MA in International Relations & Environmental Policy
The management of natural resources and the resolution of environmental issues are increasingly important factors in determining the course of international relations. Competition for natural resources and efforts to control that competition are shaped largely by the geographical distribution of resources and by those who consume them. Environmental problems cross borders. This unique 12-course joint degree program offers students an opportunity to combine study in international relations and environmental science. Students divide their coursework between the Department of International Relations (IR) and the Center for Energy & Environmental Studies (CEES).
Students, please note that admission into this joint degree program requires separate admissions decisions by the IR department and by CEES.
These decisions are based on one complete application to the Graduate School of Art & Sciences. Students who are admitted by one department and not the other have the option to pursue the one-year MA degree in the department into which they were admitted.
Degree Requirements
Students are required to complete the core degree requirements for the one-year IR MA program as previously stated. Additionally, students must complete nine courses (36 credits) for a degree total of 12 courses (48 credits). Of these nine additional courses, six are taken through the CEES, two through the IR department, and the final course may be taken either through CEES or IR.
CEES Core Course Requirement
Students are required to take four courses—IR/GE 594 and three others from the following list:
* GE 566 International Resources and Environmental Issues and Management (required course)
* GE 510 Physical Principles of the Environment
* GE 511 Ecological Economics
* GE 550 Modeling Social and Environmental Systems
* GE 703 Energy and Environmental Policy Analysis
CEES Elective Courses
Students are required to complete two approved elective courses from the CEES course offerings for a total of 8 CEES elective credits. Students must select eight graduate-level courses with the approval of their faculty advisor.
IR Elective Courses
Students are required to complete two approved IR elective courses for a total of 8 IR elective credits.
Additional Elective—IR or CEES
In addition to the 16 elective credits listed above, students must take a fifth elective, which may be either IR or CEES.
