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Home―Academics―Master Degrees―Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP)

Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP)

  • Campus: Washington DC
  • Program Duration: 16 months; Part-Time Intensive
  • Application Deadline: Extended Consideration April 1
  • Credits: 41 Credits

In this section

How to Apply

Overview

This 16-month interdisciplinary program is designed for working professionals with five or more years of experience who wish to continue full-time employment while pursuing their degree. 

Become an Expert

Under the guidance of world-renowned scholars, diplomats and policy makers, you will move through the program as a cohort and develop strong professional connections with accomplished and diverse colleagues. You will complete two preparatory courses in international economics and politics online, and a series of core and elective courses on campus. This format delivers a broad overview of global issues, customized to suit your academic interests. The program is delivered in Washington DC on an alternating weekend (Friday/Saturday) schedule. 

What Your Schedule Will Look Like

The curriculum reflects the school’s core strengths and provides policy-relevant expertise in international politics, economics, strategy, and law. Classes meet on alternating Fridays and Saturdays.

Online Preparatory Courses

Begin your studies by taking two introductory courses on international economics and politics online prior to the in-person start of the program.

Curriculum

  • Introduction to International Economics
  • International Politics

Duration 

July–August 

International Policy Residency 

With instruction from former and current policy makers, students work in teams to research, write, and brief policy memos.

Duration

Three Days

Module I

Gain theoretical and practical frameworks for understanding international and comparative politics and an in-depth understanding on current issues related to global trade. 

Curriculum

  • International Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • Global Trade & Policy

Duration

September–November 

Module II

Examine the debates surrounding American foreign policy and gain a firm grasp of the theory and tools of economics, finance, and the functioning of the international economic system. Classes begin in December.

Curriculum

  • Strategy & the Use of Force
  • Contemporary Issues in American Foreign Policy
  • International Monetary Policy & Banking

Duration

December–February

Policy Simulation Residency

In March, you will team up with members of your cohort and enhance your understanding of international bargaining and negotiating as you take on the role of international leaders and policymakers in a time of crisis. 

Duration 

Three Days

Module III

Gain an in-depth understanding on the root causes of conflict and the most pressing challenges facing the developing world. 

Curriculum

  • Conflict Management & Negotiations
  • Topics in International Development
  • Elective

Duration

March–May

Policy Leadership Residency 

Participate in a military-style staff ride to a historic battlefield to study leadership and examine the many challenges of decision-making.

Duration 

Three Days

Module IV

Choose from a variety of elective courses to further enhance your studies and gain expertise in your area of interest. Recent electives in the MAGP program have included Politics and Risk, Economic Sanctions and Statecraft, US National Security Policymaking Process, Global Trends from the Developing World Perspective, Contemporary Middle Eastern Affairs, and Topics in International Finance.

Curriculum

  • Elective 
  • Elective 
  • Elective


Duration

May–August

Module V

Gain a better understanding on how to lead change in a global environment in preparation for your final capstone project, where you will tackle a policy challenge in a foreign country, analyze it in a comparative context, and propose recommendations in the form of a memorandum and briefing.

Curriculum

  • Leading Change in a Global Environment
  • International Residency Preparation

Duration

August–November

Global Policy Residency

During the final module of the 16-month program, you will conduct one week of intensive field research overseas and conclude the program by presenting your recommendations to policy experts. Recent global residency locations have included traveling to Georgia, India, and Morocco. 

 

Duration 

One Week

Curriculum

Learn From the Best

Study with world-class experts who are renowned for their scholarship, influence, and networks.

Sinisa Vukovic

Senior Lecturer of Conflict Management and Global Policy, Director of the Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP)

Karen Mathiasen

Adjunct Lecturer in the Master of Arts in Global Policy Program

Hal Brands

Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor

Adam Szubin

Distinguished Practitioner-in-Residence

View All Faculty

In the News

The ‘Putin Doctrine’ becomes clear in Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Hal Brands wrote in Bloomberg Opinion, 01/06

Kazakhstan reminds Putin what he really needs to fear.

Eugene Finkel wrote in Washington Post, 01/06

China is running out of water and that’s scary for Asia.

Hal Brands wrote in Bloomberg Opinion, 12/29

China’s spat with Lithuania is a test for the world’s democracies.

Hal Brands wrote in Bloomberg Opinion, 12/21

Beijing’s gambit.

Hal Brands wrote in Engelsberg Ideas, 12/10

Cold War.

Hal Brands wrote in Engelsberg Ideas, 12/09

The totalitarian challenge.

Hal Brands wrote in Engelsberg Ideas, 12/08

Putin isn’t the only reason Biden’s 'pivot to Asia' is doomed.

Hal Brands wrote in Bloomberg Opinion, 12/07

The great black tornado.

Hal Brands wrote in Engelsberg Ideas, 12/07

Faculty in the News

Build Your Network

A tremendous strength of the MAGP is the cohort format which allows students to move through the program with other working professionals from the public, private, nonprofit, and multilateral sectors. On day one, you will begin to strengthen your network by making lasting connections with accomplished classmates from diverse backgrounds.

Learn more about our 16-month interdisciplinary program designed for working professionals who wish to continue full-time employment while pursuing their degree.

Johns Hopkins SAIS students

Students of MAGP's fourth cohort take a group photo following the presentation of their thesis.

Johns Hopkins SAIS students on an energy trek

Students traveled to the country Georgia where they conducted interviews and site visits for their individual capstone projects related to a wide range of global policy challenges.

Johns Hopkins SAIS student

For their final project, students tackle a global policy challenge and propose recommendations.

photo of pablo

Building My Expertise on US Foreign Policy

"The tools I’m receiving from the Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP) program will help me to better understand the foreign policy of my own country and where we stand in the world arena."

View Story

photo of Nirupama

A Flexible Program for a Full-Time Professional

"I currently work as an International Program Specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, where I manage international school meal projects in Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Nepal."

View Story

All Student Stories

Admissions Events

Jun 1 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Online SAIS Event

Mid-Career Master's Degrees Virtual Information Session

The Office of Admissions invites you to join this virtual session to learn more about our on-campus degree programs for experienced professionals, the Master of International Public Policy (MIPP) which...

Jun 8 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Online SAIS Event

Public Service Scholarships Virtual Information Session

The Johns Hopkins SAIS Office of Admission invites you to learn more about the SAIS Public Service Fellows and Scholars program by joining an online information session. 

The Public Service...

Jun 15 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Online SAIS Event

DIA Virtual Information Session

The Johns Hopkins SAIS Office of Admissions invites you to learn more about our practitioner's degree, the Doctor of International Affairs (DIA).  

The DIA is for experienced professionals with at...

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Beyond the Classroom

Experiential learning is an important component of this degree program for working professionals. In addition to academic courses, students participate in experiential learning opportunities such as application seminars and residencies.

Global Application Seminars

Gain increased exposure to the school’s faculty, especially those with deep regional expertise.

Residencies

Participate in intense, multi-day exercises that take you out of the classroom and challenge you to apply lessons learned from your coursework. Three of the residencies take place locally. For the fourth, you will travel abroad to a country selected by your cohort.

World-Class Events

The school's academic programs and research centers regularly host expert policymakers, CEOs, heads of state, and scholars to campus. Students are encouraged to explore topics of interest by attending lectures, presentations, and special programming.

Staff Rides

During a staff ride, students gain lessons in strategy, leadership, and decision making by visiting a historic battle site and discussing critical turning points from the perspective of the leaders of the day.

Program Updates

Enguri Dam

Tackling a Policy Challenge in the Republic of Georgia

Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP) Alumnus, Jesse Young '19, reflects on his MAGP capstone project.

MAGP Staff Ride

Staff Ride: Petersburg Campaign

MAGP students explore the leadership styles of individuals from the Civil War by walking the same grounds of Petersburg, Virginia where Union and Confederate soldiers fought over 155 years ago.

MAGP Cohort 5 students briefing the "Secretaries of State"

International Policy Briefings

On Day 3 of their first residency, Cohort 5 students dived right in with policy briefings to “Secretaries of State” Alexander Bick and Sheba Crocker.

View Updates