The MAGP is a one-year, executive-style interdisciplinary program designed for working professionals with five or more years of experience who wish to continue full-time employment while pursuing their degree. Under the guidance of world-renowned scholars, diplomats and policy makers, students move through the program as a cohort and develop strong professional connections with accomplished and diverse colleagues. This degree program is delivered in Washington DC on an alternating weekend (Friday/Saturday) schedule.
During the 11-month program, students complete a series of core and elective courses on campus, in addition to two semester-long application seminars and four multi-day residencies (three domestic and one international). In the final summer term, students conduct intensive research for their capstone project to be presented in a public forum. The MAGP format delivers a broad overview of global issues, customized to suit the academic interests of students.
Degree Requirements
Campus: Washington, DC
Credits: 40
Duration: 11 Months
Course delivery: In-person
In order to graduate, students must fulfill all degree requirements and earn a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or above.
Curriculum
During the one-year program, students complete a series of core and elective courses on campus. This format delivers a broad overview of global issues, customized to suit the academic interests of students. It is convenient for working professionals as classes typically meet every other week on a Friday (full day) and Saturday (half-day) schedule.
The program begins with an optional non-credit foundation course: Introduction to International Economics. This is a self-paced online course offered as a resource to admitted students who wish to gain or strengthen foundational concepts in preparation for future coursework. Mastery of the course material is not required or expected—it is simply offered as a supplemental resource.
The MAGP is conferred upon successfully completing 40 credit hours including thirteen (12) courses plus two semester-long application seminars and four residencies (three domestic three-day residencies and the one-week capstone residency abroad). The 40 credits are divided as follows:
- Cohort Courses (9 courses worth 18 credits; courses are 2 credits each)
- Elective Courses (3 courses worth 6 credits; courses are 2 credits each)
- Application Seminars (2 semester-long hybrid courses worth 6 credits; courses are 3 credits each)
- Domestic Residencies (3 courses worth 6 credits; courses are 2 credits each)
- Capstone/Global Residency (1 course worth 4 credits)
Regular courses and the capstone/global residency are graded using the standard grading scale; application seminars and domestic residencies are graded pass/fail.
| Term | Courses | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Optional Preparatory Course | Introduction to International Economics (Non-credit) | Self-Paced and online (available starting in June) |
| Residency 1 | International Policy Residency (2 credits) | August/September (3 days, in-person) |
| Fall A | Conflict Management & Negotiations | September – October(8 weeks; 4 Fridays & Saturdays in-person class weekends) |
| Comparative Politics | ||
| Governance & Development | ||
| Application Seminar 1: Qualitative Research Methods | Hybrid, primarily self-paced online; continues through Fall B | |
| Fall B | International Law & the Use of Force | November – December (8 weeks; 4 Fridays & Saturdays in-person class weekends) |
| Issues in American Foreign Policy & Grand Strategy | ||
| International Monetary Policy & Banking | ||
| Application Seminar 1 (continued from Fall A) | Hybrid, primarily self-paced online | |
| Residency 2 | Policy Simulation Residency | January (3 days) |
| Spring A | Global Trade & Policy | January – March (8 weeks; 4 Fridays & Saturdays in-person class weekends) |
| Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies | ||
| Sustainable Energy Policy | ||
| Application Seminar 2: Capstone Research Design | Hybrid; primarily self-paced online, continues through Spring B | |
| Residency 3 | Multilateral Policy Residency | March (3 days) |
| Spring B | Elective | April – May (8 weeks; 4 Fridays & Saturdays in-person class weekends) |
| Elective | ||
| Elective | ||
| Application Seminar 2 (continued from Spring A) | Hybrid; primarily self-paced online | |
| SAIS Commencement | Students who have successfully completed all pre-capstone credits are eligible to participate | May |
| Summer | MAGP Capstone & Global Residency (one week aborad, mid-June) | June – July (capstone due July 15) |
| Degree conferral in late August |
Sample Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Politics and Risk | ||
| Economics of Competitor and Adversary Nations | ||
| US Intelligence, Policy, Politics, and National Security Decisionmaking | ||
| Space Security and Policy | ||
| Following the Money: Financial Watchdogs, Crime, and Innovation in a Hyper-Connected World | ||
| Social Origins of Authoritarianism and Democracy in Greater China | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Latin America | ||
Note: Curriculum and dates are subject to change
Application Seminars & Residencies
Experiential learning is an important component of the MAGP. In addition to academic courses, students participate in application seminars and residencies designed to build policymaking, negotiation, and leadership skills.
Application Seminars are designed to expand classroom learning and provide students with the necessary tools to more effectively embark on the capstone research project in the summer term. The Application Seminars are primarily self-paced online, asynchronous courses with occasional in-person instructor interaction; each application seminar is offered over the course of a full semester as follows:
- Fall A&B: Qualitative Research Methods
- Spring A&B: Capstone Research Design
Residencies are immersive, multi-day exercises that take students outside the classroom and challenge them to apply lessons learned from their coursework. Three of the residencies take place domestically (Washington, DC, Baltimore, and New York City). The final residency is a one-week trip abroad, during which students research a policy issue for their capstone project.
The four residencies are designed as follows:
- International Policy – Students are exposed to various perspectives on key international policy issues and are challenged to offer their own policy view on an issue of global relevance by crafting an Op-Ed piece. On the first day, students will participate in the general SAIS Orientation..
- Policy Simulation – Students enhance their understanding of international bargaining and negotiating as they take on the role of international leaders and policymakers in a time of crisis.
- Multilateral Policy – Students are introduced to key policy and decision-making challenges in multilateral settings such as the United Nations.
- Global Policy – During the final term of the program, students research a policy issue in a target country, conduct one week of intensive field research during the global residency abroad, and conclude the program by presenting their report and recommendations in a public capstone event.