Bring about meaningful change and advance your career with a master’s in government. The flexible program equips you with practical skills for solving today’s governmental, political, and policymaking challenges.
If you’re looking to make a difference in Washington, D.C., impact lives across the United States, or effect change around the world, you could benefit from deepening your knowledge of politics and government.
The Johns Hopkins Master of Arts in Government, based in the most politically connected city in the world, combines theory with the practical skills needed for today’s evolving workplace.
Learn, collaborate, and network with a community of peers coming from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Our students work on Capitol Hill, at government agencies, and in the private and nonprofit sectors taking on leadership positions in these areas.
Whether you are looking to take your existing career to the next level or change in directions, an MA in Government will deepen your understanding, broaden your skills, and allow you to make a profound impact on the political system—and in your professional life.
The program offers a flexible schedule with start dates in the fall, spring, or summer. You can attend evening classes at our Washington, D.C. location or take some or all of your courses online.
Skills and expertise developed in a master’s in government program can help you advance your career and effect change at the local, national, or global level.
MA in Government alumni from several walks of life share their perspectives about the program.
Policy Analyst, Health IT and Public Health Infrastructure, American Heart Association “The faculty are second to none. These leading experts in their fields brought real-world experience and dynamic teaching styles to the classroom, both online and on campus.”
Training With Industry Fellow (3M) “The program is very much tailored to working professionals. The faculty are tremendous, and go out of the way to have that one-on-one interaction with the students.“
Doctoral Candidate “The MA in Government program nurtured the spirit of curiosity in me and inspired me to pursue an academic path in order to deepen my understanding of politics.”
Vice President of Government Relations, Spotify “I learned so much while sitting next to future national TV political pundits, pollsters, and state legislators, and I have Hopkins to thank for those connections and friendships.”
Study with Johns Hopkins professors, scholar-practitioners, and experts at the highest levels of government and industry. Our faculty members have broad research interests, including political science, history, and international relations.
Gain a foundation in government with your core and elective classes. Concentrate in political communication, security studies, or democracy studies and governance.
In addition to classwork, you will have an opportunity to hone your research skills and become a subject-matter expert through independent research and international study opportunities.
Customize your governmental studies by pursuing two credentials at once and you may find exactly the right educational focus to help you to advance your career. In addition, this combination will help you to earn the credentials in less time than if pursued separately.
Our mission, to provide a strong foundation of knowledge upon which innovative policy programs and promising leaders can develop, informs all of The Center’s initiatives. The Center encompasses several degrees and certificate programs designed to enhance understanding of the processes of government and global security.
I did my undergraduate program in the middle of Covid, and I received my degree through a drive through. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to walk at Johns Hopkins. It is important to me and to my parents, as a first-generation college student and the son of a Filipino immigrant. For them to see their son walk across the stage at a school like Hopkins, it means the world to all of us.
Broaden your perspective of national and global governments and position yourself for leadership careers in politics and administration.
Johns Hopkins University’s MA in Government program is a 12-course, 36-credit professional master’s degree program – often completed within 16-24 months, though students have up to five years for degree completion. Courses are offered online, in-person at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., or through a combination of both modalities.
The admissions criteria for the MA in Government program includes a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or an equivalent international credential, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The application can be completed online and requires supporting materials, including resume, transcripts, writing samples, and more.
Tuition and fees for the MA in Government program currently range from $61,680 – $62,880 USD. The cost per course is $5,140. Students may be eligible to access federal loans, employer tuition assistance, military and veterans benefits, or partner-organization benefits to offset the cost of the degree. Learn more about financial aid options.
This program’s curriculum includes three core courses, one customizable core course, and eight electives and allows students to pursue operational concentrations in Democracy Studies and Governance, Political Communication, or Security Studies.
Yes. Students in the MA in Government program will produce a culminating applied research paper that synthesizes and applies theory and practice of government to a political or governance issue in contemporary politics.