International Relations
The Graduate Program
The Department of International Relations has developed nine interdisciplinary Master of Arts programs: Master of Arts in International Affairs; Master of Arts in International Relations & Religion; Master of Arts in Global Development Policy; Master of Arts in Latin American Studies; Master of Arts in International Relations & Environmental Policy; Master of Arts in International Relations & International Communication; Master of Arts in International Relations and Master of Business Administration (dual degree); Master of Arts in International Relations and Juris Doctor (dual degree); and a Mid-Career Master of Arts in International Relations. These international relations programs prepare students for careers in the international arena, government work in the Foreign Service, agency work, and work in public and private international organizations, including non-governmental organizations, consulting, business, banking, teaching, and international journalism or marketing. The curriculum, which is multidisciplinary, embraces courses in political science, history, geography, economics, environmental science, anthropology, sociology, communications, law, management, and public health. The department is affiliated with the Center for International Relations; the Pardee Center; the African Studies Center; and the Center for the Study of Asia. These centers are located on campus and organize lecture and seminar series throughout the academic year. Boston offers students a wide range of resources, access to research collections, and the Boston Library Consortium arrangement with Tufts University, Boston College, MIT, and Wellesley College, among others.
For more information, contact the Department of International Relations: 152 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, 617-353-9349; Department of International Relations website: www.bu.edu/ir.
Admission
Applications to the dual degree programs with the School of Law and School of Management follow the application procedures and deadlines of those two schools. See below for details.
Applicants for all other applications should follow the procedures and deadlines described here. Fall semester applications must be completed by April 15 (January 15 for consideration for merit-based financial aid), except for the MA in International Relations at our Brussels campus, for which the deadline is June 15. Applications for the spring semester or all programs must be completed by October 15. Please note that the Global Development Policy program does not accept Spring applications. Students are admitted on a full- or part-time basis in accordance with GRS regulations.
A complete application must include Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores, all official transcripts for undergraduate or other academic work, three letters of recommendation, and a personal essay (of approximately 750 words in length). Non-native English-speaking students who did not receive an undergraduate degree from a university in an English-speaking country must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting a TOEFL score.
The IR Department strongly prefers that applicants submit their application online. Information on applying can be found at our website at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/prospective.
Paper applications as well as supporting credentials (such as transcripts) should be sent to the address below:
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
GRS Admissions, Room 112
705 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-2696
Students applying to the dual degree program with the School of Law should follow all admissions procedures set by the School of Law, including submission of the LSAT in place of the GRE. For more information, please contact the School of Law:
School of Law
Office of Admissions
765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-3100
School of Law website: www.bu.edu/law
Students applying to the dual degree program with the Graduate School of Management should follow all admissions procedures set by the Graduate School of Management, including submission of the GMAT in place of the GRE. For more information, please contact the Graduate School of Management:
School of Management
Graduate Management Admissions Office
595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-9144
School of Management website: management.bu.edu
