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

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Curriculum | MAGP

Students embark on their coursework at the start of each academic term via Canvas. Classes meet in person every two weeks on a Friday (all day) and Saturday (half day) schedule, with continuous self-guided study and course assignments in the intervening periods. The multiday residencies are in Washington, DC (August, on campus); Baltimore, MD (January, two-night hotel stay); New York City (March, two-night hotel stay); and abroad (June, seven-night hotel stay). [Note: most travel-related costs, excluding the Global Residency international airfare, are covered by MAGP.]

MAGP Executive Style Curriculum    

Preterm: Optional Self-Paced Online Preparatory Course

This optional, self-paced online course offers MAGP students the opportunity to refresh basic international economics concepts prior to the in-person start of the program. This is intended as a free resource that will remain available to students throughout their studies at SAIS.

Curriculum

Introduction to International Economics (optional, self-paced online)

Duration

June–August

Residency 1: International Policy Residency (Washington, DC, on campus)

In this introductory residency, students learn about the MAGP degree and are exposed to various policy perspectives from SAIS faculty and policy practitioners.

Duration

Three Days, September

  

Fall A: Core Courses/Application Seminar

Gain theoretical and practical frameworks for understanding core aspects of global policy and examine current debates on key topics.

Curriculum

  • Governance and Development
  • Comparative Politics
  • Conflict Management & Negotiations
  • Application Seminar 1 (semester-long): Qualitative Research Methods (online, self-paced course, continues through next term)

Duration

September–October

Fall B

Gain theoretical and practical frameworks for understanding core aspects of global policy and examine current debates on key topics.

Curriculum: Core Courses/Application Seminar

  • International Law
  • Issues in American Foreign Policy and Grand Strategy
  • International Monetary Policy & Banking
  • Application Seminar 1 (semester-long): Qualitative Research Methods (online, self-paced course, continued from previous term)

Duration

November-December

Residency 2: Policy Simulation Residency (Intersession, Baltimore, MD)

During the January intersession, you will travel to Baltimore and team up with members of your cohort to 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, January

  

Spring A: Core Courses/Application Seminar

Gain theoretical and practical frameworks for understanding core aspects of global policy and examine current debates on key topics, while you begin your capstone research design.

Curriculum

  • Global Trade & Policy
  • Sustainable Energy Policy
  • Cybersercurity and Emerging Technologies
  • Application Seminar 2 (semester-long): Capstone Research Design (online, self-paced course, continues through next term)

Duration

January-March

Residency 3: Multilateral Policy Residency (New York City)

In a this residency, students will travel to New York City to study the key policy challenges that are currently addressed and discussed in multilateral settings, and examine many challenges of decision-making.

Duration

Three Days, March

  

Spring B: Electives/Application Seminar

Choose from a variety of elective courses to further enhance your studies and gain expertise in your area of interest while you complete your capstone research design. Elective offerings are chosen each year in consultation with the current cohort to best match their academic and professional interests. Recent MAGP electives have included: Politics and Risk; US Intelligence, Oversight and the Global Context; Contemporary Issues in Latin America; Social Origins of Authoritarianism and Democracy in Great China.

Curriculum

  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Application Seminar 2 (semester-long): Capstone Research Design (online, self-paced course, continued from previous term)

Duration

April-May

Summer: MAGP Capstone/Global Residency

During the summer term, you will focus your attention on your capstone research project and the one-week Global Residency. The capstone project will address a global policy challenge related to the Global Residency country (selected each year in consultation with the cohort) and propose recommendations in the form of a policy paper and briefing. Past global residency locations have included India, Indonesia, Georgia, Morocco, Italy, Colombia, and Chile. Final deliverables are due in mid-July and the degree is conferred in late August.

Curriculum

  • Independent capstone research/writing
  • Global Residency (one-week research trip abroad, June)
  • Capstone submission & presentation (mid-July)

Duration

June-July

Sample Electives

  • Politics and Risk
  • Economic Sanctions and Statecraft
  • US National Security Policymaking Process
  • Global Trends from the Developing World Perspective
  • Contemporary Middle Eastern Affairs
  • Topics in International Finance

Note: Curriculum and dates are subject to change