Master's in International Education
Elevate Your Impact on a Global Level
To ensure constructive leadership and improvements in our global community, international education professionals must address critical issues concerning education reform and social justice on a global scale.
Through in-class curriculum and international opportunities, our International Education Program (IEP) empowers you to improve systems of education and to increase access to quality education around the world. In the IEP, you will explore the history, culture, development, contemporary concerns, and future trends of schooling and higher education in well-resourced, under-resourced, and/or conflict and emergency contexts. You will be prepared as a leader in training, learning, and development in diverse settings that require cross-cultural competencies.
With more than 30 years of experience, our program has a rich history and a robust network of alumni in the DC area and around the world working in international and non-profit organizations, government, business, and school settings.
Areas of Focus
Deepen your expertise in critical areas of the field, including International Education Development, International Higher Education, and Global Education.
Partnerships + Fellowships
IEP maintains a partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), serving as a designated UNESCO Chair that offers a UNESCO Fellows program.
Convenient Schedule
Designed with the busy professional in mind, courses are scheduled once a week in late afternoons and evenings (Monday-Thursday), allowing you to balance your career, personal life, and education seamlessly.
The GW Advantage
Our location in D.C.—the epicenter of policy, practice, and research—provides you with the distinct advantage of being able to access global opportunities within walking distance of campus by working or interning for embassies, the U.S. government, or more than 100 organizations that influence international education.
Students have the opportunity to receive class credit for internships, available both domestically and abroad, as well as short-term study abroad programs.
GSEHD offers students access to opinion leaders and the opportunity to learn from our faculty who are leading experts on global policy trends, assessments, politics, conflict and education, student exchange, access, equity and inclusion, global citizenship, migration, and more. Our diverse student body comes together from across the country and around the globe, bringing a wide range of professional experience, skills, and enriching knowledge.
Degree Awarded:
Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the Field of International Education
Department:
Educational Leadership
Course Delivery:
Foggy Bottom Campus
Program Entry:
Spring, Summer, Fall
- Our Mission
The mission of our program is to:
- Optimize the constructive leadership capacity of individuals to advance education reform, and social and environmental justice on a global scale.
- Enhance individual, organizational, and community resilience, effectiveness, and equity at global, national, and local levels.
- Train scholar-practitioners with the capacity to lead and address critical education issues in international organizations, government, business, and non-profit organizations.
- Curriculum Requirements
Required: 30 credits, including 12 credits in required courses, 6 credits in selected courses, 9 credits in courses in a specialization, and 3 credits in elective courses.
*Students already possessing a master’s degree can petition to earn the M.A. in International Education as a second master’s degree with 24 credits.
Code Title Required EDUC 6114 Introduction to Quantitative Research or EDUC 6116 Introduction to Educational Statistics EDUC 6601 International and Comparative Education EDUC 6660 Capstone in International Education I EDUC 6661 Capstone in International Education II Selected Courses Two courses (6 credits) selected from the list below. EDUC 6602 Regional Studies in International Education EDUC 6610 Programs and Policies in International Education EDUC 6620 Strategies and Analysis in International Education EDUC 6630 International Experiences EDUC 6631 Internship: International Education EDUC 6640 Selected Topics in International Education The selected courses listed above are presented below in three areas. These areas are offered only as a guidepost for students who wish to choose related courses. Taking both courses in one study area is not required. Education and Development areaEDUC 6610 Programs and Policies in International Education (Policy Issues in International Education: Developing Countries) EDUC 6620 Strategies and Analysis in International Education (Planning Education Reform in Developing Countries) Global Education areaEDUC 6610 Programs and Policies in International Education (Migration and Mobility: Exploring Citizenship and Education in the Global Era) EDUC 6615 Internationalizing U.S. Schools International Higher Education areaEDUC 6610 Programs and Policies in International Education (International Higher Education) EDUC 6620 Strategies and Analysis in International Education (Managing Study Abroad and International Student Offices) Specialization 9 credits in a professional, academic, or regional specialization selected in consultation with the program advisor. Elective 3 credits of approved electives selected in consultation with the program advisor. Up to 6 additional credits of internship may be required for students who do not have international education related experience.
- Program Outcomes
Through this program, students will be able to:
- Recognize the rich theoretical perspectives, while stepping out into the complexities of the real world through examining the policies and practices in specific local, regional, national, and global contexts;
- Acquire the tools, methods, and habits of analysis that enable them to play a variety of key roles as leaders and change agents;
- Pursue and specialize in cutting-edge topics and issues within and across the field, such as international education development, international higher education, and global education.
Graduate Certificate Offered
Students can deepen their specialization further through concurrently enrolling in our related graduate certificate program.
You can earn this graduate certificate first and transfer all 12 credit hours toward the master's degree.*
*All requirements must be met and student accepted to the master's program
Incorporating International Perspectives in Education
This certificate will strengthen your understanding of internationalization as it relates to school systems and the development of K-12 curriculum. Students learn to incorporate global perspectives into curriculum, pedagogy, and school policy and practice.
Apply Now
GSEHD’s Office of Admissions invites you to apply for a spot in our program. Please review the following admission and financial information.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Review our step-by-step guide to applying to GSEHD >
To learn more about the program, admission process, and upcoming events, please connect with the GSEHD Admissions Team at askdel
gwu [dot] edu (askdel[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.
| Apply Now | Schedule Consultation with Admissions Coach |
To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the online application form as well as the following required supporting documents. There is no application fee.
- Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree
- Resume
- Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
- Statement of Purpose
- Two Letters of Recommendation
*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants.
Applications are now being accepted for Summer and Fall 2025. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
Application Timeline Spring Summer Fall Priority Deadline Aug 1 Nov 1 Nov 1 Round 1 Deadline Sept 15 Dec 15 Dec 15 Round 2 Deadline Nov 1 Jan 15 Jan 15 Round 3 Deadline Dec 15 March 1 March 1 Round 4 Deadline N/A May 1 May 1 Round 5 Deadline N/A N/A June 15 Round 6 Deadline N/A N/A Aug 1 For more information or to inquire about the next admissions cycle, contact the GSEHD Admissions Team at askdel
gwu [dot] edu (askdel[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-9283.
Tuition & Financial Aid
We know embarking upon graduate school is a big decision - due in part to the costs of attending. At GW, we understand the time and thought behind making graduate school work for you. Please take a moment to learn more about the options and opportunities available to help fund your graduate education.
New: Save 20% with Federal Service Scholarship
If you are a current U.S. federal civilian employee or a federal employee/contractor affected by the 2025 federal workforce reductions, you may be eligible* for GSEHD's Federal Service Scholarship, which provides a 20% tuition discount. Deadline: Apply for Fall 2025 enrollment by June 1. View full details >
Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. Rates vary by program and location.
The tuition rate* for the Master's in International Education program is $1,960 per credit hour.
This program requires 30 credits.
Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.
*Summer 2025, Fall 2025 and Spring 2026
Scholarships are available to eligible admitted students. Review eligibility requirements and learn more about funding your education >
Having had the opportunity to complete a Fulbright ETA experience in Kolkata, India, to present my research at conferences and participate in the Kakehashi program as a graduate research in Tokyo, Japan, and to work as a Study Abroad Advisor, the IEP program offered a great balance of theoretical and practical course work for me to explore how education can be used to combat inequalities in society and uplift communities. The faculty’s first hand experience in the field allowed me to better understand the realities and complexities of being a scholar practitioner.
SAVON JACKSON (MA '18)
International Education Program
Career Outlook
Read our guide to top career paths in international education >
Our graduates pursue a wide range of leadership programs in governmental and non-governmental organizations, international organizations, higher education institutions and schools, think tanks and philanthropy. Hear from three alumni on how they're making a difference in the lives of students and educators, in the US and abroad >
More than 80% of program graduates secured a full-time position while in IEP or within 6 months of graduation. The majority have reported they work within the education sector.
- Potential Employment Settings
Our graduates are improving access, equity and the experience of education across the nation and around the world. You will find our graduates leading at a variety of institutions, including some of the following:
- American School of Mozambique
- Carnegie Mellon University, Study Abroad/Foreign Student & Scholar Office
- Chemonics International
- Earth Force
- Education Development Center
- FHI360
- Foreign Service Institute
- Georgetown University, BMW Center for German and European Studies
- Institute of International Education
- IREX
- Johns Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies
- KIPP DC
- NAFSA Association of International Educators
- Smithsonian Science Education Center
- The Alliance for Global Education
- The British Council
- The Fulbright Program
- The National Institutes of Health
- The World Bank
- UNESCO
- University of Maryland, International Scholar and Student Services
- US Department of State
- USAID
- WomenOne
- World Learning
The courses, faculty, and colleagues of the International Education Program at GW have positively expanded my perspective and understanding of education's place within the global context. With many opportunities to connect theory to practice throughout the program, I now have the capacity to integrate the values and goals of global citizenship into my teaching philosophy, lessons, and classroom culture.
JESSICA LEE ('22)
Elementary Educator, Jakarta Intercultural School
Master's in International Education, Graduate Certificate in Incorporating International Perspectives in Education
Assistant Professor, International Education and International Affairs
Associate Professor, International Education and International Affairs
Professor, International Education and International Affairs
