Overview

The program is jointly administered by the Department of Philosophy and Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School for International Service to offer an ethical response to some of the world's most pressing problems.

This Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights degree from American University Washington DC will train you in the practical application of ethical theory and policy analysis to complex issues in global affairs. You will build a strong foundation in international relations, moral philosophy, human rights, and peace studies with your core coursework and then expand on that knowledge in one of six tracks of specialization.

You will develop your ability to grapple with the complex dynamics of war and violence, human rights, social justice, environmental issues, and peacemaking with a unique set of interdisciplinary courses that link the foundational concepts of philosophical ethics to practical applications and connect policy analysis with contemporary societal challenges.

Careers

The degree will prepare you for further graduate study or for a variety of careers in world-changing institutions. Some of the students pursue further education in law schools or doctoral programs. We have alumni in PhD programs at George Washington University, the New School, SUNY Binghamton, and Virginia Tech.

Many of the graduates work for the federal government in positions with the Department of State, Department of Justice, USAID, and the Peace Corps. Alumni interested in international development have found careers with the World Bank Group, Inter-American Development Bank, and Chemonics International.

Other alumni work for humanitarian organizations such as the American Red Cross and Doctors without Borders or nonprofits like Planned Parenthood and the Internews Network. Across DC and around the world, EPGA MAs can be found in positions where they can make a difference.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Modern Moral Problems

Global Ethics

Human Rights

International Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar

Feminist Philosophy

Philosophy of Race

Seminar on Ethical Theory

Global Philosophy of Religion

Graduate Seminar in Philosophy

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-15 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-01-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-10-15 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

36 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Washington, D. C., United States

Disciplines

International Relations Ethics View 235 other Masters in International Relations in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Application and fee

Statement of Purpose

Transcripts

2 Letters of Recommendation

GRE scores (optional)

Resume

Writing Sample

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

74880 USD / year

≈ 74880 USD / year
Out-of-State

74880 USD / year

≈ 74880 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

74880 USD / year

≈ 74880 USD / year

Living costs

Washington, D. C.

United States

1705 - 2975 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

Interested in financing your studies? Find a student loan that works for you.

MPOWER Financing No cosigner. No collateral. No hidden fees.

Check your Eligibility

Get the funding you need to study in the U.S. or Canada - with a process that's fast, simple, and built for international students.

Flexible loans from US$2,001 to US$100,000
Fixed interest rates -- no inflation surprises
No upfront fees or prepayment penalties
Accepted at 500+ universities across the U.S. & Canada
100% online application -- instant conditional offer
Free visa & career support through our Path2Success program

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Careers

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Washington, D. C.

Financing

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners