The MA offered jointly by the Departments of Political Science and International Affairs is an academic degree intended to train students for teaching and research careers at the university level. The MA is considered a precursor to a Ph.D.

The MIP, however, is a non-academic degree intended to prepare students to enter directly into international policy careers. Examples of possible placements include: governmental and non-governmental organizations, the diplomatic corps, federal agencies such as the Foreign Service and the intelligence community, and other foreign policy making fields.


Are assistantships or other financial aid available?

Although the MIP program does not have funding for departmental assistantships, we are able to nominate our best applicants for a Graduate School Assistantship and other outside awards. Click here for information on the assistantships, fellowships, scholarships and grants available through the Graduate School.

Please note that in order to be considered for the Graduate School Assistantship, you must have submitted your online application through the Graduate School website by January 1, and your application must be complete by February 1.

For more information, please see the “Financial Assistance” section.


Can I schedule a visit to see the department and campus?

Certainly. Contact Kathryn Johnson at kathrynj@uga.edu or (706) 542-1633 to set up a visit. If you have particular faculty in mind that you’d like to meet with, please let her know.


Is the program available on a part-time basis?

Although the MIP is not designed for part-time students, it is possible for students to take less than a full course load, thus extending their time in the program.


Are courses offered on the evenings and weekends for working professionals?

The graduate course schedule is not created for working students. Depending on the semester, there may be a course or two offered on weekday evenings, but this is not a guarantee. There are no courses offered on weekends.


Are any MIP courses offered outside of Athens?

All MIP courses are taught on the UGA campus in Athens, GA. No online or distance-learning courses are available.


How long does the program take to complete?

The MIP requires 36 credit hours to complete. Full-time students should complete the program in four semesters, or two academic years.


Can I enroll in a dual degree program (e.g. MIP and JD)?

The MIP is not currently part of any dual degree program. Students may, if they’d like, enroll in two degree programs concurrently, but must take all courses required for both programs. For example, if a student enrolled in both the MIP and JD programs, it would take two years of coursework to complete the MIP and three years of coursework to complete the JD.


Is there an AB/MIP program available to current undergraduates at UGA?

Yes. The MIP has joined with the UGA Honors Program to offer the AB/MIP joint degree program. This unique program allows undergraduate honors students to simultaneously complete a Masters of International Policy degree while completing their undergraduate degree. For more information, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Berejikian at jberejik@uga.edu.