Master of Science in Foreign Service

After MSFS

The MSFS Program prepares graduates for careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Placement varies with personal interests and larger trends in the international economy and job market. Many MSFS graduates find that their careers take them in different directions and that their education helps them adapt to change and seize opportunities as they arise.  

Today, MSFS alumni can be found throughout U.S. and other government agencies, private corporations, and non-governmental organizations. MSFS is one of the leading suppliers of Presidential Management Fellows and U.S. Foreign Service Officers. During the past decade, over 95% of all MSFS graduates have found permanent employment within six months of graduation.  For details on the placement of recent graduates, see:   

• Placement of MSFS students, 2007
• Placement of MSFS students, 2006
• Placement of MSFS students, 2005
• Placement of MSFS students, 2004
• Placement of MSFS students, 2003
• International Student Employment 2001-2005
• MBA/MSFS Career Paths 1997-2007
• JD/MSFS Career Paths 1983-2007

Between 2000-2004 MSFS graduated 429 students

A "typical" MSFS graduating class between 2000-2004 looked like this:

• 86 graduates, of whom:
  • 41 were men (48%)
  • 45 were women (52%)
  • 27 were international students (32%)
  • 84 were employed six months after graduation (98%)

While in the program students chose concentrations as follows:

• 34 US Foreign Policy and Security (40%)
• 25 Global Commerce and Finance (29%)
• 16 International Development (19%)
• 5 International Business-Government Relations (6%)
• 4 Regional Studies or self-designed concentrations (4%)
• 2 students self-designed a concentration (2%)
• In 2003 a new concentration, Conflict Management, was introduced and 10% of students chose this in 2004.

After graduation:

34 went into the public sector (40%):

• 20 for the U.S. Government
  • 5 joined the U.S. Foreign Service
  • 4 joined the U.S. Department of State
• 5 for foreign governments
  • 3 worked in their foreign ministries
  • 2 worked in other capacities (trade, etc)
• 9 worked for an international organization (U.N., World Bank, etc)

34 went into the private sector (40%):

• 6 entered finance, investment, or banking
• 10 entered consulting
• 5 entered law
• 12 entered business
• 1 became a journalist

13 joined non-profit organizations (15%).  For example:

• International Organization for Migration (, Geneva,
• Law & Advocacy for Women,
• National Democratic Institute
• Ukraine Center for Political & Economic Studies
• Center for Strategic and International Studies

3 continued graduate education (4%).