Master’s in Public Diplomacy and Global Communications

If you want to do more than just see the world—if you want to interact with it, understand it and change the world for the better—then you’ve found the best place to start a career in public diplomacy.

Female graduate student points to Slovenia on a map

A degree in public diplomacy and global communications will help you take the next step in your career. Whether you want to be a campaign manager, global affairs strategist or a communications director, you will learn the necessary communications and public diplomacy skills to succeed.

Public Diplomacy and Global Communications Requires Two Areas of Expertise

As a public diplomacy and global communications graduate student, you will be dually enrolled in two prestigious schools that give you access to world-class expertise in public diplomacy studies: the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. This combines Maxwell’s top-ranked graduate program in public affairs with the experience of Newhouse, one of the nation’s premier communications schools.  

You will learn the art of public diplomacy from people who have done what you want to do. You will get insights about working with governments, organizations, and international corporations to make it possible for people on opposite ends of the world to understand and communicate with each other.

Communication is Key in Public Policy and Diplomacy

Great speeches can move a nation. Poorly conceived ones can lose elections. Persuasive arguments can change the world.

In a society where people often form opinions without reading past the headline, the art of public diplomacy is becoming more and more important. Governments, nonprofits and advocacy organizations worldwide need strategic communication. Building political consensus to pass a bill in Congress or creating an international partnership is not only based in the quality of the concept, but also in the art of political communication. In this program, you will learn from expert communicators and policymakers who have worked nationally and internationally. Public diplomacy requires the ability to understand policy and analyze a situation, as well as communicate, persuade and advertise.

Keys to Crafting Public Policy

This program involves strategic analysis, political thinking, practical skills and creative thought. It will motivate and prepare you for a career in the field of public diplomacy and communication. These skills will serve you well in the ever-changing international political climate of global communication for political, public, nonprofit and even private organizations.

You will learn to crystallize messages and strategically communicate with key audiences such as policymakers, the press, lobbying firms, think tanks, foreign governments and the public. You will know how to speak out on issues and use communication to advance the policies of your organization.

Our courses are designed to provide practical, hands-on experience in various aspects of applied politics and effective communication across different media platforms. You will delve into subjects such as persuasive writing, public opinion research, online advocacy and campaign management, gaining valuable skills that are relevant in today’s political landscape.

Combining Intercultural Studies with Career Development

The Public Diplomacy and Global Communications master’s program, is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA). APSIA is dedicated to the improvement of graduate education in international affairs. (APSIA) schools combine multidisciplinary, policy-oriented, intercultural studies with career development.

Application Deadline

For more information about the M.A. program in public policy and global communications, contact Professor Dennis Kinsey (dfkinsey@syr.edu), Program Director.

For more information about graduate studies at the Newhouse School, contact Martha Coria (macoria@syr.edu), Assistant Director of Graduate Programs.