The majority of students at Johns Hopkins SAIS are enrolled in the two-year, full-time Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) degree. The program’s interdisciplinary coursework emphasizes international economics, policy and regional studies, international relations, and languages. Students in this degree can spend both years in Washington, DC or may spend their first year at the SAIS Europe campus in Bologna, Italy or at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center in Nanjing, China before coming to Washington, DC for the second year.
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
In order to earn the degree, students must fulfill all degree requirements and earn a cumulative GPA of 2.67 or above. Students are required to spend a minimum of 3 fall/spring semesters in full-time status (12+ credits). Students must spend at least one full-time semester of study enrolled at the Washington, DC campus.
Core Curriculum (24 credits)
Courses used toward the Core Curriculum may not be double-counted toward any other degree requirement.
World Order and Disorder (4 credits)
Students must complete one of the following courses:
- Theories of International Relations
- Evolution of the International System
Leadership, Ethics, and Decision-making in International Relations (4 credits)
Students must complete one of the following courses:
- American Foreign Policy Since World War II
- Comparative Politics
- Leadership, Ethics, and Decision-making
International Economics (8 credits)
Students must complete:
- International Economics I or Essentials of International Economics I
- International Economics II or Essentials of International Economics II
If a student is waived from International Economics I and/or II, the student must take a replacement International Economics and Finance course(s) to fulfill this requirement. A replacement International Economics and Finance course may not be double-counted toward the International Economics and Finance Functional Focus area or any other requirement.
A student may only be waived by passing a waiver exam or having completed the equivalent course at Johns Hopkins University within the previous five years.
Data Analytics (0-4 credits)
Students must complete:
- Statistical Methods for Data Analytics
Students who complete the non-credit version of this course in Pre-Term have fulfilled this requirement. Students who pass a waiver exam in Statistics must take a second approved Research Methods course.
Research Methods (4-8 credits)
Students must complete one approved Research Methods course. Students who are waived from Data Analytics must take two Research Methods courses. Sample courses include:
- Applied Econometrics
- Econometrics
- Ethnographic Research Methods
- Historical Methods
- Macro Econometrics
- Methods in Comparative-International Research
- Practical Research Methods
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Research Methods: Victories and Pitfalls
- Risk in International Politics & Economics
Course offerings vary each academic year and are subject to change.
Interdisciplinary Program of Study (40 credits)
Beyond the Core Curriculum, students complete a self-designed interdisciplinary program of study. This must include at least 12 credits from courses within a specific Functional Focus Area and at least 12 credits from courses within a specific Regional Focus Area. Cross-listed courses may only be used toward one focus area. To fulfill both focus area requirements, students must complete at least 6 distinct courses (24 credits).
Functional Focus Areas (12 credits)
- Development, Climate, and Sustainability
- Governance, Politics, and Society
- International Economics and Finance
- Security, Strategy, and Statecraft
- Technology and Innovation
Regional Focus Areas (12 credits)
- Africa
- The Americas
- Asia
- China
- Europe and Eurasia
- The Middle East
- United States
Capstone
Capstones may be associated with a for-credit course or a non-credit research paper and may not be completed in the student’s first year of study. Students must complete one of the options below:
- For-Credit Course Options (4 credits)
- Practicum Course
- Project Course
- Study Trip Course
- Research Seminar Course
- Non-Credit Options (0 credits)
- Internship Research Report
- Expanded Research Paper (affiliated with current course)
- Expanded Research Paper (affiliated with a previously completed course)
Students may count a for-credit capstone course toward functional or regional focus area requirements if applicable.
Language Proficiency
Students must demonstrate proficiency in a non-native language by passing a proficiency exam. Students must pass all required components of the exam (reading, speaking, listening and, in some cases, writing) to meet the requirement. Students may enroll in non-credit language courses taught at SAIS each semester to help reach the proficiency level.
Non-native English speakers must also fulfill the Non-Native English Speaker requirement by reaching a minimal level of English aptitude via an in-house diagnostic test or by passing SAIS English language courses. Fulfilling the Non-Native English Speaker requirement does not fulfill the Language Proficiency, which requires greater aptitude.
Professional Development Skills
Students must complete two non-credit professional skills courses. Professional skills courses usually require 4 to 8 hours over two to three sessions. Sample courses include:
- Policy Writing
- Public Square: An Advanced Course in Reading, Writing and Publishing
- Public Speaking: Defining, Developing and Presenting
- Preparing and Delivering a Briefing
- Data Tools and Analysis
- Advanced Excel
- Introduction and Advanced Geographic Information Systems
- Introduction and Advanced Python, R, STATA and Tableau
- Data Analytics for Policy Analysts
- Leadership Lessons: An International Business Career Perspective
- International Negotiation
- Introduction to Financial Intelligence
- Corporate Valuation
- Monitoring and Evaluating for International Development
- Political Risk Analysis