Admission deadline: Fall: January 7th - Fellowship & Application Deadline
Spring: October 1st - Fellowship & Application Deadline
Applications for admission will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis after the fellowship deadlines have passed, but students will not be considered for fellowships.
Standardized test scores: GRE and GMAT scores are not accepted and will not be considered in the review process. Please do not submit scores.
Recommendations required: Two (2) letters are required. Applicants should submit one (1) academic letter from a professor and one (1) professional reference.
Prior academic records: Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission and choose to enroll.
If academic records are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translations alone should be uploaded into the online application. Official transcripts and certified English translations will be required of applicants who are offered admission and choose to enroll.
Statement of purpose: All applicants are required to submit an essay of approximately 500 words that answers one of the two questions below:
State your purpose in undertaking graduate study at the Elliott School. As part of your statement of purpose, describe your academic and research interests, career objectives, how a degree from the Elliott School will enable you to achieve your goals, and what unique skills, talents and/or perspectives you will bring to your program. Please be specific.
- OR -
Please discuss an issue of international importance you wish to address in your professional career. Please include how the Elliott School and the academic program to which you have applied will prepare you to address this global issue.
Additional requirements: A resumé or curriculum vitae is required. Resumés/CVs must include dates of employment (if applicable) and date of degree conferral or expected degree conferral.
Prerequisites: Academic coursework in a foreign language, which will prepare students to complete the program’s language requirement*, is required at the time of application. This can be demonstrated by:
Study that is equal to four semesters of university level coursework or equivalent. Completion of formal language training as part of employment (ex. Peace Corps, JET, etc.). Growing up in a household where the language is spoken. *Students need to have a strong foundation in a foreign language before enrolling to be successful in completing the language requirement during the program.
Course background in economics (micro- and macroeconomics) is a prerequisite to help prepare students to complete the graduate-level economics course(s) required within the M.A. in International Development Studies curriculum. Course(s) must be successfully completed through an accredited institution in:
Introductory Microeconomics
Introductory Macroeconomics
In some cases, a student may be admitted who has not fulfilled the economics requirement*; in which case, the student is required to take course(s) at an accredited college/university prior to enrollment at the Elliott School.
*Spring applicants are expected to have fulfilled this prerequisite at the time of application.
International applicants only: International Applicants may be required to submit official English Language tests scores with their application. Please see the Elliott School's English Language Requirements for guidance on whether you need to take the TOEFL/IELTS/PTE. Please send official TOEFL scores to institution code 5246.
The minimum English Language Test Requirements can be found below:
Eligible for Admission & requires EAP Courses:
IELTS- 7.0 overall score, no band score below 6.0
TOEFL- 100 (internet test) 600 (paper test)
PTE- 68
Eligible for Admission & Exempt from EAP Courses**:
IETLS- 7.0 overall score, no band score below 6.5
TOEFL- 105 (internet test) 650 (paper test)
PTE- 72
**Spring applicants must receive at least these scores to be considered for admission.
Please review International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
 The Elliott School of International Affairs
 The George Washington University
 1957 E Street, NW, Suite 301
 Washington, DC 20052

Contact for questions:
 esiagrad@gwu.edu ~ 202.994.7050 ~ 202.994.9537 (fax)
 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 40 credits, including 6 credits in core field courses, a 4-credit capstone course sequence, 12 credits in analytical courses, 18 credits in an area of specialization. In addition, all students must fulfill a language proficiency requirement*. 

See notes regarding special topics and professional skills courses, the capstone, and the optional thesis**.

Required
Core courses (6 credits) taken in the following sequence:
IAFF 6121International Development Studies Cornerstone (3 credits, taken in the first semester)
IAFF 6122Development Policy and Practice (3 credits, taken in the second semester)
Analytical courses (12 credits—see below for course areas and options)
Area of specialization (18 credits—see below for potential areas of specialization and associated courses)
Capstone (4 credits)
Students are required to complete a two-semester capstone sequence that involves securing a sponsoring client outside the University and fulfilling a project with that client of mutual interest and research in international development. The capstone sequence includes a 1-credit pre-capstone course that must be taken in the fall of the student's second or third year and a 3-credit capstone course that must be taken in the spring of the student's second or third year. Both courses in the capstone sequence must be taken consecutively.
IAFF 6137Development Studies Pre-Capstone Workshop
IAFF 6139International Development Studies Capstone
Professional skills courses
Up to 3 credits of professional skills courses may be applied toward the student's specialization in the IDS program. The Elliott School offers a series of one-credit workshops on a variety of topics. Students are encouraged to consider taking up to three of these courses.
Optional thesis
Students who wish to continue to a PhD program or to pursue a research-oriented job may consider writing a thesis, which is an independent, in-depth research project that takes a year or more to complete. To pursue the thesis option, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and the approval of the faculty member they wish to have serve as their thesis director. The thesis must be completed in addition to the capstone requirement. Thesis students also must complete at least one research methods course. Thesis credits are counted as elective or specialization/concentration credits with program director approval. The two required thesis courses (below) must be taken in consecutive semesters.
IAFF 6998Thesis
IAFF 6999Thesis
Analytical courses
12 credits total. Students must take one course in each of the following four areas:
▪ Economics (taken during the first semester)
▪ Management
▪ Research methods
▪ Policy analysis or a second research methods course.
All courses for this requirement must be completed by the end of the third semester to fully prepare students for the capstone project in their final semester. In addition to the courses listed under each requirement, other appropriate courses may count towards requirements with the approval of the program director.
Economics (3 credits)
Required
ECON 6250Survey of Economic Development
Note: Students with a strong background in economics may substitute a more advanced development economics course alternative to ECON 6250 with program director approval.
Management (3 credits)
One course selected from the following. Courses not listed here may be used to fulfill this requirement if approved by the program director.
EDUC 6381Program Evaluation: Theory and Practice
EDUC 6620Strategies and Analysis in International Education (Managing Study Abroad and International Students)
EMSE 6001The Management of Technical Organizations
EMSE 6260Energy Management
EMSE 6285Analytical Tools for Energy Management
EMSE 6305Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6310Information Technology in Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6320International Disaster Management
EMSE 6325Medical and Public Health Emergency Management
EMSE 6820Program and Project Management
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Development Project Implementation)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (International Development Management Processes and Tools)
IBUS 6402Managing in Developing Countries
MGT 6281Small Business Management
PPPA 6016Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation
PPPA 6031Governing and Managing Nonprofit Organizations
PPPA 6032Managing Fundraising and Philanthropy
PPPA 6058International Development NGO Management
PPPA 6059International Development Management Processes and Tools
PPPA 6062Community Development Policy and Management
PUBH 6435Global Health Program Development and Implementation
PUBH 6436Global Health Program Management and Leadership
PUBH 6513Community Health Management
SMPP 6210Strategic Environmental Management
Research methods (3 credits)
At least one course selected from the following. Courses not listed here may be used to fulfill this requirement if approved by the program director.
ANTH 6531Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology
EDUC 6114Introduction to Quantitative Research
EDUC 6116Introduction to Educational Statistics
EDUC 8122Qualitative Research Methods
GEOG 6201Geographic Thought
GEOG 6293Special Topics (Qualitative Methods)
GEOG 6305Geospatial Statistics
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Applied Qualitative Methods)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Research Methods in Global Gender Issues)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Monitoring and Evaluation for Foreign Assistance. May be used as the second research methods course only in cases where a student has opted to take two research methods courses instead of one research methods and one policy analysis course.) *
IAFF 6501Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners
PPPA 6002Research Methods and Applied Statistics
PPPA 6013Regression Methods for Policy Research
PPPA 6016Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation
PPPA 8022Econometrics for Policy Research
PUBH 6247Epidemiologic Methods I: Design of Health Studies
PUBH 6260Applied Epidemiologic Data Analysis
PUBH 6410Global Health Study Design
PUBH 6411Global Health Qualitative Research Methods
PUBH 6412Global Health Quantitative Research Methods
PUBH 6853Use of SAS for Data Management and Analysis
(Students who wish to take a public health course not listed above to fulfill their research methods requirement should consult their advisor before enrolling in the course.)
SOC 6230Foundations of Research Methods
SOC 6232Qualitative Methods
Policy analysis (3 credits)
One course selected from the following. In lieu of a policy analysis course, students may opt to take a second research methods course.
EDUC 6371Education Policy (Policy Making in Education)
EDUC 6388Analysis of Education Policy Issues
EDUC 6610Programs and Policies in International Education (Political Issues and International Education in Developing Countries)
IAFF 6102Global Gender Policy
PPPA 6006Policy Analysis
PPPA 6013Regression Methods for Policy Research
PPPA 6014Microeconomics for Public Policy II
PPPA 6066U.S. Environmental Policy
PUBH 6310Statistical Analysis in Health Policy
PUBH 6315Introduction to Health Policy Analysis
PUBH 6320Advanced Health Policy Analysis
PUBH 6325Federal Policymaking and Policy Advocacy
WGSS 6221Research Issues in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
WGSS 6240Gender and Public Policy

Areas of specialization (18 credits)

In consultation with the program director, students design their own area of specialization based on their interests and career goals. The list of specializations below is illustrative, and students’ field of specialization may include a combination of more than one of these popular thematic areas in international development or may involve other issues not covered below. Courses listed, likewise, should be treated as illustrative examples, not requirements. Up to 3 credits of professional skills courses can be applied to the specialization. Students are strongly encouraged to select courses offered by schools throughout the University as well as approved courses offered by other institutions through the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Potential areas of specialization:

Conflict and development
EMSE 6305Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6315Risk Management, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Decision Making
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Conflict Prevention)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Gender, War, and Peace)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (International Law and Use of Force)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (International Peacekeeping)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Stabilization and Peacebuilding)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Violence, Gender, and Humanitarian Assistance)
IAFF 6163Transnational Security Issues
IAFF 6171Introduction to Conflict Resolution
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Countering Violent Extremism)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Insurgency and Counterinsurgency)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (International Organized Crime)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Political Risk Analysis)
IAFF 6358Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Security in the Americas)
IAFF 6385Special Topics in African Studies (Power, Politics, and Development in Africa)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Conflict and Corruption: the Resource Curse)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Technology for International Crisis Response)
MGT 6215Conflict Management and Negotiations
SMPA 6274Media and War
Culture, society, and development
ANTH 6301The Anthropology of Development
ANTH 6505Medical Anthropology
ANTH 6508Ethics and Cultural Property
GEOG 6232Migration and Development
GEOG 6243Seminar: Urban Geography
GEOG 6244Urban Sustainability
IAFF 6136Gender and Development
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Civil Society and Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender and Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Poverty Alleviation and Bottom-Up Development)
IAFF 6358Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America)
IAFF 6385Special Topics in African Studies (Power, Politics, and Development in Africa)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Cross Cultural Communications)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Participatory Planning)
Democracy and governance
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Civil Society and Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Democracy and Governance Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Poverty and Bottom-Up Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Rule of Law and Anticorruption)
IAFF 6208Special Topics in Global Communication (Communication in Modern Diplomacy)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Restorative Justice)
PPPA 6048Financing State and Local Government
PMGT 6401Fundamentals of Political Management
PMGT 6410Grassroots Engagement
PSC 6364Comparative Governments and Politics of Central And Eastern Europe
PSC 6370Politics of China I
PSC 6377Comparative Politics of the Middle East
PSC 6383Comparative Politics of Latin America
PSC 6465The International Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
PSC 6478International Relations of the Middle East
PSC 6484International Relations of Latin America
SMPA 6204Strategic Political Communication
SMPA 6208Politics and Public Relations Fundamentals
SMPA 6270Special Topics in Media and Public Affairs (Communication in Modern Diplomacy)
WGSS 6240Gender and Public Policy
WGSS 6241Gender, Law, and Politics
Economic development
ECON 6237Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
ECON 6255Economics of Technological Change
ECON 6280Survey of International Economics
ECON 6283Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy
ECON 6284Survey of International Macroeconomics and Finance Theory and Policy
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Climate Change and Sustainable Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Poverty and Bottom-up Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Private Sector Development)
IAFF 6358Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America)
IAFF 6378Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Oil: Industry, Economy, Society)
IAFF 6378Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Political Economy of the Middle East)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Analyzing International Economic Data)
Gender and development
IAFF 6102Global Gender Policy
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Gender, War, and Peace)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Global Gender Research Methods for Practitioners)
IAFF 6136Gender and Development
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Gender and Development)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Violence, Gender and Humanitarian Assistance)
IAFF 6503Professional Skills II (Gender Advisor: Roles and Skills)
WGSS 6220Fundamentals of Feminist Theory
WGSS 6221Research Issues in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
WGSS 6230Global Feminisms
WGSS 6238Feminist Ethics and Policy Implications
WGSS 6240Gender and Public Policy
WGSS 6241Gender, Law, and Politics
WGSS 6268Race, Gender, and Class
Global health
Required course:
PUBH 6400Global Health Frameworks
Supporting courses:
ANTH 6505Medical Anthropology
EMSE 6325Medical and Public Health Emergency Management
PUBH 6002Biostatistical Applications for Public Health
PUBH 6003Principles and Practices of Epidemiology
PUBH 6007Social and Behavioral Approaches to Public Health
PUBH 6054Community Engagement and Advocacy
PUBH 6058Researching Violence Against Women and Girls
PUBH 6121Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
PUBH 6122Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Policies, Politics, and Programs
PUBH 6126Assessment and Control of Environmental Hazards
PUBH 6130Sustainable Energy and the Environment
PUBH 6241Nutritional Epidemiology
PUBH 6247Epidemiologic Methods I: Design of Health Studies
PUBH 6250Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS
PUBH 6252Epidemiologic Methods II: Advanced Epidemiologic Methods
PUBH 6259Epidemiology Surveillance in Public Health
PUBH 6262Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
PUBH 6263Advanced GIS
PUBH 6310Statistical Analysis in Health Policy
PUBH 6315Introduction to Health Policy Analysis
PUBH 6320Advanced Health Policy Analysis
PUBH 6340Health Economics and Finance
PUBH 6367Population Health, Public Health, and Health Reform
PUBH 6390Prescription Drugs: Policy and Public Health
PUBH 6410Global Health Study Design
PUBH 6411Global Health Qualitative Research Methods
PUBH 6412Global Health Quantitative Research Methods
PUBH 6416Ethical and Cultural Issues in Global Health Research and Programs
PUBH 6435Global Health Program Development and Implementation
PUBH 6436Global Health Program Management and Leadership
PUBH 6441Global Health Organizations and Regulations
PUBH 6442Comparative Global Health Systems
PUBH 6450Global Health Diplomacy
PUBH 6462Nutrition and Food in Large Humanitarian Emergencies
PUBH 6463Communication Strategies and Planning in Humanitarian Settings
PUBH 6464Mental Health in Humanitarian Settings
PUBH 6465Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings
PUBH 6480Public Health in Humanitarian Settings
PUBH 6481Global Mental Health
PUBH 6500Planning and Implementing Health Promotion Programs
PUBH 6501Program Evaluation
PUBH 6503Introduction to Public Health Communication and Marketing
PUBH 6504Social and Behavioral Science Research Methods
PUBH 6510Community-Oriented Primary Care Principles and Practice
PUBH 6513Community Health Management
PUBH 6514Preventing Health Disparities
PUBH 6516Community Health Information Resources
PUBH 6530Qualitative Methods in Health Promotion
PUBH 6535Promotion of Mental Health
PUBH 6550Maternal and Child Health I
PUBH 6551Maternal and Child Health II
PUBH 6552Women's Health
PUBH 6553Adolescent Health
PUBH 6571Social Marketing: Theory and Practice
PUBH 6572Marketing Research for Public Health
PUBH 6853Use of SAS for Data Management and Analysis
Humanitarian action
ANTH 6707Issues in Middle East Anthropology
EMSE 6305Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6310Information Technology in Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6315Risk Management, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Decision Making
EMSE 6320International Disaster Management
EMSE 6325Medical and Public Health Emergency Management
EMSE 6345Building the Resilient Organization: Continuity, Crisis and Disaster Recovery Management
GEOG 6309GIS for Emergency Management
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (International Peacekeeping)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Stabilization and Peacebuilding)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Care of Children in Humanitarian Emergencies)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Human Trafficking)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Humanitarian Governance and Policy)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Localizing Humanitarian Action)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Violence, Gender, and Humanitarian Assistance)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Countering Violent Extremism)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Technology for International Crisis Response)
PUBH 6462Nutrition and Food in Large Humanitarian Emergencies
PUBH 6463Communication Strategies and Planning in Humanitarian Settings
PUBH 6464Mental Health in Humanitarian Settings
PUBH 6465Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings
PUBH 6480Public Health in Humanitarian Settings
International development management
EMSE 6001The Management of Technical Organizations
EMSE 6200Policy Factors in Environmental and Energy Management
EMSE 6220Environmental Management
EMSE 6260Energy Management
EMSE 6285Analytical Tools for Energy Management
EMSE 6305Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6310Information Technology in Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 6320International Disaster Management
EMSE 6325Medical and Public Health Emergency Management
EMSE 6820Program and Project Management
GEOG 6309GIS for Emergency Management
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Managing the World's Waters)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Monitoring and Evaluation for Foreign Assistance Programs)
IBUS 6402Managing in Developing Countries
PPPA 6016Public and Nonprofit Program Evaluation
PPPA 6031Governing and Managing Nonprofit Organizations
PPPA 6032Managing Fundraising and Philanthropy
PPPA 6058International Development NGO Management
PPPA 6059International Development Management Processes and Tools
PPPA 6062Community Development Policy and Management
PUBH 6435Global Health Program Development and Implementation
PUBH 6436Global Health Program Management and Leadership
PUBH 6513Community Health Management
SMPP 6210Strategic Environmental Management
International education
EDUC 6112Foundations of Assessment, Testing, and Measurement in Education
EDUC 6114Introduction to Quantitative Research
EDUC 6116Introduction to Educational Statistics
EDUC 6368Leadership and Education
EDUC 6371Education Policy
EDUC 6381Program Evaluation: Theory and Practice
EDUC 6388Analysis of Education Policy Issues
EDUC 6555Higher Education Policy
EDUC 6602Regional Studies in International Education (Education and Development in Africa)
EDUC 6602Regional Studies in International Education (Education and Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean)
EDUC 6602Regional Studies in International Education (Education and Tradition in the Middle East and North Africa)
EDUC 6610Programs and Policies in International Education (International Education Policy Issues in Developing Countries)
EDUC 6610Programs and Policies in International Education (International Higher Education)
EDUC 6620Strategies and Analysis in International Education (Managing Study Abroad and International Students)
EDUC 6640Selected Topics in International Education (Design and Implementing Cross Cultural Training Programs)
EDUC 6640Selected Topics in International Education (Evaluation in International Education)
EDUC 6640Selected Topics in International Education (Issues in Study Abroad)
The environment, natural resources, climate change, and sustainable development
ECON 6237Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
EMSE 6200Policy Factors in Environmental and Energy Management
EMSE 6225Air Quality Management
EMSE 6235Water Quality Management
EMSE 6245Analytical Tools for Environmental Management
EMSE 6260Energy Management
EMSE 6290Climate Change: Policy, Impacts, and Response
ENRP 6101Environmental Sciences I: Physical Sciences
ENRP 6102Environmental Sciences II: Life Sciences
GEOG 6244Urban Sustainability
GEOG 6293Special Topics (Open Source GIS)
IAFF 6118Special Topics in International Affairs (Managing the World’s Water)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Climate Change and Sustainable Development)
IAFF 6143Science and Technology Policy Analysis
IAFF 6151Environmental Policy
IAFF 6152Energy Policy
IAFF 6164Environmental Security
PPPA 6066U.S. Environmental Policy
PUBH 6121Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
PUBH 6122Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Policies, Politics, and Programs
PUBH 6124Risk Management and Communication
PUBH 6126Assessment and Control of Environmental Hazards
PUBH 6130Sustainable Energy and the Environment
PUBH 6133Social Dimensions in Climate Change and Health
SMPP 6210Strategic Environmental Management
TSTD 6249Sustainable Destination Development
Courses offered at GW's Arlington Graduate Education Center:
PSUS 6201Principles of Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning
PSUS 6202Urban and Environmental Economics
PSUS 6203Research Methods: Geospatial and Econometric Analysis
PSUS 6212Sustainable Communities
PSUS 6224Sustainable Energy for Cities and the Environment
Social enterprise and private sector development
ACCY 6106Financial Statement Analysis
ACCY 6201Accounting for Internal Decision Making
ACCY 6202Advanced Strategic Cost Management
ACCY 6601Business Law: Contracts, Torts, and Property
ACCY 6602Business Law: Enterprise Organization
ACCY 6900Special Topics (Nonprofit Accounting)
FINA 6223Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
FINA 6224Financial Management
FINA 6271Financial Modeling and Econometrics
FINA 6277Comparative Financial Market Regulation and Development
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Monitoring and Evaluation for Foreign Assistance Programs)
IAFF 6138Special Topics in International Development Studies (Private Sector Development)
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Illicit Finance and Security)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Analyzing International Economic Data)
IBUS 6201International Marketing
IBUS 6301International Business Finance
IBUS 6401International Business Strategy
IBUS 6402Managing in Developing Countries
ISTM 6223Technology Entrepreneurship
ISTM 6224Management of Technology and Innovation
ISTM 6234New Venture Financing
PPPA 6003Economics for Public Decision Making
Students should note that many MBA program courses require instructor approval for students not enrolled in an MBA program.
MBAD 6211Financial Accounting
MBAD 6242Microeconomics for the World Economy
MBAD 6284Business and Public Policy
MGT 6252Strategic Human Resource Management
MGT 6282New Venture Initiation
TSTD 6249Sustainable Destination Development
Technology and development
ECON 6255Economics of Technological Change
GEOG 6304Geographical Information Systems I
GEOG 6307Digital Image Processing
GEOG 6309GIS for Emergency Management
IAFF 6143Science and Technology Policy Analysis
IAFF 6152Energy Policy
IAFF 6153Science, Technology, and National Security
IAFF 6186Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (Cybersecurity)
IAFF 6358Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin America in Motion: Indigenous Media and Social Movements)
IAFF 6502Professional Skills I (Technology for International Crisis Response)
ISTM 6204Information Technology Project Management
ISTM 6223Technology Entrepreneurship
ISTM 6224Management of Technology and Innovation
ISTM 6233Emerging Technologies

*Language proficiency requirement 

Students in the master of arts in the field of international development studies program are required to demonstrate proficiency in a modern language other than English. Students may fulfill this requirement in one of the following ways:

  • Having earned a minimum grade of B in a sixth-semester university-level advanced language course completed no more than three years prior to matriculation in the Elliott School's master's degree program.
  • Having earned a minimum grade of B in a sixth-semester university-level advanced language course at GW, or in an approved course taken at another institution of higher learning, including Elliott School exchange partner institutions, while enrolled in the Elliott School master's program. 
  • Passing the Elliott School-administered language proficiency reading and speaking examination at the currently required level of proficiency. The Elliott School administers language proficiency examinations once in the fall and once in the spring semesters. Students should plan to take the language proficiency examination as soon as possible following their matriculation in the program. Students have three opportunities to pass the examination. Failure to pass the examination for a third time results in dismissal from the program.
  • Achieving the required proficiency level in a reading and speaking examination administered by an Elliott School-approved language assessment institution, at the student's expense, while enrolled in the Elliott School's master's degree program.

**Specific subject matter covered in special/selected topics courses varies by semester. Consult the Schedule of Classes for each semester's offerings. Topics courses not listed here may be used to fulfill program requirements if approved by the program director. 

Additional information regarding skills courses, the capstone, and the thesis is available on the Elliott School website.