Academics / Programs

Master of Public and International Affairs

Shape global policy and process.

Gain the versatile skills to participate in international affairs—whether that’s at the UN or in war-torn conflict zones. The MPIA degree will prepare you for a career as a policymaker, diplomat, intelligence official, global business leader, nonprofit manager, or policy researcher.

Professional Skills

  • Human security and rights
  • Intelligence collection and analysis
  • International relations and diplomacy
  • International trade and finance

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Concentrations & Degree Requirements

Human Security

International Political Economy

Security & Intelligence Studies

Area Studies Certificates

If you’re looking for an international career in a specific region of the world, you can enhance your master’s degree with a graduate certificate from the University Center for International Studies.

Specializations

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe
  • European Union
  • Global Studies 
  • Latin America
  • Russia

Signature Student Experiences

Experiential learning creates a strong foundation for valuable public-service skills through opportunities like collaborative research, learning abroad, and other transformative student initiatives. 

city view
Student studying abroad

Joint Degrees

You can pursue two graduate degrees simultaneously through our partnerships with other professional schools at the University of Pittsburgh and foreign universities. This approach reduces the number of credits needed for both degrees and helps shorten your time to graduation. 

  • MPIA/Law Degree (JD)
  • MPIA/Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MPIA/Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • MPIA/Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MPIA/Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS)
  • MPIA/Master of Social Work (MSW)
  • Joint degree through Kobe University in Japan
Centers & Initiatives
Ford Institute for Human Security
Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership
Ridgway Center for Intl. Security Studies
University Center for International Studies
Center for Governance & Markets
Employment Data – Class of 2020
25%
Federal Government
3%
Local/State Government
25%
Nonprofit/NGO
47%
Private

The Pitt Experience

Hear Almir Hodzic talk about the strengths of our MPIA program, which led him to choose The University of Pittsburgh over a DC-based school.