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    International Affairs

  • Contact Us

    General Admission Contact
    The New School for Social Research
    Office of Admission
    72 Fifth Avenue, 1st floor
    New York, NY 10011
    212.229.5600 or 800.523.5411
    [email protected]

    Program Contact
    International Affairs Program
    72 Fifth Avenue, 7th floor (Map)
    New York, NY 10011
    [email protected] 
    Phone: 212.206.3524
    Fax: 212.924.1292

    Directors and Coordinators
    Sean Jacobs    , Director, Julien J. Studley Graduate Programs in International Affairs
    Mark Johnson    , Chair, MS International Affairs 
    Everita Silina    , Chair, MA International Affairs

    Program Staff
    Philip Akre, Associate Director, Academic Programs
    Fabiola Berdiel, Associate Director, Practice-Based Learning
    Shaked Landor, Program Manager  

  • Admission Links

  • International Affairs at The New School in New York City is designed to prepare engaged, reflective global citizens who can contribute to making the world more inclusive, just, and sustainable. The most pressing contemporary challenges—from the rise of authoritarian regimes and refugee crises to youth unemployment and climate change—demand the kind of in-depth understanding of complex global systems, new perspectives, real-world experience, and commitment to social justice that our programs provide.

    Named among the top international affairs programs by the Foreign Policy Association, our Graduate Programs in International Affairs are distinctive in the tradition of The New School for Social Research: critical, engaged, and truly global. NSSR offers an exciting intellectual atmosphere that emphasizes creative research based in real-world engagement and application. As part of a university that houses the #1 design school in the United States, NSSR opens up pathways for interdisciplinary collaboration with world-class faculty and students from across The New School and in our centers, institutes, and labs.

    Our Approach

    Throughout your course of study as a graduate student, you are immersed in conceptual frameworks that go beyond mainstream paradigms to analyze contemporary social issues and offer alternative theories. These frameworks reflect diverse views of the West and East, the North and South, and plural theoretical traditions such as post-Westphalian IR, the Human Rights approach to development, and critical security studies. You benefit from multiple opportunities to participate in field-based learning and career exploration throughout your studies, and you complete your degree by undertaking a capstone project, which can take the form of a research thesis or portfolio or a practicum project. 

    Located at the heart of the global capital of international diplomacy, business, and social activism, The New School contributes to and fosters public debates about urgent social and political issues, often with distinguished invited speakers. The city offers opportunities for internships in diverse fields and organizations allowing students to explore career options. Integrate theory, policy, and practice through field-based learning in practicum projects, UN Summer Study, and our one-of-a-kind International Field Program. 

  • International Affairs Degrees

    At The New School, international affairs is defined broadly, as processes, interactions and institutions that shape economy, society, politics and culture. The Master of Arts (MA) is a transdisciplinary program that provides students with the theoretical frameworks, tools and skills they need for professional practice and critical policy analysis in international affairs.

    The Master of Science of (MS) is self designed and modular, allowing early to mid-career professionals to tailor their graduate studies to their interests and goals.

    Our distinctive academic approach is rooted in critical social enquiry and engaged learning with a commitment to the values of global solidarity. 

  • Study with scholars, public intellectuals and professional experts who are leaders in their fields of research and practice. The multi-disciplinary faculty come from diverse locations, from Argentina, to Germany, India, Latvia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, the United States and elsewhere. They bring a truly global perspective and pluralist theoretical frameworks to understanding contemporary global challenges.

  • Take The Next Step

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.