MPA Politics I Core. This course provides an introduction to American political institutions and their role in shaping public policy. Students will examine how policy decisions, and inaction, affect critical aspects of daily life, including health care, education, public safety, and environmental protection. The course explores the structure and function of U.S. political institutions such as Congress, the presidency, courts, and federalism, and how these compare to other democracies.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. This course will provide students with a policy-oriented introduction to the American political economy.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core.  This seven-week course introduces students to some of the central concepts, theories, and analytical tools used in contemporary social science to understand and explain world politics. The theoretical literature is drawn from different fields in the social sciences, including comparative politics, international relations, political sociology and economics.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. This course examines the causes of democratic erosion and the emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Students will explore foundational theories of democracy, analyze factors such as polarization and corruption, and assess how AI, misinformation, and digital surveillance shape democratic decline. Through case studies and group projects, the course also considers strategies to strengthen democratic institutions in an age of technological disruption.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. Global Politics & International Organizations introduces the actors, coalitions, institutions, and processes of global politics. It creates the conceptual foundations for understanding the role of international organizations in today’s multipolar and complex (or, ‘multiplex’) world.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. This course examines the evolution of American foreign policy within the context of U.S. political institutions, domestic dynamics, and historical experiences. It emphasizes the interplay between foreign and domestic policy, considering how American identity, political culture, and internal debates have shaped international engagement. While grounded in key moments in U.S.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. This course examines the development and dynamics of political parties in the United States, with a focus on the evolution of the two-party system and its influence on American politics and policymaking. Students will explore the historical foundations of party formation, ideological shifts over time, and the distinct roles parties play at national and subnational levels.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. This course examines the unique challenges and opportunities of the Global South, integrating theoretical frameworks, historical analysis, and contemporary case studies to develop a thorough understanding of how the region confronts and navigates some of the most significant issues shaping its politics and policies.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. This course offers an introduction to foundational policy topics related to cyberspace, with a focus on how and why cyberspace matters for policymaking more broadly, especially in an international relations context. Over the past several decades, cyberspace has emerged as a critical, crosscutting policy arena, offering challenges and opportunities for practitioners beyond those solely focused on policymaking for cyberspace itself.

MIA and MPA Politics II Core. This course explores the foundational principles of constitutional democracy in the United States, with a focus on the separation of powers and the evolving balance among the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Through close readings of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, students will examine the revolutionary premise that sovereign power is delegated by the people and limited by design.

MIA and MPA Politics Core II. Instructor: Peter Jaffe. This course explores how sudden disruptions—such as elections, economic shocks, natural disasters, and conflict—can challenge or derail long-term policy efforts. Using analytical tools from game theory, economics, management, and law, students will assess how policy responses are developed under pressure and how to design adaptive programs capable of withstanding unexpected change.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills I Core. This course provides students with practical skills to communicate clearly and persuasively on issues they care about. Whether writing to influence policy, shape public opinion, or present ideas within an organization, the ability to craft sharp, purposeful messages is essential. Students will learn to distill their key arguments, adapt their writing for different audiences, and develop strong foundational pieces such as op-eds, press releases, and policy memos.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Pre-req: Quant I. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. We will examine the evolution and revolution in data-driven politics as practiced by leading campaigns and advocacy efforts. The course will provide an overview of key issues in public opinion polling, large-scale microtargeting, randomized controlled trial testing, the application of behavioral science and modern statistical techniques, as well as the current and emerging uses of large language models. Our primary focus will be on developments in U.S.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. In recent years, despite enhanced awareness about the magnitude and multifaceted nature of gender inequalities on the one hand, and the promises of the ‘Data Revolution’ including AI on the other hand, gaps remain in both data availability and usage of 'Gender Data' that aim to both capture the underlying dynamics, drivers and outcomes of gender inequalities, and promote gender equality.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. Alternate title: "How to Use a Bit of Code to Do Things That Would Be Really Hard in Spreadsheets." Students will learn data analysis through the Python programming language—exploring, manipulating, visualizing, and interpreting open data to answer policy questions. The class incorporates use of generative AI for coding problems, helping students understand its strengths and weaknesses. No coding experience required.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. This course provides a practical introduction to the core concepts, techniques, and tools used to analyze data for effective decision-making.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. This advanced course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of effective database design, management, and security. Students will gain a strong foundation in information organization, data storage, and database administration, with attention to key topics such as data warehousing, governance, security, privacy, and alternative database models.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Pre-req: Quant I (SIPA IA6500). Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. Research is an important part of the policy process: it can inform the development of programs and policies so they are responsive to community needs, reveal the impacts of these programs and policies, and help us better understand populations or social phenomena. This half-semester course serves as an introduction to how to ethically collect data for smaller research projects, with an in-depth look at focus groups and surveys as data collection tools.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. This 7-week mini-course leads the students into the R world, helps them master the basics, and establishes a platform for future self-study. The course offers students basic programming knowledge and effective data analysis skills in R in the context of public policy-making and policy evaluation. Students will learn how to install R and RStudio, understand and use R data objects, and become familiar with base R and several statistical and graphing packages.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. This course introduces students to foundational concepts and methods for analyzing text-as-data using Python. Designed for beginners with no prior coding experience, the course emphasizes hands-on learning and practical applications across disciplines. Students will explore computational techniques for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing text data from sources such as news media, social media, and websites. Topics include web scraping, working with APIs, sentiment analysis, topic modeling, named entity recognition, and more.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. This course introduces students to the principles and practices of data visualization as a powerful tool for interpreting and communicating complex information. As large datasets become increasingly available across sectors, the ability to transform raw data into clear, compelling visuals is essential for insight and decision-making.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Pre-req: Computing in Context (DSPC IA6000). Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI), its applications in public policy, and its implications for the future of governance. Students will gain a foundational understanding of AI, including the mathematical and programming principles behind common machine learning algorithms used for prediction, classification, and clustering.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI), with a focus on how these technologies are built and their implications for society and public policy. Students will gain an understanding of language models, large language models (LLMs), deep learning, transformers, and Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPT).

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. In the past two years, Large Language Models (LLMs) built using transformer frameworks have emerged as the fastest-growing area of research and investment in AI/machine learning. Recent releases of chatbots such as ChatGPT (OpenAI), Bing (Microsoft), and Bard (Google) quickly reached hundreds of millions of users and have become the face of artificial intelligence for consumers.

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Pre-req: Quant I (SIPA IA6500). Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. Data is not neutral. How it is collected, categorized, and analyzed is shaped by historical, political, economic, and social forces, often reinforcing existing injustices. While policy professionals are trained in quantitative methods, there is comparatively less focus on interrogating how data itself is produced, how existing frameworks exclude certain populations, and how data can be used to either reinforce or challenge inequities.

MIA & MPA Ethics Core. This course investigates how ethical considerations shape, complicate, and often introduce dilemmas into the work of policymaking. It asks what justice, democracy, and responsibility demand in concrete policy contexts—should political leaders prioritize stability or accountability in post-conflict settings? Should elected officials follow their moral convictions even when doing so goes against the preferences of their constituents? Should public servants uphold the law when it conflicts with their moral principles?

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management I Core. Leadership in Action integrates strategic leadership frameworks, real-world case studies, and an immersive multi-week simulation to build students’ capacity to lead in complex, high-stakes environments. Through a sequence of applied exercises, ranging from team formation and innovation design to crisis response, students will develop critical skills in decision-making, influence, and organizational change.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course examines leadership and innovative policy making through interdisciplinary analysis, reflective discussion, and applied case studies. Students will explore key themes such as the character and context of leadership, the role of institutions, the use of behavioral tools like “nudging,” and the dynamics of leadership during crises.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course explores key themes in people management and organizational culture, equipping students with skills to lead diverse teams and build resilient, high-performing workplaces. Through case studies, simulations, and applied exercises, students will examine talent strategy, performance management, inclusive leadership, and organizational design.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course introduces students to the field of public management, focusing on the tools and strategies managers use to influence organizational behavior and deliver public services. Through lectures, case studies, discussions, and group projects, students will explore management practices in government and in nonprofit and private organizations that partner with the public sector. The course draws on examples from New York City and U.S. agencies, as well as comparative cases from Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course equips students with foundational concepts and skills to advance equitable, inclusive, and just approaches to public policy. Through self-reflection, critical analysis, and applied frameworks, students will examine how social identities, histories of power, and systemic inequalities shape policymaking in both domestic and international contexts. Topics include intersectionality, decolonization, systems change, and strategies for addressing discrimination and exclusion.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course equips students with the skills, strategies, and resilience necessary to lead effectively during extreme events and complex crises.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course blends crisis communication theory, case studies, and immersive simulations to prepare students for high-stakes communications challenges in the public and nonprofit sectors. Students will develop strategic judgment and tactical skills necessary to lead during crises while practicing rapid-response communication under pressure.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course is an interactive, practice-focused experience designed to equip students with skills and confidence in negotiation and persuasion across public and private sector contexts. Drawing on negotiation psychology, best practices, and evidence-based approaches, the course will develop students’ ability to navigate complex interpersonal and multilateral dynamics.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course trains students to become effective spokespersons and communications directors in any sector—government, nonprofit, or private enterprise. The class focuses on developing practical skills and insight into the extensive role of communications in achieving organizational goals.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course explores how core functional areas, such as governance, finance, talent strategy, communications, and accountability, interconnect to support a nonprofit organization’s mission and strategic goals. Students will examine key management practices in nonprofit settings, emphasizing mission alignment, ethical fundraising, board effectiveness, and impact measurement.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course introduces students to the field of behavioral economics and the study of individual decision-making. Students will examine how behavior often departs from standard rational models and consider the implications for public policy and management. The course begins with the economic concept of rationality, then proceeds to evidence on systematic deviations, including impatience, framing, reference dependence, and social preferences.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course builds on core leadership concepts by focusing on startup strategy, entrepreneurial execution, and organizational leadership in uncertain environments. Through case studies and practitioner insights, students will apply Lean Startup methodologies, explore the ethical and cultural dimensions of entrepreneurial leadership, and assess the impact of generative AI on innovation.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. Sustainability management matters because we only have one planet, and we must learn how to manage our organizations in a way that ensures that our planet is maintained. The course is designed to introduce you to the field of sustainability management. This is not an academic course that reviews the literature of the field and discusses how scholars think about the management of organizations that are environmentally sound.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This course develops students’ capacity to lead effectively in moments of adversity and opportunity by building systems intelligence and deepening awareness of group dynamics. Through student-led leadership cases, structured exercises, readings, and role-plays, the course fosters diagnostic skills for understanding authority, group behavior, and organizational complexity.

MIA & MPA Leadership and Management II Core. This experiential course focuses on the self-management and interpersonal skills essential for effective leadership in high-pressure, high-stakes situations. Through role-plays, structured exercises, video analysis, and Leadership Labs, students will develop greater self-awareness, communication agility, and emotional resilience. Emphasizing the analysis of leadership failure as a learning tool, the course uses individual student cases to explore how personal patterns and behaviors impact leadership effectiveness.

MPA Financial Management I Core. This course provides a practical introduction to budgeting as a critical tool for planning, decision-making, and leadership across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Students will develop hands-on skills in budget creation, financial analysis, and cash flow management while exploring how budgets shape organizational strategy and operations.

MPA Financial Management II Core. This course introduces students to budgeting and financial management in the public sector, with an emphasis on real-world application and analytical skill development. Drawing on current and historical challenges—including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic—students will explore the political, technical, and managerial dimensions of public budgeting in the United States. 

MPA Financial Management II Core. This course introduces nonprofit and social enterprise finance, financial management, and budgeting. The course is practical and hands-on.  The course will examine how financial management principles assist nonprofit and social enterprise leaders make operating, program, and long-term financial and strategic decisions.

MPA Financial Management Core II. This course provides students with a foundational understanding of financial accounting, with an emphasis on interpreting financial statements. Students will study the three core financial statements—the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows—and learn the accounting principles and rules that shape how financial data is recorded and presented.

MPA and MIA-Track II Economics Core. This course introduces the fundamental tools of microeconomic analysis used to understand individual decision-making, market behavior, and policy outcomes. It equips students with the analytical frameworks and terminology of the economics profession, fostering both critical and open-minded engagement with economic issues. Emphasis is placed on the motivations and consequences of microeconomic policies in international and public affairs contexts.

MPA and MIA-Track II Economics Core. This course continues the one-year sequence initiated with SIPA IA6400 and focuses on macroeconomics. The goal of this course is to provide students with the analytical framework to examine and interpret observed economic events in the global economy. The causal relationships between macroeconomic aggregates is based upon microeconomic principles. The subject matter always refers to concrete situations with a particular focus on the causes and effects of the current global financial crisis.

MIA & MPA Quantitative I Core. This course introduces the fundamentals of statistical analysis, with applications in public policy, management, and the social sciences. Students will begin with basic techniques for describing and summarizing data and progress toward more advanced methods for inference and prediction. The course emphasizes practical tools for interpreting quantitative data and drawing evidence-based conclusions about the social world.

MPA Quantitative II Core. This course introduces regression analysis as a key tool for policy analysis and program evaluation. Emphasizing causal inference, students will learn to assess the impacts of programs and policies using both experimental and non-experimental methods. The first half of the course reviews foundational concepts from Quant I and builds toward multiple regression techniques; the second half applies those tools to real-world policy settings.

The Capstone Consultancy Project Management course is the first of a two-course sequence. The second course is the Capstone Workshop (SIPA IA9000).

Prerequisite: Course Application. A Capstone Workshop is a live consulting project with an external client outside of SIPA. Each workshop partners a team of about 6 graduate students with a faculty advisor. The goal is to provide clients with innovative analysis and practical recommendations while SIPA students gain experience by working on a real-world problem. A core requirement for the Master of International Affairs (MIA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), the workshops give students an opportunity to put learning into practice.