Governance & International Public Management Concentration

Governance and International Public Management provides a comparative perspective on international development, focusing on the ways in which public and nonprofit organizations must adapt to meet the different cultural, political, and economic circumstances of the communities they serve. 

It explores how public agencies around the globe, faced with similar problems like poverty, illiteracy, and inequality, have addressed those issues differently in different countries. Students confront the challenges of implementing complex policies in a global, multicultural context. This major focuses on developing the management and analytical skills necessary to take leadership roles in the multilateral sector, governments abroad, or any organization that delivers services internationally. Graduates are well-prepared to pursue careers at the United Nations, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and similar organizations.

Download Plan of Study beginning Fall '26 »

MID Core Classes (12 credits)

    Development Policy and Practice
PIA 2--- Social Innovation for Global Development
    Economics of Development
OR
    Political Economy of Development
    Qualitative Research Design & Methods
OR
    Program Evaluation
OR
    Quantitative Methods
    Capstone Seminar
OR
    Thesis
Internship Requirement: All students must complete an approved internship of at least 300 hours while enrolled at SPIA. The internship must be approved by the student’s career advisor in advance. Students with at least three years of relevant full‐time work experience may petition their career advisor for a waiver of this requirement during their first semester.

Concentration Courses (12 credits)

One of the following five courses:
    Markets & States
    Comparative Governance
    Governance, Local Government & Civil Society
    Political Economy Analysis for Global Affairs
    Managing Organizations in Development
Plus:
PIA 2--- GIPM Concentration Course
PIA 2--- GIPM Concentration Course
PIA 2--- GIPM Concentration Course

Free Electives/Minor Courses (9 credits)

PIA 2--- Elective/minor course
PIA 2--- Elective/minor course
PIA 2--- Elective/minor course

Below is a sample of electives that may be offered depending on the semester. Please speak with your advisor to confirm availability and create your personalized plan of study.

PIA 2117: Program Evaluation
PIA 2156: Law, Policy & Technology
PIA 2185: Strategic Management
PIA 2310: Markets & States
PIA 2388: Sovereignty, Global & International Law
PIA 2502: Environmental Policy: Local & Global
PIA 2508: NGO Advocacy in International Coalitions
PIA 2553: Global Health Policy