Curriculum

In this 32-to-40-credit program, you will learn how to develop, execute, manage, and analyze international education programs in a broad range of settings, including those related to international education policy, public diplomacy and cultural relations, understanding conflict, and building peace. You will also gain hands-on experiences, through study away and field research opportunities, and in a required internship capstone course, either in the US or abroad. The skills you acquire will prepare you for careers in international institutions or humanitarian organizations, higher education, study abroad programs or offices of global affairs, global classrooms, or for starting on a path toward research.

Students matriculating in or after Fall 2025 will be able to maintain their academic full-time status for financial aid, scholarship, or visa purposes by enrolling in at least 9 credits per term. Students who matriculated prior to Fall 2025 are still required to enroll in 12 credits to maintain academic full-time status.

Core Course Sequence

The MA in International Education's core curriculum features coursework in foundations in international education, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and contemporary issues as they relate to key challenges in our field. You will develop critical skills in basic research methods, policy analysis, and grant writing, as well public speaking and teamwork. We focus on experiential learning about professional paths in education; you'll meet with a range of colleagues and practitioners to learn about, evaluate, and enhance their programs and organizations, gaining insights into ways that the concepts we cover in class apply to work in the field in real time.

Required Core Courses

• INTE-GE 2803 Foundations of International Education
• INTE-GE 2025 Contemporary Issues in International Education
• RESCH-GE 2140 Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry
• APSTA-GE 2085 Basic Statistics 

Area of Specialization 

MA students in International Education can choose and complete one Area of Specialization track, completing a minimum of 12 credits (usually four courses) in their track.

Students who specialize in Comparative and International Education Policy and Practice focus on understanding the challenges and opportunities of education in low- and middle-income countries, international development contexts, and/or in crisis and conflict-affected settings. This track prepares students to work in these fields in government and aid agencies, INGOs, foundations, and policy think tanks. Students in this track are required to take INTE-GE 2028 Politics in Education: Conflict and Peacebuilding and INTE-GE 2863 International Development and Education: Theory and Practice. Students can then choose from at least 2 additional specialization classes from the list below:

• INTE-GE 2805 Globalization and Education
• INTE-GE 2809 International Human Rights Activism and Education
• INTE-GE 2023 Political Economy of International Ed
• INTE-GE 2545 Immigration and Education in the World
• INTE-GE 2024 Arts for Peacebuilding and Cultural Exchange
• INTE-GE 2866 Research in Practice: Mapping International Engagement

Students who specialize in Cross Cultural Exchange and Study Abroad focus on public and private educational and cultural organizations that facilitate and lead international study abroad, educational exchanges, and cross cultural training programs that promote global understanding. This track prepares students to work in study abroad offices or other educational exchange programs in universities, colleges, schools, and other international exchange organizations (e.g Fulbright, IIE, CIEE and AIEA). Students in this track are required to take INTE-GE 2806 The Practice of International Education and INTE-GE 2009 The Practice of Study Abroad and International Student Services. Then, students must choose 2 additional classes from the list below: 

• INTE-GE 2546 Inside the Global Network: Study Abroad and Exchange at NYU
• INTE-GE 2811 Global Curriculum: Internationalization of Higher Education
• INTE-GE 2805 Globalization and Education
• HPSE-GE 2090 Foundations in Higher Education
• HPSE-GE 2045 Internationalism and Study Abroad
• HPSE-GE 2161 Diversity in Higher Education

Electives

Students must select 5-7 credits of electives from the program, department or across NYU, to fulfill the program 32 credit minimum. If a student is interested in going beyond the 32 credit minimum, they would complete 5-16 credits.

We have a wide range of relevant courses within our program and across NYU.  Students who wish to complete the minimum program (32 credit) requirements for IE MA degree can choose an additional 6 elective credits from their area of specialization (from the list above), or they may choose from a range of options outside our program that are subject to approval by their faculty/advisors.  Students who are interested in going beyond the 32 credit minimum can select up to an additional 8 credits from above or across NYU (by approval) for up to 40 credits. We also offer a number of short electives (1-2 credit courses) to provide practical and applied skills: grant-writing, policy-advocacy, program management, design thinking.

Study Abroad

Study away and international research experiences are a signature feature of the International Education program. Our program is one of the longest running and most established programs in the United States to train and develop experts in the fields of study abroad, international exchange, and cultural diplomacy. We have expanded short-term study away classes and field research experiences for graduate students, and NYU offers a number of scholarships for MA students to participate in study away, international field research projects or internships, conference travel, or summer research projects. The IE program strongly encourages students to take one of the following study away courses:

• INTE-GE 2296 Artistic Activism & Radical Education in Third Spaces (Buenos Aires, Argentina, January Semester)
• INTE-GE 2026 Politics, Migration and Education (Florence, Italy, Spring Semester/Spring Break)
• INTE-GE 2864 Development and Education in Action (Accra, Ghana, Summer Semester)
• INTE-GE 2865 International Development and Education: Multidisciplinary Approaches from the Field (3 credits)

Culminating Experience

The MA in International Education is designed to prepare professionals who understand the international implications of their responsibilities and apply their knowledge and skills across international and cultural boundaries. We are committed to linking theory and practice. As part of this commitment, each student is required to participate in a semester-long internship with an organization, agency, office, or project related to international education as well as an accompanying internship course.