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Master of International Development icon

Improve the human condition through a hands-on career in public service.

Master of International Development Master of International Development

Advance inclusive growth and prosperity throughout the world.

Combine in-depth theoretical knowledge with practical applications to design and implement effective solutions to challenging problems across the world. Our graduates champion reform in national governments, international organizations, and nonprofit and research organizations, as well as in the private sector.

Professional Skills

  • Economics and political analysis for development
  • Management and policy implementation
  • Political and government analysis
  • Quantitative analysis

Majors and Degree Requirements

Whether it’s in advocacy, policy implementation, or another area, your major allows you to specialize your degree, honing your skills for the exact career you want to pursue. To graduate, you must complete at least 48 credit hours in major and degree courses, as well as a 300-hour internship with an approved organization anywhere in the world. This degree is normally completed in two years full-time or approximately three years part-time. It is taught in an on-campus, in-person format. 

Joint Degrees

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


Joint Degree Options

  • MID/Law degree (JD)
  • MID/Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MID/Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • MID/Master of Science in Information Science (MSIS)
  • MID/Master of Social Work (MSW)
  • Joint master’s through the University of Geneva or Kobe University in Japan
     
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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
     
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Funding Your Education

GSPIA offers merit-based scholarships to highly qualified, standout master’s degree applicants. We also provide resources for identifying outside scholarships and fellowships, and we encourage students to submit a FAFSA for need-based aid.

View all funding options

Featured GSPIA Awards

  • Provides partial tuition for U.S. minority students who are studying international affairs or international development.

  • Provides support for students interested in international affairs and international development. 

  • A merit-based, University-funded award with preference given to underrepresented U.S. students who are focusing on urban affairs. Includes full tuition, stipend, health insurance, and other related fees.

Centers, Institutes, and Initiatives

Gain experience in research, teaching, and public service in international development by getting involved with a GSPIA or University research center. 

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