Penn State School of International Affairs

 

At the Penn State School of International Affairs (SIA), students have access to the resources of one of the world’s largest and most prestigious research universities while enjoying an intimate, personalized program that offers a unique Master of International Affairs degree.

Students build a degree that works for them by choosing from among nine optional concentrations in everything from development policy to international cybersecurity—or by customizing their own concentration. At SIA, students have access to electives from any of Penn State’s distinguished graduate disciplines, allowing them to earn a degree tailored to fit their unique interests and goals. SIA classes are hands-on and emphasize experiential learning approaches ideally suited to preparation for global careers.

As “your passport to a global career,” an impressive 96 percent of SIA graduates are employed within one year of graduation in governments, NGOs and private industry around the world. The school’s dedicated Career Services Office works closely with students to help strengthen their résumés, identify internships and career paths, and more. Students may participate in the office’s alumni career panels, networking events, and Career Exposure Trips to visit employers in New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.

On Penn State’s University Park campus in beautiful “Happy Valley,” students enjoy the academic and extracurricular resources of one of the world’s top 50 universities, study alongside a truly international student body with colleagues from across the globe, and have extensive access to SIA’s elite faculty, which includes two former U.S. ambassadors, two former U.S. Navy admirals, a former senior CIA analyst, a former legal adviser to the United Nations and the African Union, distinguished scholars, authors, and more.

Students may also study abroad through Penn State’s Office of Global Programs. Last year, SIA students studied in China, Senegal, Kenya, and the U.K. During spring break, several students visited Cuba as part of a special embedded course. Students also learn outside the classroom through a regular schedule of events and distinguished speakers, who include high-ranking diplomats from Cuba, Sri Lanka, and the U.S., as well as international correspondents with the New York Times and Chicago Tribune, and more.

“The Penn State School of International Affairs is more than just a place to expand your horizons and prepare for a great, global career. It’s a family and a home away from home,” says Scott Gartner, director of SIA. “We will support and empower you to use your education to take you where you want to go in life, in your career, and in the world.”

Master’s Degrees offered: See Program Directory

Receive School Information: See Request Info