Request Info
Apply Now

Master of International Affairs

Changing the world starts here. With an online Master of International Affairs degree, you’ll be prepared to make an impact on public policy, international relations, and global markets all while cultivating your own sphere of influence.

Request Info
Apply Now

At a Glance

Average 16 Months to Completion
Expert Faculty Mentorship
  • Format: Online
  • Tuition: $40,110
  • Term: Fall 2026
  • 10 Courses

Why Choose a Master of International Affairs from Wake Forest SPS

Every day, leaders make data-driven decisions that play out across the global stage, and they rely on expert analysis and complex models to inform those strategies.

Our online degree program shapes you into the type of leader who sees the big picture without losing sight of the finer details. You will learn how to form insights from complex datasets using AI, predictive analytics, and risk management approaches—skills that are increasingly critical in the security and intelligence sectors. You will also participate in negotiations that weigh ethical and sociological factors to develop a truly worldly perspective. 

It takes tight collaboration spanning government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and corporations to address geopolitical crises and drive meaningful progress across cultures. Multidisciplinary frameworks will equip you to break silos and tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including policy, health, economics, and climate change.

Master of International Affairs Core Courses

You’ll complete 6 required online courses, including a capstone that brings everything together. Each course lasts 7.5 weeks. There’s no required order for these courses, so you are free to take courses in the sequence that works best for your schedule, depending on availability.

Global Systems and Challenges
Course ID: IAF 710
Students study how governments, firms, international organizations, and civil society use trade, finance, and emerging tech as tools of power, and how issues such as great-power rivalry, global health, climate, and global logistics resilience create shared risks.
View Course
International Governance, Trade, and Law
Course ID: IAF 712
Study the legal and institutional frameworks that govern international cooperation, trade, and regulation. Emphasis is placed on international agreements that embed trade, investment, and human rights obligations, and on how multilateral and regional bodies monitor compliance and settle disputes—often with limited coercive power.
View Course
Global Political Economy and Development
Course ID: IAF 714
Students assess the influence of global markets, development finance, trade policy, data trends, and international institutions on sustainable growth.
View Course
Global Analytics and Emerging Technologies
Course ID: IAF 720
Students explore how emerging technologies—including AI, predictive analytics, and data visualization—shape international policy, economic development, business strategy, security, and diplomacy.
View Course
Ethical Leadership and Strategic Policy in Global Markets
Course ID: IAF 722
Students examine how strategic policy decisions, international regulations, and cross-cultural dynamics influence global business and economic development.
View Course
International Affairs Capstone
Course ID: IAF 799
This culminating experience provides students the opportunity to integrate and apply their learning in international affairs through a substantial applied or research-based project.
View Course

Master of International Affairs Electives

You will take 4 elective courses from a curated list of options, including two suggested focus areas: AI & Data for Global Strategy and Global Health Policy & Systems. These are guides (not requirements) for students who want to build deeper expertise in a particular area.

You have the flexibility to follow one focus area, combine courses from both, or explore any electives across the broader SPS portfolio. This allows you to tailor your learning and deepen your expertise to meet your goals.

We recommend International Affairs students use one elective for a Global Immersion, which offers hands-on, real‑world experience in international affairs through study in a global setting.

Strategic Leadership in AI
Course ID: AIN 712
Learn and perform the best practices for building AI systems in real-world applications. This course will include modules on change management specific to AI implementation. Students will build AI systems knowledge and the skills necessary to develop and implement AI strategies effectively in diverse organizational contexts.
View Course
Emerging Tools and Technologies in AI
Course ID: AIN 714
Learn to leverage the latest tools and methodologies in the field. In this course, students will track the continuous iterations of AI as one of the most rapidly evolving technologies of our time through large language model (LLM) benchmarking. Students will experiment with various LLMs, learning to craft and refine prompts to optimize model outputs for different application
View Course
Ethics and Responsible AI
Course ID: AIN 722
Explore the key areas of consideration when deploying products that contain AI. This course will cover the social, political, and economic effects that AI may have on society, including an understanding of public concerns with AI such as economic, equity, and human rights. Students will study diverse ethical issues that arise with the widespread and rapid integration of AI technologies, as well as the tools and frameworks for ensuring ethical AI practices to mitigate AI bias.
View Course
AI Implementation Across Industries
Course ID: AIN 724
Learn more about the selection and implementation of AI across various industries and teams. This course will equip students with the skills to leverage AI technologies in interdisciplinary contexts to foster collaboration, ethical decision-making, problem-solving, and impactful integration. Students will review real-world, industry-specific case studies and strategic frameworks in various sectors.
View Course
Data Analytics and Risk Management
Course ID: ERM 730
Examine the important connection between data analysis, ERM, and organizational strategy. This course will dive into traditional and new sources of data, data governance, data quality, digital, legal, and ethical considerations, and challenges associated with forecasting in the context of risk and uncertainty.
View Course
Data Ethics, Privacy, and Governance
Course ID: PPD 730
Develop an understanding of how data can be used to shed light on various policy issues. Students will examine ethical and legal considerations in data usage, privacy, and governance.
View Course
Health Information Management Systems
Course ID: HAD 720
Explore information technology aspects of health information management. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to various principles, tools, and concepts involved in service provision.
View Course
Healthcare Policy, Law, and Ethics
Course ID: HAD 722
Take an in-depth look at healthcare compliance programs and laws ranging from the basics of compliance to specific issues facing the industry. In the compliance portion of this course, the focus is on the seven elements of an effective compliance program. The legal portion covers selected laws impacting compliance, including HIPAA, the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the federal False Claims Act.
View Course
Strategic Planning and Decision Making for Healthcare Leaders
Course ID: HAD 730
Examine the principles, process, and applications of strategic management. This course covers methods for assessing key features of organization environments and competitive situations, approaches to demand management, and processes for ensuring successful strategy implementation.
View Course
Applied AI and Digital Health
Course ID: HIF 714
This course will explore the theory, applied practice, and impact of current and emerging digital health technologies and clinical documentation systems for all demographics. Learners will differentiate between the technology tools used in healthcare, including wearables, telemedicine, Mobile Health, Internet of Things (IoT), and other Consumer eHealth tools, and examine how digital health solutions and patient portals impact patients’ health and wellness, access to healthcare services, and interactions with their caregivers (patient perspective). They will also evaluate how digital platforms can improve and transform clinical operations and the delivery of healthcare (care provider perspective).
View Course
AI and Data Analytics for Health Professionals
Course ID: HIF 720
A comprehensive introduction to the current state of the science and practice of analytics in healthcare, including how to “tell the story” the numbers present. Core competency skills are achieved using a variety of learning methods to help students apply analytic techniques supporting data mining, visualization and data driven decision making.
View Course
The people who develop & continually refine programs bring expertise from…
Wake Forest SPS understands that I’m a working individual and created this program for people like me to not only learn what I need to receive a degree but also apply it to what I’m doing now.
— Ellie Matthews, SPS alum

Ready to
start your tomorrow?

Your goals are within reach—and we’re here to help you get there.
Apply Now

Where Your Master of International Affairs Can Take You

A master’s degree in international affairs positions you to be in the room where major, trend-defining strategies are born. Whether you embark on a career in government, public policy, advocacy, security and defense, or business services and the private sector, your work will make a measurable difference. With a holistic approach to problem-solving, you will be qualified to pursue administrative positions in public service, NGOs, and the private sector, such as:

  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Policy Advisor
  • Humanitarian Response Director
  • Intelligence Officer
  • Risk Analyst
  • Health Policy Analyst
  • Head of Global Corporate Strategy

The skills and proficiencies you will learn give you confidence in forging a singular career path serving social, economic, and geopolitical goals.

The Students of Wake Forest SPS

WakeSPS_May8
Parenting and Professional Development: Celebrating Mother’s Day in Grad School
This Mother’s Day, meet two Wake Forest SPS students who are pursuing their goals while raising and supporting their families with grace.
Read Story
compressed_image
Code Meets Culture in Suman Modha’s Approach to Human-Centered AI
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Suman Modha shares how growing up between Indian and American cultures impacts her approach...
Read Story
Devon Townsend
5 Ways to Prepare for Wake360 from Student Ambassador Devon Townsend
Student Ambassador and Master of Communications student Devon Townsend shares 5 practical tips to help you prepare for your first Wake360
Read Story
JoElla VanDerDoes
Lifelong Learner JoElla VanderDoes Finds Growth  Opportunity with a Certificate in Leadership at Wake  Forest’s Executive Education
Read about JoElla and her experience in the open enrollment program in Leadership from Wake Forest Executive Education.
Read Story
Mary Jo Juran Ambrose
Doors Open for One Master of Curriculum and Instruction Student
Wake Forest SPS student Mary Jo Juran Ambrose writes about why she chose the Curriculum and Instruction online program and what her experience has been...
Read Story