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Jul 19, 2025
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2010-2011 School of Law Bulletin [Archived Catalog]
International Studies, M.A.
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The Master of Arts degree with a major in international studies provides students with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of international studies.
Degree Requirements (33 Hours)
The Master of Arts in International Studies provides students with a strong foundation in the theory and practice of international studies. The Department offers courses covering a wide array of topical areas such as international relations theory and practice, comparative politics, and foreign policy analysis. The curriculum is designed to be responsive to the more professionally oriented student rather than the student seeking an academic career. Normally, the master’s candidate will complete 27 hours of substantive course work plus 6 hours either of thesis credit or additional elective courses for a total of 33 hours. The program may require more hours in the event of deficiencies. Each student will select two of three fields and take in each field a total of 9 hours. The three fields available are: international relations theory and practice, foreign policy analysis, and comparative politics. An oral exam focused on coursework and, if applicable, on the thesis, is required.
Competency in one foreign language or in the use of quantitative methodologies is also required. A full time load for students is three courses per semester (not including, for example, foreign language courses). The program is designed to be completed in two years of fulltime study. |
Degree Requirements (33 Hours)
Fields (18 hours in two of the three fields)
Field 1: International Relations Theory and Practice
Required: Gateway Seminar POLI 710 and two (2) additional POLI courses as approved with advisement. Field 2: Foreign Policy Analysis
Required: Gateway Seminar POLI 740 or POLI 741 and two (2) additional POLI courses as approved with advisement. Field 3: Comparative Politics
Required: Gateway Seminar POLI 719 or POLI 780 and two (2) additional POLI courses as approved with advisement. Electives (9 Hours)
Students take a minimum of three elective courses for 9 hours, inside or outside the Department as approved with advisement.
Thesis Option / Non-Thesis Options (6 Hours)
Thesis Option: At least 6 hours of POLI 799 B
Non-Thesis Option: Students who opt not to write a thesis must take two additional electives as approved with advisement. Language or Quantitative Skills
Students are required to develop their quantitative skills by taking POLI 706 (and earning a grade of “B” or better in it) OR develop their language skills by having or earning the equivalent of two years of college foreign language work (equivalent to the 210 level at USC) and by passing the 315 language course or translation exam.
No language course or POLI 706 can be counted as one of the elective courses needed for the degree. Data Analysis
Students lacking basic data analysis skills must take POLI 502 . If students are required to take the course, it can be counted as one of the three required elective courses. Oral Exam
Students take a comprehensive oral exam on their coursework, or on their course-work and Thesis if a Thesis is done.
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