A liberal arts degree with Georgia Tech on your resume? Yes, please.
The Ivan Allen College (IAC) is a small liberal arts college within a world-renowned technological university, creating unique advantages for your graduate studies.
“The Ivan Allen College has changed the way I see my work and myself. Before, I focused mainly on execution — how to build things. Now, I think more about why I build them and what they mean.”
— Chunqin Cao, M.S. Digital Media, 2026
The Advantage of Liberal Arts at Georgia Tech
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A Tech-focused Foundation
Every master’s program in the Ivan Allen College is a Master of Science rather than a Master of Arts due to a greater emphasis on technical skills and capabilities. This distinction can help your resume stand out — and means that when you graduate with big ideas, you’ll also have the skills to turn them into reality. See courses in your degree program.
Name Recognition
As a top 10 public university and one of Forbes’ New Ivies, a Georgia Tech liberal arts degree comes with powerful name recognition, opening doors across industries. You'll also tap into a global network of over 200,000 alumni living and working around the world.
"The facet of an IAC degree that includes technical education from one the greatest public engineering institutions in the world sets IAC alumni leagues apart from every other liberal arts program in the country. When you combine technical foundations with the emphasis across IAC offerings in communication, you have a great recipe for a successful career in any field."
— Murry Smith, B.S. and M.S. International Affairs, 2019
Opportunities and Experiences
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Research Opportunities
Georgia Tech has the highest research expenditure of any university without a medical school. That means you get the best of both worlds at the Ivan Allen College: small classes and close faculty relationships, as well as access to all of the research funding and opportunities that an R1 university provides. There are also annual conferences such as the IAC Student Research Conference and Three Minute Thesis Competition to share your work.
Read featured graduate research or browse 20+ research centers in the Ivan Allen College.
Expert Faculty
Ivan Allen College faculty and researchers span a wide range of expertise across our six Schools, but they share a common goal: translating technological advances into tools, data, policy, and recommendations to make real change in people’s lives. You can find their research and insight featured in leading publications and guiding local and national policies.
Explore faculty by department, research area, or geographic focus.
Resume-worthy Experiences
Many graduate programs offer opportunities to tackle real challenges with partner organizations through capstone projects, seminars, coursework, and internships. These provide great experience for your resume, and help you get a real feel for the careers you might enter after graduation.
You can also connect and lead through graduate organizations such as the Public Policy Graduate Student Association, the History and Sociology Grad Forum, the IAC Graduate Student Advisory Board, and the Graduate Student Government Association.
"Every day, I am grateful for my experiences as a graduate student in the School of Public Policy. The faculty are simultaneously outstanding teachers and creative researchers. I would never have admitted it at the time, but I am also appreciative of the intensity and rigor of the doctoral program. I can say first-hand that Georgia Tech graduates have a positive reputation in academia as competent and dependable. This is due to the world-class training IAC faculty provide and the breadth of resources available at the Institute."
— Ameet Doshi, Ph.D. Public Policy, Head of the Donald E. Stokes Library at Princeton University
An Investment That Pays Off
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Higher Earnings
Data shows that Ivan Allen College graduates earn more than their peers from traditional liberal arts programs at other public research universities in Georgia. That’s because successful careers are built on the ability to communicate effectively, collaborate across disciplines, and adapt to new technologies — areas where Ivan Allen College graduates thrive.
Check out the many varied careers our Ivan Allen College alumni excel in.
Accessible Graduate Education
Georgia Tech is the No. 1 Best Value Public College according to the Princeton Review, and there are many financial aid and fellowships and funding opportunities available to help you pursue your graduate studies.
Accelerated B.S./M.S. degrees and growing number of online master’s degrees also help make an Ivan Allen College graduate education even more accessible. We currently offer an Online M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and an Online M.S. in International Security.
A Quiet Oasis in a Major City
Choose the Ivan Allen College to work and study on a 400-acre, tree-filled campus in the heart of Atlanta. Atlanta is home to Fortune 500 headquarters, global organizations, and the Georgia State Capitol, as well as plenty of museums, venues, restaurants, parks, and events to keep you busy all year round.
And all this opportunity comes without a hefty price tag — the cost of living in Atlanta remains on par with the national average.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply today, or visit the Office of Graduate Education to learn more.