Learn how pursuing a Master of International Affairs degree at GPS can make you an invaluable employee and increase your earnings
By pursuing a Master of International Affairs (MIA) degree at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, you can rest assured that the time and money you put into your education will pay dividends in your career.
The curriculum teaches you to analyze how countries and regions interact with each other economically and politically, and there’s a special emphasis on using data to study these relationships quantitatively.
MIA candidates learn with their peers in small cohorts, and the school’s world-class instructors make a point to include group projects in the curriculum. By collaborating with teammates from many different backgrounds to achieve shared goals, students prepare for careers in which partnership is crucial.
“It is astonishing how much you’ll stand out in your job just by knowing how to work with other people,” said Taylor Tielke, a 2019 graduate of the MIA program.
Where everybody knows your name
Many other top-ranked programs have so many students that it is difficult to be more than a number, Tielke said.
He went on to say that at GPS, the small cohort size makes it so that you’ll be on a first-name basis with classmates and professors. As they develop close relationships with faculty members, students have the chance to learn the material more comprehensively and to deepen their knowledge outside of the classroom through research assistant opportunities.
“When the time for recommendation letters comes around, faculty members were able to personally vouch for me and my accomplishments,” he said.
Landing the job
Of course, a stellar recommendation letter doesn’t serve much purpose unless you’re applying to a job.
That’s where GPS’s unparalleled Career and Professional Development Center team comes into action. Students and alumni routinely point to the team as one of the most important differentiators between GPS and other programs.
“I was surprised by just how willing GPS alumni are to lend a hand.… I have switched jobs three times, and for each decision, a GPS alum gave me their feedback and perspective.”
Federico Arroyo, MIA ’20
In addition, graduates of the MIA program can tap into a network of GPS alumni working in industries across the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
“I was surprised by just how willing GPS alumni are to lend a hand,” said Federico Arroyo, a 2020 MIA graduate. “Within consulting, I have switched jobs three times, and for each decision, a GPS alum gave me their feedback and perspective.”
Tangible pay-offs
And Arroyo said that the hard skills, like data analysis, not only helped him get hired but continue to help him do his job as a consultant effectively.
“My degree taught me to work in an ambiguous environment with many different viewpoints all to come up with the best solution,” he said.
[Read: How an MIA degree sets you up for success in business]
And for Tielke, the benefits He has gained from his MIA degree are reflected in his paycheck and in the management and program analyst role he has taken on at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where he helps ensure people who are claiming asylum receive timely interviews for their claims.
“I’ve managed to be promoted nearly every other year, with my year-on-year income increasing by 15%.”
Taylor Tielke, MIA ’19
“I’ve managed to be promoted nearly every other year, with my year-on-year income increasing by 15%, and I routinely contribute to discussions and strategy sessions at high levels that impact all asylum offices,” she said.
Tielke added that although graduate school is an investment, the benefits you’ll get as a student in the MIA program match, and even exceed, what you put into it.
“GPS is a place to find incredible people who will invest in you, and there are few safer investments than yourself,” he said.
