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complete master’s degree options in as few as 12 months

award-winning faculty of national and international renown

global professional network 37,000 strong

Explore Master’s Degrees

Public Administration

Master of Public Administration


Prepare to lead positive change through a rigorous yet efficient array of skills-building courses.

  • On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
  • 40 credits plus optional internships
  • Complete full-time in 12 to 18 months

Executive Master of Public Administration—On Campus or Online


Fill gaps in your knowledge with a program tailored to your career goals—five to seven years of experience required. An online option for working professionals provides added flexibility.

  • Online or on campus in Syracuse, N.Y., options (separate programs)
  • 30 credits
  • Complete part- or full-time in as few as 12 to 15 months

International Relations

Master of Arts in International Relations


Satisfy your curiosity about the world, and develop skills and knowledge to change it for the better.

  • On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
  • 40 credits with a required global internship
  • Required career track selection to focus your studies
  • Complete full-time in 18 months

Master of Arts in Public Diplomacy and Global Communications


Prepare to drive change in a range of international contexts through effective public and interpersonal communications. One powerful degree, two schools: the Maxwell School and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

  • On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y., and Washington, D.C.
  • 43 credits with a required global internship
  • Complete full-time in 18 months

Executive Master's in International Relations


Improve your leadership and management skills and global affairs knowledge—seven years of experience required.

  • On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
  • 30 credits
  • Complete on a part- or full-time basis

Executive Master’s in International Relations in D.C.


Leverage the combined experience, knowledge and networks of two top-ranked institutions—the Maxwell School and the Center for Strategic and International Studies—and earn your degree while you work in D.C. Seven years of experience required.

  • On campus, in Washington, D.C.
  • 30 credits
  • Complete part-time in as few as 18 to 20 months
Not sure which master’s degree is right for you? Take our Public Service Careers Quiz and find your best-fit program.

Doctoral Program

PhD in Public Administration


Educate the next generation of public service leaders and conduct research that moves the field of public administration and policy analysis forward.

  • On campus, in Syracuse, N.Y.
  • 72 credits (36 credits beyond the M.A.)
  • Full-time residential program, typically completed in 4.5 years

Department Admission Events

We offer a range of in-person and virtual opportunities to learn more about the Maxwell School and degree programs offered by the Public Administration and International Affairs Department, answer questions about the application process, and help you work toward your goals.

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Schedule a One-on-One Meeting

to ask more in-depth questions not covered in the group information sessions. These individual meetings are informational in nature and are not admission interviews.  

Request a Meeting

Study in Washington, D.C.

Our D.C. headquarters at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, top-ranked by the Global Go To Think Tank Index, gives students access to leading minds in the world of policy and international affairs, competitive internships, employment opportunities and a deeply engaged network of D.C.-based alumni.

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Need a midcareer boost? Explore our Certificates of Advanced Study


We offer a variety of regional, topical and skills-based Certificates of Advanced Study (CAS) to help you focus and refine your expertise. Some CAS can be earned as part of a master's program while others can be earned independent of a degree. Learn to use data to formulate and analyze policy, deepen your knowledge of effective public management practices, develop techniques to promote collaboration and resolve conflicts, broaden your expertise in a specific region of the world, and more.

PAIA students gathered in conference room

Himmelreich Speaks with Disruptor About Artificial Emotional Intelligence

December 27, 2022

Disruptor

Johannes Himmelreich

Johannes Himmelreich


Artificial intelligence (AI) is all around us, but emotion AI systems go further. They’re designed to detect and interpret a myriad of human emotions by gathering, analyzing, comparing and reading data points such as body language, gestures, brain waves, facial expressions and tone of voice. 

There are risks to AI systems interpreting human emotions. Research suggests that while sometimes people do smile when they’re happy, how people communicate the basic emotions varies greatly across cultures and situations. Furthermore, individual differences in personalities result in different ways of communicating, both verbally and non-verbally. 

"Such AI technology—computer vision on faces—easily exhibits ‘performance gaps’ by race. This is a red flag. Because this is such a prevalent problem for all AI that works on people’s faces, companies should be extremely cautious," says Johannes Himmelreich, assistant professor of public administration and international affairs and senior research associate in the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute.

Read more in the Disruptor article, "Emotion AI: Can artificial intelligence really read humans?"

Public Administration and International Affairs Department
215 Eggers Hall