Graduate students in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs work, learn, and study together, forming friendships and connections that last long after graduation day.
Explore opportunities to connect and grow both in and out of the classroom.
“This work isn’t competition, it’s collaborative. In graduate school, you can be swept up by the pressure to build your career. But this is a very supportive and welcoming community of students. You can study together, build each other up, challenge each other, and we can also laugh together and enjoy each other’s company.”
— Sam Rising, M.S. International Affairs
Read more about his experience.
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Career Development
The Nunn School hosts many events to support student career development, including information sessions, talent and skill workshops, and networking.
There is an annual career exploration visit to Washington, D.C. to promote networking with alumni and expose students to career opportunities in the federal government, government contracting, and non-governmental organization/think-tank sectors.
City of Atlanta
Live and work on a 400-acre campus in the center of vibrant Atlanta. The city is home to 70+ consulates, a dozen foreign trade offices, 16 Fortune 500 headquarters, and the busiest airport in the world.
You will also find the Georgia State Capitol and organizations such as the Carter Center, International Rescue Committee, CARE, Atlanta Council on International Relations, and RCE Greater Atlanta.
Conferences
Our graduate students present at conferences such as the International Studies Association, American Political Science Association, Governance of Emerging Technologies and Science Conference, Summer Workshop on the Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy, Bridging the Gap, Neuroethics Society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and others.
There are also opportunities to present your work at the annual Ivan Allen College Graduate Research Conference, the Career, Research, and Innovation Development Conference, and the Three Minute Thesis competition.
Dual Degree Options
Students can apply to any other graduate program at Georgia Tech with the benefit of already being enrolled at the Institute. This opens up opportunities to supplement your international affairs degree in unique ways through other Georgia Tech master’s programs.
Events
We host regular events throughout the year — visit our events calendar to see what’s coming up next.
Graduate Certificates
Students can earn a graduate certificate by taking four courses (12 credit hours) through their curriculum electives with no extra time or cost required. We offer four graduate certificates in:
- Astrobiology
- Emerging Technologies and Proliferation
- Global Development
- International Security and Aerospace Systems
Internships
We encourage all graduate students to pursue an internship during the program. Explore Georgia Tech’s Graduate Internship Program or the Global Research and Internship Program in the Office of International Education to learn more.
The White House and Department of Homeland Security also offer internship opportunities for graduate students.
Research
Georgia Tech is an R1 university with more $1.43 billion in research expenditure.
Core research areas in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs are International Security, Global Development, and Science, Technology, and Policy, with an overarching focus on emerging technology, sustainability, environment, energy, space, and innovation.
The Nunn School stands out when it comes to the cosmos, boasting the largest concentration of social scientists studying space at any U.S. university. See how we contribute to space research at Georgia Tech.
Our faculty direct the Center for Space Policy and International Relations, the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies, and the Center for International Strategy, Technology, and Policy. They also lead the Soccer, Community, Innovation, and Politics project and co-organize the SEEDS conference. Ivan Allen College is home to 20+ research centers across the six Schools.
Study Abroad
The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs offers three faculty-led study abroad trips every summer that include graduate courses.
Argentina Program — Soccer, Business, Politics, and Global Development in Argentina and Uruguay
East Asia Study Abroad Program — Security and Resilience Across South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan
European Union Program — dynamic, experiential learning and engagement with policymakers