Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy International & Development Economics

The degree is built around a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare you for a wide range of careers. Students complete 48 course credits, including 24 STEM-designated credits. This includes 12 credits of core methods courses (or a relevant equivalency exam), 12 credits in a required specialization and additional electives from their chosen field of studies.  

Both degrees are typically two-year, residential programs designed for recent college graduates and young professionals to explore their interests in international affairs. 

The MALD:IDE stands out with a core STEM curriculum, allowing students to specialize in either International Economic Relations or International Development and Environmental Policy, plus one additional field of study. As a STEM-designated program, international students may also be eligible for an additional two years of optional practical training (OPT). 

You’ll complete coursework alongside your Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy classmates. For your first field of study, choose International Economics Relations (specializing in Trade & Finance) or International Development and Environmental Policy (specializing in Sustainable Development), then you will select a second field of study from our broader global affairs list, which you can see below.

Yes, candidates must demonstrate that they have: 

• Completed college-level courses or demonstrated competency in statistics, calculus and microeconomics (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of B- (or equivalent). These courses do not need to be part of a college degree and can be taken independently for credit.
• Competency in other quantitative coursework is recommended. Research and professional experience, especially in economics, data analysis and calculus. Students with engineering, pre-med and other science backgrounds are also considered strong candidates.

Yes. Cultural sensitivity and multilingual competence are cornerstones of careers in international affairs, so demonstrating proficiency in more than one language is a graduation requirement for the degree. This may be done in  one of four ways: 

Language testing 

Students can take one free reading and oral exam (plus one retest) through LTI. To meet the requirement, both exams in the same language must score ILR Level 2: Limited Working Proficiency.

All exams are online with remote proctoring: reading is multiple-choice; oral is via avatar (OPIc) or live tester (OPI).

Completion of intermediate-level language courses 

Successful completion of two semesters of intermediate-level or above language instruction for credit at Tufts University or Harvard University, achieving a third-year language level.  

Courses may be taken for a letter grade or pass/fail, with a minimum grade of B- required. Up to 8.0 credits (two full-semester courses) can be taken as electives, with a maximum of 4.0 credits per term.  

Prior completion of language courses at the intermediate level 

Successful completion of two or more semesters of intermediate-level or above language instruction for credit at another institution within five years before enrolling at Fletcher with an official transcript.  

Prior degree completion in a language other than English 

Evidence of a prior undergraduate degree (lasting at least three years) or graduate degree (lasting at least two years) where the primary language of instruction was not English.  An official transcript or certification letter is required.  

All students complete a capstone project under the direction of a professor whom they select based on alignment and goals. The capstone allows students to sharpen their analytical skills, build deep knowledge in a specific area of expertise and create a bridge to their job search. Capstone projects have included business plans, policy memos, case studies, podcasts, documentaries and academic theses. Learn more about the capstone.

There are myriad ways to engage with cutting-edge research during your time at Fletcher. From becoming a research assistant at one of our research centers, to joining the editorial board of one of our esteemed student-run journals (Fletcher Forum, Praxis, and the Fletcher Security Forum), to the work you’ll do on a capstone project. We want you to dive deeply into the ideas and issues that intrigue you. Learn more about our research centers and their work. 

Fletcher is immensely proud of our award-winning faculty who are committed to teaching and mentoring students in the classroom and beyond. Fletcher is a large enough school to host pre-eminent thought-leaders, faculty and students from around the world, and small enough to create lifelong relationships with faculty, staff and peers. 

You will be challenged and supported by faculty who truly care about your success throughout your career.

Our graduates work across the private sector, government, international organizations and NGOs. Many build careers spanning multiple sectors, perhaps starting in government and later moving to the private sector, or the other way around. There’s no single pathway, and that flexibility is one of the degree’s strengths. Here are some examples of roles our alumni pursue:

• Security and defense officers
• NGO directors, program managers and research assistants
• Foreign Service Officers
• Senior analysts in the private sector
• Climate finance associates
• Senior management consultants
• Ministry officials
• Legal associates

The greater Boston area is an innovative hub of technology, environmental research, international finance, security and global healthcare. Whether your career interests lie in biotech, the defense sector, academic research or starting your own business, Boston has the ecosystem to support you. 

Fletcher’s Medford location provides students with the best of both worlds—connections to a vibrant city and a tight-knit campus community with opportunities to build deep connections with peers and professors. 

Boston was voted the #1 student city in America by QS World University Rankings 2026. As a graduate student at Fletcher, you’ll be surrounded by a community of elite scholars studying, working and exchanging ideas.