MBA/MA in International Relations

Program features

Two degrees, two networks

Expand your academic range and professional reach by harnessing the power of two leading Johns Hopkins institutions.

Experiential learning

Both Carey Business School and the School of Advanced International Studies offer multiple opportunities for experiential learning to develop skills like leadership and problem solving for complex world challenges.

Flexible sequencing

Customize the order in which you complete the MAIR and MBA to maximize your opportunities at each school.

Differentiate yourself

With two degrees from Johns Hopkins, you will stand out in a crowd across a global scale.

Curriculum

Build your expertise through a flexible and diverse curriculum from two innovative Johns Hopkins institutions. With the Master of Arts in International Relations, you will gain further professional and substantive insights by developing an extensive global mindset through functional and regional focus areas. Combine this expertise from one of the best schools for international relations with the leadership and analytic skills gained through the Johns Hopkins MBA. Graduate ready to make a lasting impact across the globe.

Our full-time MBA program is now STEM-designated

University catalog

The latest edition of the Carey Business School University Catalog is available.

The MBA and Master in International Relations dual degree curriculum is designed with flexibility paramount across the three years of study. The Johns Hopkins MBA is 54 credits, 18 of which may be applied from the MAIR program. The MAIR program is 64 credits, 16 of which may be applied from the MBA. The MBA/MAIR requires a total of 118 credits.

You will start the dual degree program at Carey and complete the majority of the MBA coursework in the first year. During the second and third year, you will complete your coursework in the Master’s in International Relations and any remaining MBA courses.

Required courses

Carey Business School (MBA)

Accounting Foundations
Behavioral Science: Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Behavioral Science: Negotiating Collaboratively
Business Communication
Competitive Strategy
Data Science: Big Consulting Data Project
Data Science: Statistics
Finance
Innovation Field Project (four credits)
Marketing Management
Microeconomics and Market Design
Operations Management
Professional Development for Career Success (non-credit)
Five electives

School of Advanced International Studies (MAIR)

FUNCTIONAL FOCUS AREAS

Development, Climate, and Sustainability
International Economics and Finance
Security, Strategy, and Statecraft
States, Markets, and Institutions
Technology and Culture

REGIONAL FOCUS AREA

Africa
The Americas
Asia
China
Europe and Eurasia
The Middle East
U.S.

LANGUAGE TRAINING

Augment your degree in international relations and open doors to new professional possibilities through the study of a language. Our robust language studies program, emphasizing current political and economic topics, trains you to achieve proficiency in a non-native language.

Arabic
Chinese
French
German*
Indonesian
Japanese
Korean
Persian (Farsi)
Portuguese*
Russian
Spanish
Italian*

*Taught at SAIS Europe only. May be available through virtual instruction for students in Washington, D.C.

Program comparison

MBA/MA in International Relations

In-person classes
Graduate with two Johns Hopkins degrees
STEM-designated MBA curriculum
Complete both degrees in three years

Full-time MBA

In-person classes
Courses held in Baltimore, MD
STEM-designated curriculum
Complete your degree in two years

Part-time Flexible MBA

Online, flexible format
Asynchronous and/or fully synchronous courses
Optional in-person experiences
Complete your degree in two to three years

Focus on Experiential Learning

Building upon the leadership, economic analysis, analytical reasoning, regional expertise, and real-world problem-solving skills you will gain in the classroom, you will also gain hands-on experience through co-curricular and capstone programming such as study treks, career treks, practicum projects, and internships.

The capstone component enables you to focus on an experiential learning opportunity that will best complement your professional goals. Most capstone options culminate in a significant final report outlining their analysis and recommendations. Capstone options may include:

Practicum projects

Gain in-depth experience consulting for client organizations working to address real-word challenges. Draw on your qualitative and quantitative skills to analyze and identify client issues and make actionable recommendations to address those challenges.

Study trips

Conduct field research, engage with partner organizations, gain new perspectives on major global issues, and enhance your learning beyond the classroom. Recent study treks have taken students to Brazil, Cameroon, the Republic of Georgia, Japan, and Slovenia.

Internships

Augment your studies through an approved internship and gain hands-on experiencing in your desired field. (Note: The Offices of Co-Curricular and Experiential Learning and Global Careers will help support internship opportunities, but cannot guarantee internships capstones.)

Practical research papers

Author a substantial academic paper based on original research and related to your area of interest. This capstone option may be associated with a course or one-on-one research with a faculty advisor who will approve the research topic, design, execution, and assess the end result.

See all experiential learning opportunities