International Studies, MA

The Master of Arts with a major in international studies (30 semester credit hours) is a professional and interdisciplinary degree drawing upon existing graduate courses which are offered by several departments in various colleges at the university. The Master’s degree prepares students for careers in government, the private sector and non-profit organizations that are focused on international security, sustainability, and humanitarian affairs and development. The degree provides students with the professional skills and substantive knowledge necessary for careers relating to the global agenda, such as development and humanitarian aid and non-profit operations.

Degree requirements

Students wishing to pursue a Master of Arts with a major in international studies must meet the following requirements:

Must have an academic background in international studies, or in a field of study related to international studies. Such related fields may include anthropology, economics, history, journalism, political science, public administration, sociology, or equivalent training or expertise. Students without this background will be required to take INST 4851 and INST 4853.
Students should have foreign language proficiency at the intermediate level proficiency equivalent to four courses in a foreign language.
Students are expected to have completed their bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, as evidenced by their transcript.

As part of the application process, students will be asked to provide:

A statement of purpose of 750–1,000 words in which they address
- their career goals and the place of the master’s degree in working toward those goals
- their international experience through study abroad, service work abroad, living abroad, etc.
A writing sample.
An official transcript.
A resume or curriculum vitae.

Program structure

Thirty (30) semester credit hours are required for this master’s degree. The program is structured around two major components, a professional skills area and a specialization area. Individual course offerings are listed below for these areas. The program will culminate with a graduate practicum seminar, as detailed below. Students will meet with the academic advisor during their first semester in the master’s program to establish their degree plan. In consultation with the advisor, students will determine what courses and which tracks will best suit their professional aspirations.

Professional skills area, 9 hours

The professional skills area has two tracks: management skills and assessment and evaluation. Students must take 9 hours in this area. Some of these courses have prerequisites and may require permission of the respective department and/or instructor of the course.

INST 5600 - Issues and Policies in International Studies

Management skills

* courses are also available through online format

Students with a non-business background

Students who do not have a background in business may be required to take the following course as prerequisite to the above listed courses:

MGMT 5070 - Management Issues (1.5 hours) *

Assessment and evaluation skills

ANTH 5032 - Ethnographic and Qualitative Methods for Non-Majors
ANTH 5700 - Topics in Applied Anthropology (when topic is “Evaluation in Anthropological Practice”)
SOCI 5200 - Research Methods and Design

Specialization area, 18 hours

The specialization area is divided into three separate tracks: international development and sustainability, human security, and national security and diplomacy. These tracks allow the student to design an individualized program to serve their personal career aspirations.

Students should take 18 hours in at least two of the three approved subject areas in consultation with the graduate advisor. Some of these courses have prerequisites and may require permission of the respective department and/or instructor of the course.

International development and sustainability

Human security

National security and diplomacy

Graduate practicum seminar, 3 hours

The practicum seminar will integrate the student’s learning and demonstrate the student’s professional preparedness. The practicum seminar will also accommodate the possibility of an internship, when possible and relevant to the student’s educational objectives.

INST 5700 - International Studies Practicum

Additional course options

Students may use INST 5900 to enroll in relevant undergraduate 4000-level courses or use it for a relevant internship in the student’s area of concentration. Students must consult with the International Studies Advisor for permission to enroll in INST 5900.