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Kay Shimizu, Assistant Professor, PhD, Stanford University
Carissa Schively Slotterback, Dean and Professor, PhD, Florida State University
Nuno Themudo, Associate Professor, PhD, London School of Economics
Kimberly Turner, Assistant Professor, PhD, Southern Ilinois University, Carbondale
Jeremy Weber, Assistant Professor, Phd, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Part-time and Visiting Faculty
Kathleen Buechel, Senior Lecturer, MA, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Julie Santucci, Senior Lecturer, MA, University of Arizona
Program and Course Offerings
Certificate
Doctoral
Master’s
Micro-Credential
