Master of Arts in International Relations & International Communication
An understanding of international relations is necessary for the practice of international communication. This two-year joint degree program prepares students for careers in an international setting, working in film and television, journalism, mass communication, advertising, marketing, and public relations. Students complete all of the graduate-level international relations requirements as stated below and concurrently enroll in graduate-level communications courses through the College of Communication at Boston University.
This program is administered through the Department of International Relations. All application materials must be sent to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, not to the College of Communication.
International Relations Course Requirements
Students are required to complete all of the International Relations Core MA Requirements, as described above. To fulfill the international relations course requirements, students must select three courses out of the four core areas, and five approved electives from the list of international relations courses.
Students must complete eight international relations courses (32 credits) and eight communications courses for a degree total of sixteen courses (64 credits).
International Relations Core Course Requirements
All students must take (at least) one course in three of the four core areas of study (12 credits total), as per the general MA requirements.
International Relations Elective Course Requirements
In addition to the three core courses listed above, students must complete five elective courses, three of which should focus on a regional or functional concentration.
Communication Course Requirements
In addition to the International Relations courses listed above, students are required to complete three communication core courses, three track courses, and two approved communication electives for a total of eight courses (32 credits). The specific requirements are listed below.
Communication Core Course Requirements
Students must complete IR 531 Intercultural Communication and CM 710 Communication Theory, and one additional core course from the following list:
- CM 722 Communication Research
- CM 729 Public Opinion and Public Policy
- CM 831 International Communication or
CM 744 during the London Summer Program
Communication Track Course Requirement
Students must complete three courses from one of the track areas listed below. (Courses marked with * are required for students choosing that concentration.) For courses that can be taken either toward a concentration or as a core class, students must choose whether to use the course toward their concentration or their core requirement, not both.
International Journalism
- CM 831 International Communication
- JO 502 Journalism Special Topics
- JO 516 Foreign Reporting
- JO 523 The Presidency and the Media
- JO 526 Covering International Terrorism
- JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
- JO 545 Reporting Military Affairs
- JO 577 Diplomatic Reporting
- JO 701 Reporting British Politics and Culture (London only)
- JO 708 The Foreign Correspondent: Reporting from Europe (London only)
- JO 710 Modern British Drama: A Critic’s Perspective (London only)
- JO 721 Journalism Principles and Techniques*
- JO 722 Advanced Journalism Seminar*
- JO 737E London Journalism Internship
- JO 804 International Business and Economics Reporting
- JO 954 Journalism Directed Study (London only)
International Marketing
- CM 519 Interactive Marketing
- CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising*
- CM 716 Advertising Media Planning and Buying
- CM 722 Communication Research
- CM 728 International Public Relations
- CM 730 Marketing Communication
- CM 738 Global Marketing Communication
- CM 744E International Political and Media Systems
- JO 804 International Business and Economics Reporting
Public Relations
- CM 510 Computers in Communication
- CM 514 New Communication Technologies
- CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- CM 535 Political Campaigning
- CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations*
- CM 709 Corporate Public Affairs
- CM 715 Public Relations in Nonprofit Settings
- CM 728 International Public Relations
- CM 734 Governmental Public Relations
- CM 742 Media Relations
- CM 744 International Political and Media Systems (London only)
- CM 745E Comparative Political Systems (London Summer Program only)
- CM 809 London Internships (London only)
- CM 909 Project Research (London only)
- CM 831 International Communication
Global Communication Technology Policy
- CM 510 Computers in Communication
- CM 514 New Communications Technologies*
- CM 519 Interactive Marketing
- CM 523 Design Interactive Communication
- CM 704 Contemporary Mass Media
- JO 540 Multimedia Publishing
Communication Research
- CM 722 Communication Research
- CM 723 Advanced Communication Research
- CM 724 Sampling Design and Measurement Techniques
- CM 824 Technical Writing for Communication Research
