Public and International Affairs Program

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Master of Public and International Affairs (MPIA)

From the halls of the United Nations to the streets of war-torn conflict zones, the modern international system is in a state of rapid flux that demands versatile, well-educated professionals. The MPIA degree is a multidisciplinary program designed to prepare students for careers of influence in the international arena - as government policymakers, diplomats, intelligence officials, global business leaders, nonprofit managers, and policy researchers. The program emphasizes practical skills and knowledge necessary to participate in the world policy process and shape its future. The MPIA curriculum includes traditional courses on world history, economics, and international relations theory, along with practical courses on intelligence collection and analysis, diplomacy, and international finance. It also includes one of the country’s only graduate specializations in Human Security - a unique field that focuses on the security of civilian populations and human rights.

Degree Requirements and Majors

Students must complete at least 48 credits in public and international affairs and may choose one of three concentrations: International Political Economy, Human Security, or Security & Intelligence Studies. Students may also pursue a minor in any of these fields, or in any of the following fields offered by GSPIA’s other degree programs.

Prior to graduation, students must also complete a 300-hour internship with an approval from GSPIA career services.

Joint Degree Options

MPIA students are eligible to pursue one of several joint degrees at the University of Pittsburgh, including a joint MPIA/law degree (JD), MPIA/Master of Business Administration (MBA), MPIA/Master of Public Health (MPH), MPIA/Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS), and MPIA/Master of Social Work (MSW). They may also pursue a joint master’s degree through the Graduate School of Cooperative Studies at Kobe University in Japan. An accelerated, five-year bachelor’s/master’s degree program is available to select University of Pittsburgh undergraduates.

Area Studies Certificate Options

MPIA students are eligible to combine their master’s degree with a graduate certificate from the University Center for International Studies.

Programs

• Human Security, JD/MPIA
• Human Security, MBA/MPIA
• Human Security, MPIA/MIS
• Human Security, MPIA/MPH
• Human Security, MPIA/MSW
• Security and Intelligence Studies, JD/MPIA
• Security and Intelligence Studies, MBA/MPIA
• Security and Intelligence Studies, MPIA/MIS
• Security and Intelligence Studies, MPIA/MPH
• Security and Intelligence Studies, MPIA/MSW

• Human Security, MPIA
• International Political Economy, MPIA
• Public and International Affairs, MPIA
• Security and Intelligence Studies, MPIA

• Security and Intelligence Studies Minor

Courses

• PIA 2209 - MANAGING DIVERSITY FOR ORGANIZATIONAL AND REGIONAL EXCELLENCE
• PIA 2616 - WHO WILL RULE THE 21ST CENTURY? WASHINGTON, DC
• PIA 3005 - FIELD SEMINAR IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Return to: Graduate School of Public and International Affairs