Master of Arts

The majority of students at Johns Hopkins SAIS are enrolled in the two-year, full-time Master of Arts (MA) degree. The program’s interdisciplinary coursework emphasizes international economics, policy and regional studies, international relations, and languages. Students can begin their studies with one year at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, elect to spend either year at SAIS Europe, or spend both years in Washington, DC.

Our graduates are in great demand by employers in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Economics knowledge, analytical abilities, regional expertise, diplomatic skills, language proficiency and the capacity to apply theory to real-world problems give students a distinct professional advantage.

Degree Requirements

Campus: Washington, DC and Bologna, Italy

Credits: 64

Duration: Two academic years, Full-time

Course delivery: In-person

Curriculum

International Economics

Every MA student is required to complete a concentration in International Economics and must maintain a combined GPA of at least 2.67 in this concentration. The International Economics concentration consists of:

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• International Trade Theory
• International Monetary Theory

If a student passes a waiver exam in one or more of these subjects, the student must take a replacement International Economics course(s) to fulfill the concentration requirement. The replacement course(s) may be double-counted to fulfill other requirements (policy/regional concentration, specialization, minor, etc.) if applicable, but cannot be used to fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning requirement.

Former Johns Hopkins undergraduate students may be waived from required International Economics courses based on successful completion of previous coursework, but must complete replacement courses in order to fulfill the concentration requirement.

MA students who completed the HNC Certificate may be eligible to count one Level 2 Economics course as a replacement course if they are waived from a required course.

International Development concentrators must complete a constrained International Economics course in addition to the other required International Economics courses. If a student is waived from a required course(s), a replacement course(s) may not be double-counted toward International Development concentration requirements.

International Economics Concentration GPA Requirement

Students must achieve a combined GPA of at least 2.67 in their required International Economics program courses or they must retake the course(s) until a 2.67 concentration GPA is achieved. In the standard case, the concentration GPA will be the average of the grades of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Trade Theory, and International Monetary Theory. MA students who complete Microeconomics in Pre-Term will have their GPA calculated based on the grades from the remaining International Economics concentration courses.

If one or more of the required courses is waived, the school will use the highest grade(s) from any eligible replacement International Economics course(s) to compute the International Economics concentration GPA

Policy/Regional Concentration

Every MA student must complete a concentration in an International Policy Area or Region of the World. Concentration requirements consist of coursework and an approved capstone. The student's policy/regional concentration may affect other degree requirements, such as Core Requirements or Language Proficiency.

International Policy Areas

American Foreign Policy

Conflict Management

Energy, Resources and Environment

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits of Energy, Resources and Environment (or cross-listed) courses. At least 16 credits of courses must start with the prefix SA.680.XXX. One of the courses must be Introduction to Energy, Resources and Environment (SA.680.680).

Students must complete the Online Basics of Energy (OBE) and Online Basics of Environment (OBEv) courses prior to their first semester in the concentration.

Capstone: Students must complete one of the following:

• International Energy and Environment Practicum (SA.680.775) (if taken in second year)
• Energy, Resources and Environment Research Seminar (SA.680.857) (if taken in second year)
• Energy, Resources and Environment Oral Exam
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors—if eligible)

Global Theory and History

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits:

• 16 credits of Global Theory and History (or cross-listed) courses.
• 8 credits of courses from two different areas:
  • Conflict Management
  • Energy, Resources and Environment
  • International Law and Organizations
  • International Political Economy
  • Strategic Studies

Capstone: Students must complete of the following:

• A 20-page research paper whose focus and subject matter has been approved by the director
• A 20-page written report that draws conclusions about international relations or international political economy based on an internship undertaken while at the school
• Contemporary Theory of International Relations (SA.600.702). Note: students must select the paper option to use this course as a capstone
• SAIS Women Lead Practicum (SA.600.729) with a 20-page academic paper concerning the results
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors – if eligible)

International Development

International Law and Organizations

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits:

• 16 credits must be International Law and Organizations (or cross-listed) courses and must include at least one of:*
  • Fundamentals of International Law (SA.650.700)
  • Legal Foundations of International Relations (SA.744.400)

*Can be waived with permission of the program director. If this course is waived, it must be replaced with another International Law and Organizations course.

• 8 credits of courses from two different areas:
  • Conflict Management
  • Energy, Resources and Environment
  • Global Theory and History
  • International Political Economy
  • Strategic Studies

Capstone: Students must complete of the following:

• Submission of a substantial (no less than 8,000 words, including footnotes) research paper of publishable quality on March 1st of their final semester. (For those whose final semester is in the fall, consult the Program Director for due date.) This paper can be the revised product of a regular International Law course or independent research supervised by an ILAW faculty member.
• Successful completion of an oral exam testing the student’s knowledge of international law and organizations based on the student's particular coursework. The exam will be administered at the end of the student’s final semester by at least one full-time or adjunct professor from the International Law and Organizations program.
• Successful completion of an International Law tools course during the student's second year that is based on practical applications of substantive law. The following count as tools courses:
  • Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (SA.650.802);
  • PACE/ICLN International Criminal Court Moot Competition (SA.650.800); or
  • International Human Rights Law Clinic (SA.650.780).
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors — if eligible)

International Political Economy

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits:

• 16 credits must be International Political Economy (or cross-listed) courses and must include at least two of:
  • International Political Economy of Emerging Markets (SA.610.700)
  • Political Economy of Inequality (SA.610.701)
  • Political Economy in the Shadow of Conflict (SA.610.702)
  • International and Comparative Political Economy of Developing Countries (SA.610.704)
  • Politics of International Economy (SA.610.717)
  •  International Political Economy (SA.610.732)
  • Risk in the International Political Economy (SA.610.735)
  • Advanced Topics in International Political Economy (SA.610.736)
  • Major Ideas in Political Economy (SA.610.752)
  • Comparative Political Economy (SA.610.770)
• 8 credits of courses from two different areas:
  • Conflict Management
  • Energy, Resources and Environment
  • Global Theory and History
  • International Law
  • Strategic Studies

Capstone: Students must complete of the following:

International Relations

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits. Courses from (or cross-listed with) the areas below count toward the International Relations concentration:

• Conflict Management
• Energy, Resources and Environment
• Global Theory and History
• International Law and Organizations
• International Political Economy
• Strategic Studies

All International Relations concentrators must take at least one course from at least three different areas.

Capstone: Students must complete of the following:

• A 20-page research paper whose focus and subject matter has been approved by the director.
• A 20-page written report that draws conclusions about international relations based on an internship undertaken while at the school.
• Contemporary Theory of International Relations (SA.600.702). Note: students must select the paper option to use this course as a capstone.
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors — if eligible).

Strategic Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 20 credits of Strategic Studies (or cross-listed) courses. One of these courses must be Strategy and Policy (SA.660.740) and this course must be taken in the first semester and completed with a grade of B- or above. Students who do not meet this standard must repeat the course or leave the Strategic Studies concentration.

All Strategic Studies concentrators must participate in a required two-day non-credit course on Military Basics. The course will be offered each semester and students are strongly encouraged to take it in their first year, if possible. Students who have served or are serving in the military are required to participate only in day one of the course.

Students concentrating in Strategic Studies may not pursue an additional policy or regional concentration.

Capstone: Students must complete of the following:

• Successful completion of the Strategic Studies Research Seminar (SA.660.751);
• Leading or directing research for the international staff ride, or leading one of the domestic staff rides;
• An oral exam conducted by two Strategic Studies faculty members at the end of the final semester; or
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors — if eligible)

Regions of the World

African Studies

Canadian Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 20 credits of Canadian Studies (or cross-listed) courses. One of these courses must be the Consulting Policy Practicum (SA.840.718). One concentration course may be taken outside of the program on a relevant program topic with the permission of the program director.

Capstone: Students must complete of the following:

• A 20-page research paper, containing three to five pages of policy implication, whose focus and subject matter has been approved by the director
   
• A 20-page written report that draws conclusions about Canadian Studies or Canada-US relations based on an internship undertaken while at the school
   
• A 20-page written report based on a policy trip in which the student participated in while at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
   
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors—if eligible)

China Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits:

• 16 credits of China Studies (or cross-listed) courses.
  • Students who completed the HNC Certificate may receive a reduction in the number of China Studies credits required, but must take at least 1 China Studies course in Washington DC. Academic Affairs will inform each student of the approved reductions. 
• 8 additional credits of courses from:
  • Japan Studies
  • Korea Studies
  • South Asia Studies
  • Southeast Asia Studies

Capstone: The Capstone is an oral exam conducted by the China Studies faculty and takes place during the student's final semester at SAIS. Students will prepare a short topic paper in advance and be prepared to discuss it.

European and Eurasian Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 20 credits of European and Eurasian Studies (or cross-listed) courses.

Capstone: Students must complete one of the following:

• Internship and Report. An eight- to-12-week summer internship between the first and second year of study, relevant to program course work. Those who complete an internship secured by the EES program are automatically approved for the report option. Those who complete internships outside the EES program should first send a note to the Program Director for approval. The report should be 2000 Words in length, include a photo and present: 1) the content of the internship; 2) how your first year at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) prepared you for the experience; and 3) how the internship aided in your academic or potential career choices.
   
• European and Eurasian Studies Oral Exam. Candidates submit, in advance, a brief paper with a topic they are prepared to discuss. It should feature a contemporary issue in the region, in light of its historical, institutional, political and economic settings. Participation in the non-credit current events seminar and at the various lectures on contemporary political and economic issues is a good way to prepare for the oral exam.
   
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors—if eligible)

Japan Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits:

• 16 credits of Japan Studies (or cross-listed) courses.
• 8 additional credits of courses from:
  • China Studies
  • Korea Studies
  • South Asia Studies
  • Southeast Asia Studies

Capstone: Students must complete one of the following:

• Japan Studies Oral Exam. The exam provides students with the opportunity to cap their academic experience at the school through discourse with their professors that highlights the findings of their studies and research, particularly the US-Japan Yearbook project. Students will be expected to suggest policy implications for Japan, the US, and the world of the issues discussed. At least two Japan Studies professors will administer the exam. Discussion will focus initially on the specific findings of the student in the Yearbook Project and then branch into broader policy areas. The exam will be graded on a pass-fail basis. Makeup oral exams for students who fail must be scheduled within three weeks of the exam, with the students preparing a three-page paper addressing the areas or issues deemed insufficient by the examiners. Those who fail the makeup exam will not graduate in that term.
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors — if eligible)

Korea Studies

Latin American Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 20 credits of Latin American Studies (or cross-listed) courses. At least 12 credits applied to the concentration must start with the prefix SA.810.XXX. One of these courses must include Understanding Modern Latin American Politics - SA.810.700 (should be taken during the fall semester of an MA student's first year in Washington DC) or Economic Development in Latin America - SA.810.796 (taught at SAIS Europe during fall 2019).

Capstone: Students must complete one of the following:

• Internship and Report: An academic or professional internship relevant to program course work—all internships completed through the LASP Summer Internship Program satisfy this requirement. If unable to participate in the LASP Summer Internship Program, students may secure their own internships to be completed during the summer or during their second year at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). These internships must be no less than eight weeks in duration and are subject to departmental approval. Students must subsequently submit a report on the experience. The internship written report should be three double-spaced pages in length and will be due by the beginning of the student’s last semester at the school. The report is intended to help students articulate what was gained through the experience in the context of a future job interview--it should thus delve into a thematic component of the internship rather than highlight duties/responsibilities.
• LASP Oral Exam: Students who are unable to complete an internship will be required to pass a 30–45 minute oral exam with LASP faculty at the end of their final semester.
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors — if eligible)

Middle East Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 20 credits of Middle East Studies (or cross-listed) courses. One concentration course may be taken outside of the program on a relevant program topic with the permission of the program director.

Students must complete the Middle East History Test with a 70 percent or higher grade, preferably in the first semester.

Capstone: Students must pass the Middle East Contemporary History Exam with a 70 percent or higher grade.

South Asia Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits:

• 16 credits of South Asia Studies (or cross-listed) courses. One of the courses must be India's Challenges and the Future of a Sixth of Humanity (SA.790.727) and this must be taken within the first year.
• 8 additional credits of courses from:
  • China Studies
  • Japan Studies
  • Korea Studies
  • Southeast Asia Studies

Capstone: Students must complete one of the following:

• South Asia Studies Oral Exam.
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors — if eligible)

Southeast Asia Studies

Coursework: Students must complete 24 credits:

• 16 credits of Southeast Asia Studies (or cross-listed) courses.
• 8 additional credits of courses from:
  • China Studies
  • Japan Studies
  • Korea Studies
  • South Asia Studies

Capstone: Students must complete one of the following:

• Southeast Asia Oral Exam. The exam is designed to test substantive knowledge and oral communication skills covering Southeast Asia politics, economics, history and their impact on international relations. The one-hour exam will be administered by the Southeast Asia faculty and others as designated by the program.
• MA Oral Exam (to compete for honors — if eligible)

Quantitative Reasoning Requirement

MA students must complete one quantitative reasoning course. This course may not be double-counted as a replacement International Economics concentration course if a required International Economics course is waived. Course options include:

• Statistical Methods for Business & Economics
• Econometrics
• Applied Econometrics
• Macro Econometrics
• Risk Analysis and Modeling
• Quantitative Global Economics 
• Credit Markets and Credit Risk
• Life Cycle Assessment

International Development concentrators must complete one of the following:

• Statistical Methods for Business & Economics
• Econometrics
• Applied Econometrics
• Macro Econometrics
• Risk Analysis and Modeling
• Quantitative Global Economics 

Core Requirements

MA students must fulfill 2 Core requirements from these subjects:

• American Foreign Policy Since World War II
• Comparative Politics
• Evolution of the International System
• Theories of International Relations

Students may fulfill a Core requirement by passing a for-credit Core course or by passing a non-credit Core exam. Students may not take a Core exam in the semester in which they plan to graduate. If Core requirements are not completed before the start of a student’s final semester, the student no longer has the option of completing the exam and must enroll in the Core course(s) for credit. Students who completed the HNC Certificate who are approved to complete their degree in two semesters of study should consult with the Office of Academic Advising on the appropriate Core exam deadlines.

These policy/regional concentrations specify 1 of the 2 Core requirements a student must fulfill. The second Core requirement may be fulfilled by any of the remaining subjects.

• African Studies: Comparative Politics
• American Foreign Policy: American Foreign Policy Since World War II
• China Studies: Comparative Politics
• Conflict Management: Theories of International Relations
• Global Theory and History: Theories of International Relations
• International Law and Organizations: Theories of International Relations
• International Political Economy: Theories of International Relations
• International Relations: Theories of International Relations
• Japan Studies: Comparative Politics
• Korea Studies: Comparative Politics
• South Asia Studies: Comparative Politics
• Southeast Asia Studies: Comparative Politics

Language Proficiency

All students must demonstrate proficiency in a non-native language from among those taught at the school. Proficiency is demonstrated by passing a proficiency exam in speaking, listening and reading (and in some cases, writing). A student must pass all components of the proficiency exam to satisfy the proficiency requirement. Students may take non-credit language classes to acquire the skills needed to pass the language proficiency exam.

These concentrations specify which language(s) may be used for proficiency:

• African Studies: Arabic, French, or Portuguese [With special permission: Swahili]
• Canadian Studies: French [With special permission: Spanish or Portuguese]
• China Studies: Chinese
• European and Eurasian Studies: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish
• Japan Studies: Japanese
• Korea Studies: Korean
• Latin American Studies: Portuguese or Spanish
• Middle East Studies: Arabic or Persian (Farsi)
• South Asia Studies: Hindi-Urdu or Persian (Farsi)
• Southeast Asia Studies: Burmese, Indonesian, Thai, or Vietnamese

If a student is a native speaker of the language by the concentration, the student may use any other language taught at the school (including English) to satisfy the proficiency requirement. Native speaking status is determined by the Language Studies program.

Students who completed the HNC Certificate within 2 years of starting the MA are considered to have demonstrated proficiency in Chinese language.

Specializations and Minors

A student may complete an optional minor and/or specialization.

Minors

Students may pursue an optional minor in any policy or regional concentration area except for International Relations. Minors require 3 courses total and some minors may require a specific course or courses.

A student may count one cross-listed course toward both minor and policy/regional concentration requirements. If a student concentrates in an Asia concentration (China Studies, Japan Studies, Korea Studies, South Asia Studies, Southeast Asia Studies) or IR concentrations (Conflict Management, Global Theory and History, International Law and Organizations, or International Political Economy), the cross-listed course must be one of the 4 courses from primary area and not from the 2 additional required courses in the other Asia or IR areas. Regional minors may require language study or proficiency.

Specializations

Students may pursue an optional specialization(s) in:

• Emerging Markets
• Development Economics
• Economic Policy
• Infrastructure Finance and Policy
• International Finance
• Quantitative Methods and Economic Theory

Specializations consist of 3 or 4 courses and may have additional requirements, such as a minimum GPA and the completion of non-credit requirements. A student may double-count a course used toward any other degree requirement toward a specialization, but may not use the same course toward multiple specializations.