WELCOME to the School of Policy & International Affairs (SPIA) website! The Master of Arts in Global Policy program provides students with the analytical tools and professional skills necessary to deal with some of the most pressing global challenges. SPIA offers an interdisciplinary curriculum, consisting of a wide array of thematic and geographical courses, which allows students to cultivate an independent approach to political, social, economic, and environmental issues from varying perspectives. Students may choose a concentration in either Environmental Policy, Security and Foreign Policy, Trade and Commerce, or Climate Policy. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about the School and the activities of its students and faculty. For more information, please feel free to contact us.
Student Internship Blog:
All Global Policy students complete an internship that supplements their academic study at an appropriate institution or business to gain relevant, marketable experience. Those participating in internships or traveling abroad post their thoughts and reflections on the student group blog SPIA ABROAD.
This year, SPIA students will complete internships at the following locations:
- Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria (American University in Bulgaria)
- Leipzig, Germany (German American Chamber of Commerce California)
- Nairobi, Kenya (United Nations Environment Programme)
- Portland, ME (Maine International Trade Center)
- Washington, DC (Cohen Group)
- Washington, DC (Resources for the Future)
- Washington, DC (U.S. Department of State/Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs)
Follow @UMaineSPIA for updates
"To succeed in today’s global environment, students increasingly need to complement their academic and career learning with the international skills that allow them to understand and work with people from other countries. UMaine’s School of Policy and International Affairs performs a critical role by educating students to appreciate the importance of cross-cultural competence for their future." Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba (Ret.), President of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, SPIA Advisory Board Member