The Department of International Affairs was formed in 2001 when the School of Public & International Affairs was founded.  Formerly, the department had been part of the larger Political Science department in Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. We currently offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs, two master’s degrees (Master of International Policy and Master of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs), and a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs.

We currently have 24 tenured and tenure-track faculty and lecturers in the department that specialize in a wide array of topics, including international conflict, human rights, political institutions, extremism, political economy, and the environment. Many of our faculty have won prestigious teaching awards at the school and university levels. Our faculty are also world-renowned researchers, often winning research awards and external grants and serving in editorial positions at top peer-reviewed journals.

If you have questions regarding visa and immigration issues, please contact UGA’s Office of Global Engagement.

Degree Programs

Latest News

UGA hosts Senators Manchin, Blunt at first Johnny Isakson Symposium on Political Civility
UGA hosts Senators Manchin, Blunt at first Johnny Isakson Symposium on Political Civility

On Nov. 10, the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs hosted Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and former Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) for the inaugural Johnny Isakson Symposium

Read More >

Dean Matthew Auer selected to the National Academy of Public Administration
Dean Matthew Auer selected to the National Academy of Public Administration

Congratulations to Matthew Auer, Dean and Arch Professor of Public and International Affairs, for being selected to the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA).  NAPA is Congressionally-chartered institution tasked with

Read More >

2023 40 under 40 List Includes Nine SPIA Alumni
2023 40 under 40 List Includes Nine SPIA Alumni

On July 12, 2023 the University of Georgia announced the 2023 40 Under 40 honorees. The winners include a record-breaking 9 graduates with SPIA degrees. 40 Under 40 celebrates young

Read More >

Upcoming Events

Classes End
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Reading Day
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM

Photo Galleries

2017 Networking Night

On April 21, 2017, the third annual SPIA Networking Night was hosted at the Holiday Inn in Athens, GA. There were over 250 alumni, faculty, students, and organizations in attendance.

Read More >

31 Photos
SPIA DC Reception & Program

On November 16, 2016, the School of Public and International Affairs hosted its annual reception and program for alumni and friends in Washington DC. The event’s program featured a post-election

Read More >

52 Photos
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Trip

In March 2014, fifteen students from the Masters of International Policy and Doctorate in International Affairs programs, accompanied by the director and staff of the Center for International Trade and

Read More >

16 Photos
This is our spring at UGA

Spring arrives early here at UGA. We start wear sandals in January, shorts and t-shirts in February and you can catch us walking barefoot through the grass on North Campus

Read More >

9 Photos
It’s pretty quiet here… except on Saturdays

Some would say that fall is the best time of year at UGA. And they’d be 30% right. Spring and summer are great, too. Maybe it’s the smell of coffee

Read More >

9 Photos