International Migration Studies

Today, 250 million people live outside their countries of birth — 43 million in the United States alone. These migrants and their children are reshaping the social, cultural, economic, and political life of their new host societies, while also creating unprecedented levels of ethnic, racial, and religious diversity in immigrant-receiving nations around the world. Nowhere is this more apparent than in super-diverse global cities like New York. Understanding the causes and effects of international migration is now more important than ever.

The M.A. Program in International Migration Studies at the Graduate Center prepares you for growing and exciting opportunities to work with and advocate on behalf of international migrants and refugees, who are facing a rising tide of racism and xenophobia.

In this affordable, multidisciplinary master’s program, you will examine how policies shape migrants’ experiences, and you will analyze the social, cultural, economic, and political ramifications of international migration in the United States and beyond.

You will have the opportunity to study with leading immigration scholars from throughout The City University of New York, spanning fields such as sociology, political science, English, history, anthropology, international affairs, education, and urban planning. These faculty study migrants from all parts of the world, often through a comparative lens, using methods ranging from advanced quantitative techniques to in-depth ethnographies of urban communities. They explore migrants’ struggles for upward mobility; the experiences of immigrant children in schools; the forging of new race and gender identities; the effects of refugee resettlement in different types of communities; and the building of political power in, by, and for immigrant communities.

Studying international migration in New York City offers opportunities to learn about a diverse array of immigrant communities. Here, you will have extraordinary access to organizations that are at the forefront of immigration outreach, services, research, policy, and advocacy.

With this degree, you will be ready for a range of positions at policy, human rights, and advocacy organizations, ethnic studies centers in schools and universities, and government and service agencies. Our program also provides excellent preparation for doctoral study.