MA International Affairs and Leadership at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Master of Arts program in international affairs and leadership prepares you for international leadership roles in a dynamic learning environment led by senior international affairs professionals from the public and private sectors. The program offers a distinct blend of leadership capacity development --- both theory and practice --- as well as substantive training focused on U.S. foreign policy decision-making, national security, international trade, and human rights and other key global issues.

What you will study

30 credit hours including the required capstone course (IAL 560) Required Core (9 credit hours) IAL 501 Principles of Character-Driven Leadership (3) IAL 502 The Making of U.S. National Security Policy (3) IAL 503 Applied International Leadership: Case Studies (3) Electives (18 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) IAL 560 Capstone (3)

Career pathways

Graduates are making a mark in many fields and organizations, including U.S. government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and prominent corporations.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants are required to submit: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts letter of intent professional resume writing sample proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. GRE or GMAT results are not required but can be submitted as additional application material. ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at home edition.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

Explore more study programmes

Business