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Accelerated Master of Public and International Affairs (4+1)

Fast-track your impact by earning both your undergraduate and Master’s degrees in just five years. The Accelerated Master of Public and International Affairs (MPIA) 4+1 offers high-performing undergraduates a seamless transition from the classroom to a career in global change. This program an opportunity for exceptional undergraduate students to start their Master program while completing their undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech.

Students must be admitted to the undergraduate/graduate program prior to the beginning of the semester in which they would enroll in courses that are part of the accelerated program. General information about Accelerated Master’s Degrees can be found on the Graduate School’s website.

The GIA Difference

The MPIA is managed by the Government and International Affairs (GIA) program at the School of Public and International Affairs.

Our students benefit from our presence on two campuses both Blacksburg and Arlington in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

The Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, Virginia is home to programs in the School of Public and International Affairs programs
Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, Virginia
Two students in the foreground sitting beneath a tree on the Drillfield near Burruss Hall
Virginia Tech Blacksburg Campus

  • Bio Item
    Nataliya Brantly
    Nataliya D. Brantly , bio

    Assistant Professor, Government and International Affairs (GIA) | Deputy Director for Health Technologies, Tech4Humanity Lab | Office: Architecture Annex, Room 215, Blacksburg | Email: nbrantly@vt.edu

  • Bio Item
    Yannis Stivachtis
    Yannis Stivachtis , bio

    Professor of Government & International Affairs, GIA | Office: Major Williams, Room 219, Blacksburg | Jean Monnet Chair in EU Strategy. Director, Center for European & Transatlantic Studies (CEUTS) - A Jean Monnet Center of Excellence. University Coordinator, Diplomacy Lab.

  • Bio Item
    Gerard Toal
    Gerard Toal , bio

    Professor, Government and International Affairs (GIA) | Office: Arlington, Room 6-020 | Email: toalg@vt.edu |

  • Bio Item
    Chad Levinson
    Chad Levinson , bio

    Assistant Professor, Government and International Affairs (GIA) | Office: Arlington, Room 6-016 | Email: chadlevinson@vt.edu |

  • Bio Item
    Tim Luke
    Tim Luke , bio

    University Distinguished Professor, Government and International Affairs (GIA) | Office: Blacksburg | Email: twluke@vt.edu | Phone: (540)-231-6633

  • Bio Item
    Giselle Datz
    Giselle Datz , bio

    Associate Professor and Chair, Government and International Affairs (GIA) | Office: Arlington, Room 6-010 | Email: gdatz@vt.edu

  • Bio Item
    Aaron Brantly
    Aaron F. Brantly , bio

    Associate Professor, Department of Political Science | 526 Major Williams Hall (0130), 220 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061

  • Bio Item
    Joel Peters
    Joel Peters , bio

    Director of the School of Public and International Affairs Professor, Government and International Affairs (GIA)

  • Bio Item
    Ariel Ahram
    Ariel Ahram , bio

    Professor of Government and International Affairs (GIA) | Office: Arlington, Room 6-022 | Email: ahram@vt.edu

  • Bio Item
    Joyce Barr
    Joyce Barr , bio

    Professor of Practice, Government and International Affairs (GIA) | Office: Arlington, Room 5-042 | Email: ambbarr@vt.edu

How it works:

Students can substitute 12 credits of undergraduate electives for 5000 level courses that will count towards the MPIA degree in their last year in the undergraduate program. 

Students then enroll in their remaining 24 (graduate) credits in their  "+1" year as full-time MPIA students.

  • GIA 5004 Power & Policy in the US
  • GIA 5274 Social Movements
  • GIA 5524 International Development
  • GIA 5444 International Politics
  • GIA 5034 Global Political Economy
  • GIA 5404 Topics in Political Geography
  • GIA 5374 Electronic Governance

There are two required Methodology Courses:

  • GIA/PSCI 5115 Research Methods
  • Major Paper, Practicum or Thesis (GIA 5904 Project and Report or GIA 5964 Fieldwork/Practicum or GIA 5994 Thesis)

Select two other courses from this list (or another committee-approved methods/theory course):

  • UAP 5224  Quantitative Techniques
  • GIA/PSCI 5354  Public Policy Analysis
  • GIA/PSCI 5214  Contemporary Political Theory
  • GIA/PSCI 5224  Alternative Political Theory
  • GIA/UAP/PAPA 5464  Qualitative Methods in Global Studies
  • GIA/UAP/PSCI 5504  Discourse Analysis

Going into effect for Fall 2025, students should select two other courses from this list: UAP 5224 Quantitative Techniques, PAPA/GIA 5354 Public Policy Analysis , PSCI/GIA 5214 Contemporary Political Theory, GIA 5464 Qual. Methods, GIA 5504 Discourse Analysis, GIA/PSCI 5116 Research Methods II.

Select four couress from the GIA Elective Courses list below. Non-GIA courses can also count towards the elective requirement with prior approval. Ask your adviser for suggestions and approval.

  • GIA/UAP/PSCI 5254  Global Conflicts
  • GIA 5624  Conflict Resolution & Peace Building
  • GIA/PSCI 5514  Global Security
  • GIA 5614  Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
  • GIA/PSCI 5484  Contemporary American Foreign Policy
  • GIA/PSCI 5434  Politics of Developing Areas
  • GIA/PSCI 5584  Environmental Politics and Policy
  • GIA/PSCI 5704 Transatlantic Relations
  • GIA/PSCI 5744 European Security
  • GIA 6114  Critical Geopolitics
  • GIA/PSCI 6134  Topics in Conflict Analysis
  • GIA/PSCI 6144  Topics in Global Governance
  • GIA/PSCI 6124  Topics in Security Studies: Cybersecurity
  • GIA/PSCI 5704 Transatlantic Relations
  • GIA/PSCI 5714 European Union

GIA provides several ways to demonstrate your mastery of the coursework and field of study:

  • GIA 5904 Project and Report
  • GIA 5964 Fieldwork/Practicum
  • GIA 5994 Thesis

The Major Paper (Project and Report) and Fieldwork/Practicum are qualitatively equivalent final projects. In both instances, students will put together a committee with one GIA adviser and two other GIA faculty members. An oral defense will be scheduled.

For more information, please see the Major Paper and Practicum Rules and Guidelines.

Admission Criteria

  • Applicants must have a GPA of 3.5 or greater and have completed more than 75 undergraduate credits upon applying.
  • GRE scores are not required.
  • Students must work with their undergraduate advisor and the MPIA program chair to ensure courses count appropriately.
  • Students must apply and be accepted through the Graduate School admissions process.
Apply Now

How would the Accelerated MPIA work for you?

Here is a suggested course sequence:

Year One: Undergradate + Graduate

  • GIA/PSCI 5444 International Politics
  • GIA 5422 International Development
  • GIA/PSCI 5374 Electronic Governance
  • GIA 5004 Power & Policy in the US
  • GIA 5034 Global Political Economy
  • GIA 5274 Comparative Social Movements

Year Two: MPIA Full-Time

  • GIA/PSCI 5115 Research Methods [obligatory]
  • GIA/PSCI 6114 Critical Geopolitics*
  • GIA/PSCI 5714 European Union*
  • GIA/PSCI 6124 Topics in Security Studies: Cybersecurity*

*or an approved GIA elective

  • GIA 5464 Qualitative Methods in Global Studies
  • GIA/PSCI 5504 Discourse Analysis **
  • GIA/PSCI 5514  Global Security*
  • GIA 5904 Project and Report [obligatory capstone project]

*or an approved GIA elective
**or an approved GIA methodology course

Government and International Affairs (GIA) Contacts

Elia Amegashie, SPIA Graduate Coordinator and Operations Manager
elia@vt.edu

Chris LaPlante, SPIA Undergraduate Academic Advisor 
chrisl@vt.edu

Professor Giselle Datz, Government and International Affairs Program Chair
gdatz@vt.edu