Graduate Academic Programs

The American University of Armenia (AUA) is perfectly poised to enable students pursuing a master’s degree to reap the greatest benefits from their studies. Home to an international student population, small classes, and faculty from rich and diverse professional backgrounds, AUA is proud to offer its students a world-class education. AUA faculty hail from all over the globe, having been educated abroad in some of the top universities, with a wide array of research interests. In addition to their academic experience, they have extensive practical experience, which allows them to best prepare students for the next step in their academic and professional journeys. AUA students compile, critically synthesize, and analyze relevant information to address complex challenges and, after graduation, apply their leadership skills to perform as effective and ethical team players. In keeping with the spirit of academic growth, AUA alumni frequently go on to pursue postgraduate degrees at some of the top universities in the world, open their own businesses, and contribute to society around them in a multitude of ways.

AUA is pleased to offer twelve graduate programs housed in its four colleges: Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Management and Analytics, Master of Science in Economics, Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Master of Laws, Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice, Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, Master of Public Affairs, Master of Arts in Multiplatform Journalism, Master of Public Health, Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering and Systems Management, Master of Science in Computer and Information Science. 

Below is a brief overview of each program. We highly encourage you to explore the website of your preferred field of study and contact the program(s) directly for more detailed information.

Manoogian Simone College of Business & Economics

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

MBA is an 18-to-22 month graduate program designed for working professionals seeking to advance their careers while maintaining their professional commitments.  The program is composed of 45 major-credits, with classes held in the evening, making the program accessible to those balancing work and study. The program begins in August with a one-month mini-term, featuring two foundational courses—Data Analysis Tools and Communication—which serve as prerequisites for all subsequent MBA courses.

The curriculum blends a classic MBA structure with a European format and Harvard-style core and elective design, ensuring both academic depth and practical relevance. It prepares graduates to thrive in a fast-changing global marketplace, navigate technological and communication shifts, and respond to the unique economic and cultural dynamics of Armenia and the region. Rooted in professionalism, teamwork, and hands-on learning, the AUA MBA is shorter, dynamic, affordable, transparent, and user-friendly, delivering an academically rigorous experience without compromising standards—making it especially attractive for ambitious working professionals. Read More.

• Master of Science in Management and Analytics (MSMA)

MSMA is typically a Summer-Fall-Spring-Summer graduate program designed for applicants who have recently completed their bachelor’s degrees. Students shall typically complete 35 credits in order to graduate. The program commences in the Summer term. MSMA is a unique program emphasizing the application of data and analytical tools in managerial decision-making in the main functional areas of business, namely finance, accounting, operations, and marketing. The program goes beyond teaching advanced theories and concepts related to business management by emphasizing the delivery of hard skills through the implementation of real-world projects.

MSMA faculty is a blend of local and international experts with an outstanding record of research and extensive knowledge in the industry. They work diligently to equip students with the resources necessary to pave their path towards a successful future. We utilize the most up-to-date tools for critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and community engagement. Moreover, the Program is working to keep up with development commensurate with the requirements of the market at the national and international level. Read More.

• Master of Science in Economics (MSE)

MSE is an academically rigorous graduate program designed to prepare graduates for careers in consulting, policy-making, and data analytics, as well as for doctoral programs. The curriculum equips students with analytical and critical problem-solving skills transferable across a wide range of industries through extensive training in theoretical and empirical methods.

Located in Dilijan, MSE is a boutique, one-year graduate program offering an interactive, cohort-based learning environment for up to 21 students. Students will complete
31 credits in order to graduate. Some students are required to take additional summer preparatory courses before the start of the fall semester, which will
add another two-to-six credits. These preparatory courses are held in Yerevan in June-August. The program boasts a strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Armenia, sharing research and learning facilities. To support our students, we offer a generous financial aid package that includes free-of-charge dormitory accommodation, a 90% tuition reduction for Armenian citizens and residents (10-year permits), and 50% merit scholarships for international students. We aim to develop not just highly-skilled specialists, but well-rounded individuals who can think critically, learn independently, and collaborate effectively. Read More.

College of Humanities & Social Sciences

• Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (MATEFL)

MATEFL is a 1.5 year, typically a Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall graduate program, equipping students with a wide range of expertise in TEFL: classroom and online teaching, curriculum design, assessment, and other areas taught in electives (e.g. ESP, Young Learners, Leadership, Technology). Beginning in the Fall semester, the MATEFL curriculum comprises 37 credits for students with a linguistics background, and 39 credits – for students with a non-linguistics background. The program is rigorous in research and academic skills and prepares graduates for a Ph.D. abroad or research-related positions. MATEFL graduates pursue rewarding careers and are well-positioned to transform educational systems and practices.

MATEFL students hailing from diverse professional backgrounds demonstrate a strong commitment to the field of education and TEFL and possess an exceptional capacity to learn and leave a positive impact in the country and region at large. AUA’s reputation gives graduates a strong competitive edge in the Armenian job market. We offer the only MATEFL in the country with a curriculum tailored to ESL/EFL teaching professions and benchmarked to top international programs in TESOL. Read More

• Master of Laws (LL.M.)

LL.M. is a 2-year graduate program tailored to the needs of the students and legal profession in Armenia. We aim at preparing high-caliber, English-speaking legal advisers, advocates, and researchers with a high sense of integrity conversant in international best practices in the field of law. Our graduates are committed to serving both public and private sectors with the goal of protecting the rights of Armenia and Armenians domestically and internationally. Generally, LL.M. admitted students start the academic year in Fall.

LL.M. is proud of the scores of professionals and scholars who have gained novel skills and insights through their study at AUA and apply their knowledge for the betterment of society in both public and private service. Our well-trained graduate attorneys contribute to the legal profession and practice by means of ensuring the efficiency and stability of transactions and the security, and protection of investments. AUA’s LL.M. provides a solid platform to keep the protection and promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms and expedience and fairness in dispute resolution at the core of legal work, regardless of the service sector. Our graduates are also among the best qualified to identify and apply the best practices in law and policy and contribute to the prudent design and improvement of laws, regulations, policies, institutions, and legal frameworks. Read More.

• Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice (MAHRSJ)

MAHRSJ graduate program aims to support emerging leaders and future human rights advocates to act with confidence and effectiveness in both local and global contexts. The program develops knowledge and experience in a field that demands innovative and creative responses to the multitude of complex challenges of the society. Over 1.5 years and 36 credits, the program allows students to develop essential transferable skills, including project planning and evaluation, research and problem-solving, fact-finding, professional writing, and oral communication. The program commences in the Fall semester.

In virtue of such insights and skill-sets, students are equipped to pursue successful careers in social services, law (human rights law, international law), advocacy (domestic and international), humanitarian services, human rights and social justice programs, communications, international development, international relations, and more. MAHRSJ provides students with an advanced conceptual understanding of social justice and proficiency in the perspectives and working methods aimed at promotion and protection of human rights at the international, regional, and national levels. These studies are informed by the latest practices and are further enhanced through guest lectures delivered by esteemed representatives from universities around the world. The program also offers internship opportunities in leading national and international organizations, as well as participation in a Human Rights Clinic – a unique initiative designed to translate their soft skills into practical experience by working on pro-bono cases within the scope of human rights and social justice. Read More.

• Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy (MAIRD)

MAIRD is a 1.5-year graduate program. With a 45-credit curriculum beginning in the Fall semester, the program is designed to prepare students with the necessary knowledge and tools required for careers in public service, local and international non-governmental organizations, and global public affairs agencies. Using an interdisciplinary approach to critically assess and examine the changing dimensions of international relations, governance, and diplomacy, the MAIRD curriculum is formulated to prepare a cadre of professionals trained in relevant conceptual frameworks, methodologies, and innovative problem-solving skills to address the most pressing challenges of regional and global politics.

MAIRD at AUA provides students with expertise in understanding and deciphering regional and international intertwined issues. Our instructors are academics and practitioners with considerable breadth of experience who provide the students with guidance to navigate the complexities of regional and global challenges facing countries today. Read More.

• Master of Public Affairs (MPA)

MPA is a 1.5-year graduate program designed to prepare students with the analytical, policy, administrative, and leadership skills needed to make an impact on Armenian society and beyond. Comprising 45 credit units and beginning in the Fall semester, the program provides a substantive focus on development policy, strategy, and leadership — essential components in the construction of prosperity and stability in Armenia. MPA students are taught how to ask and answer political questions, design optimal policy solutions to public problems, and administer those solutions with the skilled leadership and management necessary in public, private, and nonprofit organizations.

MPA is created and designed to find pioneering solutions to public problems as they apply to the construction and maintenance of the administrative state. The construction of a viable public sector is perhaps the most critical issue to the political, economic, and social development of Armenia. Graduates of MPA will not only become effective public affairs professionals, but also upstanding global citizens who are able to discern between genuine public needs and public wants. Read More.

• Master of Arts in Multiplatform Journalism (MAMJ)

MAMJ is a 14-month graduate program that takes a multi-faceted approach to journalism education in order to prepare students for the challenges the journalism profession faces today and in the future. Students learn fundamental journalism skills and ethical practices, including reporting, writing, and editing across media platforms in print, audio, video, and online. Seminar courses introduce conceptual frameworks and perspectives relevant to the region, including conflict reporting and Armenian politics, as well as entrepreneurship and evolving business models for news organizations.

The 45-credit program starts in June each year with 2 summer courses and ends the following summer with a long-form multimedia story project and 3-week internships in media organizations in either Armenia or the US. RA citizens, Armenian Special passport holders (10 years) and people displaced from NK with Temporary Protection status are eligible to receive 90% tuition reduction. Read more.

Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian College of Health Sciences

• Master of Public Health (MPH)

The 2-year MPH graduate program engages experienced professionals from health care and other related fields in transformational education and training in population-based approaches to health and health services research, delivery, and evaluation. The overall objective of MPH is to prepare health professionals to draw on the knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines to define and critically assess the health needs of people and translate that knowledge into improved health by designing, implementing, and evaluating programs to meet those needs. MPH graduates are prepared to lead in improving health and health services in Armenia and beyond. The program comprises 60 credits, with classes beginning in the Fall semester.

MPH’s 2-year curriculum is organized around a guiding problem solving framework, which first provides students a conceptual overview of the diverse profession of public health and the team-oriented approach to professional practice. Students proceed through the program as part of a defined cohort, fostering group spirit and allowing them to gain experience in multi-disciplinary group problem-solving, project leadership, and management. While the program consists almost entirely of requirements, students can infuse elective content through the multitude of individual and group projects associated with each module and through special studies activities. Students are encouraged to become involved with the Zvart Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development (CHSR), which provides an opportunity for supervised, mentored practical experiences while addressing the health needs of Armenia and beyond. Read More.