Who are Elliott School Students?

"Elliott School Students are outstanding — intellectual, mature, prepared, enthusiastic, the whole package."
– Non-profit employer, 2007

Overview

The Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University is one of the most dynamic professional schools of international affairs in the world.

Offering in-depth analysis of international economic, political, scientific, and cultural issues, the Elliott School trains students in the theory and practice of international affairs. Our students are ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Approximately 700 graduate students from more than 25 countries attend the Elliott School every year. In addition, the Elliott School has over 5,000 graduate alumni throughout the world.

Learn more: Fall 2006 Elliott School student profile.

Academic Programs/Curriculum

The Elliott School of International Affairs offers a Master of Arts in:

• Asian Studies
• European and Eurasian Studies
• Global Communication
• International Affairs
• International Development Studies
• International Trade and Investment Policy
• International Science and Technology Policy
• Latin American and Hemispheric Studies
• Middle East Studies
• Security Policy Studies

Other graduate degrees include:

• Masters of International Policy & Practice – for mid-career professionals with at least eight years of professional experience or another advanced degree
• Joint MA/JD with GW's Law School; and a
• Dual MA/MPH with the GW's School of Public Health and Public Services

All of the degree programs at the Elliott School require students to obtain a firm analytical grounding in economics, and each degree program offers a variety of disciplinary concentrations to its students.

Furthermore, every student is expected to display an advanced level of competency in a second language by successfully passing an intense oral and written examination prior to graduation.

Elliott School students also engage in special professional skills-based courses that cover a variety of topics. Formulated and taught by top professionals in the field, these courses target:

• Fundamental communication skills
• Qualitative, analytical, and forecasting skills
• Policy formulation and advocacy skills
• Leadership, teamwork, and management skills
• How particular organizations and industries work
• Sector and specialized professional knowledge

Learn more: skills-based courses.

All students must participate in a multidisciplinary capstone policy project in order to earn their degree. The project is carried out in a small-group format and is designed to challenge students to draw on the substantive knowledge, analytical framework, and professional skills acquired during their previous coursework. Students are encouraged to rigorously analyze a contemporary policy issue.

Our career-oriented academic programs are designed in consultation with leading professionals and courses are taught by dynamic and world-class faculty. In 2007, GSCD conducted an employment qualifications and skills survey with 275 employers to assess the relative importance of a student's major, skills, and qualifications when considering whether to hire a master's degree graduate from the Elliott School.

Learn more: employment qualifications and skills reports.

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