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Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP)

  • Campus: Washington DC
  • Program Duration: One Year; Accelerated Executive Style MA for Full-Time Working Professionals
  • Application Deadline: Open through August for the coming Fall
  • Credits: 40 Credits

Overview

The Master of Arts in Global Policy (MAGP) is a one-year executive style program designed for working professionals with five or more years of experience who wish to continue full-time employment while pursuing their degree. The MAGP is designed to provide policy tools on a broad set of global issues, customized to suit your academic interests and career goals. The program is delivered in Washington, DC on an alternating weekend schedule.

Become an Expert

Custom-designed for mid-career, full-time working professionals interested in career advancement or a career pivot, the MAGP builds on a longstanding SAIS tradition of producing graduates with the knowledge and skills required to address complex international policy challenges. The curriculum reflects the school’s core strengths and provides policy-relevant expertise in international politics, economics, development, conflict management, international law, cybersecurity, and sustainable energy, among other areas. 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.

Program-at-a-Glance

Upon matriculation, you will be granted access to an optional, online preterm preparatory course in international economics. Starting in the fall term, you will complete a series of 9 core and 3 elective courses on campus and participate in several multiday experiential learning residencies (3 domestic and one international). You will concurrently complete two semester-long, self-paced online Application Seminars designed to provide you with key tools for your final capstone project. The program culminates with a global policy capstone research paper presented in a public forum.

Curriculum Outline and Calendar, AY24-25

For an overview of the curriculum and the calendar for AY24-25, click here.

Learn From the Best

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

Sinisa Vukovic

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

Hal Brands

Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor

Melissa Griffith

Lecturer in Technology and National Security

Filipe Campante

Bloomberg Distinguished Professor


In the News

Israel Is Fighting a Different War Now

The Atlantic, November 15, 2024

How Ukraine Can Survive Donald Trump

The Spectator, November, 13, 2024

Modern Trade Theory and Trade’s Role in Economic Development

Hinrich Foundation blog, November 12, 2024

Putin Isn't Fighting for Land in Ukraine

The Atlantic, November 12, 2024

How to Talk to a Veteran

War on The Rocks, November 11, 2024

Targeted Killings Won’t Destroy Hezbollah

Foreign Affairs, November 11, 2024

Informativna emisija: 24 sata (Montenegrain)

E Televizija, November 11, 2024


Advance Your Career

From consultants to entrepreneurs, leaders of nongovernmental organizations to policymakers, Johns Hopkins SAIS graduates put their degrees to work.

100% of the one-year Master of Arts in Global Policy Class of 2023 were employed (continuing and new), pursuing fellowships or internships, or had gone on for further study within six months of graduation.

Recent Employers

  • European External Action Service
  • MIT Technology Review
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
  • U.S. House of Representatives
  • U.S. Marine Corps
  • U.S. Navy
  • Unitarian Universalist Association
  • World Resources Institute

 *Based on results of a survey of students who graduated in December 2022. MAGP survey participation rate was 91%. 


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.

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

Beyond the Classroom

Experiential learning is an important component of this degree program for working professionals. In addition to a variety of core and elective courses, students participate in experiential learning opportunities through multiday residencies focusing on various applied aspects of key global policy issues.

Application Seminars

The Application Seminars are semerster-long, self-paced online courses designed to provide an additional academic toolkit in broad international relations concepts and research methods and design in preparation for the MAGP capstone projects.

Residencies

Participate in intense, multiday 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/near DC. For the fourth, you will travel abroad to a country selected in consultation with 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.

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MAGP Program Updates