Master of Arts in International Development Studies

The International Development Studies program grounds international development practitioners in the theories, policies, and skills necessary for operating at the forefront of the field. Graduates of the program are prepared to address global development challenges in the most disadvantaged regions and among the most marginalized populations.

The program takes a multidisciplinary and intellectually rigorous approach, paying particular attention to a cultural context, ethics, field-based applied research, and innovative practices. Developing marketable skills and broadening professional experience is a central part of the program. All students complete a real-world consultancy for an international development organization as their final project.

The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs is one of the world’s leading schools of international affairs. Located in the heart of Washington, DC, its mission is to educate the next generation of international leaders, conduct research that advances understanding of important global issues and engage the policy community in the United States and around the world.

The school’s unique location—just steps from the White House, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, U.S. Department of State, and dozens of other U.S. and international organizations —enriches its teaching and research, providing students and scholars with unmatched opportunities to engage with the U.S. and international policy communities.

The Elliott School, named in honor of former GW President Lloyd H. Elliott and his wife Evelyn, offers innovative, interdisciplinary teaching programs that provide students with the education and training they need to succeed in the international arena. More than 700 students take advantage of one of the Elliott School’s 10 graduate programs.

The school offers Master of Arts programs in global communication, international affairs, international development, international economic policy, international science & technology policy, and security policy, as well as Asia and the Middle East, with additional concentrations in Europe, Russia & Eurasia, Latin America, and Africa. The Elliott School also offers a master’s degree for mid-career professionals and a master of international studies in conjunction with its 19 international partner universities. More than 2,100 undergraduates pursue a well-rounded liberal arts curriculum with a special focus on international affairs or with a regional focus on Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America and the Hemisphere. The Elliott School’s 20,000 alumni can be found in leadership positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors around the world.

©The George Washington University - Elliott School Of International Affairs

The Elliott School sponsors nine research institutes:

• Center for International Science and Technology Policy
• Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies
• Institute for Global and International Studies
• Institute for International Economic Policy
• Institute for Middle East Studies
• Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication (co-sponsored with GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs)
• Institute for Security and Conflict Studies
• Sigur Center for Asian Studies
• Space Policy Institute

These dynamic intellectual centers provide venues for scholars and policymakers to come together to develop, test, and disseminate new ideas. Faculty members work individually and collaboratively across disciplines to sharpen intellectual debates and deepen academic and policy discussions about international affairs. The Elliott School’s research contributes to the expanding body of knowledge that helps scholars, policymakers, and citizens better understand the world.

Mission

The George Washington University has long recognized the value of an international affairs education. Since the University's inception in 1821, we have prepared students to face important global issues and make a difference in the world. The Elliott School of International Affairs represents a culmination of the innovative ideas and fresh perspectives generated by its forerunners at The George Washington University:

• The School of Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplomacy (1898 – 1905)
• The Department of Politics and Diplomacy (1905 – 1907)
• The College of the Political Sciences (1907 – 1913)
• International Law and Diplomacy in Columbian College (1913 – 1928)
• The School of Government (1928 – 1960)
• The School of Government, Business, and International Affairs (1960 – 1966)
• The School of International Affairs (1987 – 1988)
• The School of Public and International Affairs (1966 – 1987)
• The Elliott School of International Affairs (1988 – Today)

At the Elliott School of International Affairs, our mission is:

• To educate the next generation of international leaders
• To conduct research and produce scholarship that advances understanding of important global issues
• To engage the public and the policy community in the United States and around the world, thereby fostering international dialogue and shaping policy solutions

Our mission is to create knowledge, share wisdom, and inspire action to make our world a better place.

About the Elliott School

The George Washington University has educated generations of international leaders and advanced the understanding of important global issues since 1821.

The Elliott School of International Affairs, named in honor of former GW President Lloyd H. Elliott and his wife Evelyn, is dedicated to this mission. We train our students in the theory and practice of international affairs, offering them an in-depth analysis of international economic, political, scientific and cultural issues. The School's curriculum is interdisciplinary; most Elliott School full-time faculty are jointly appointed in GW departments.

Our widely respected faculty prepares Elliott School students for global careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Elliott School graduates are consistently sought after for challenging global careers. What's more, our Washington, DC location allows us to form strong relationships with public, private, and non-profit organizations that regularly employ Elliott School students and alumni.