brussels graduate programs graduate degree programs international relations program

master of arts in international relations

Boston University in Brussels offers a Graduate Certificate in International Relations - study economic systems, multinational corporations, and the evolution of the global marketplace. The Master of Arts in International Relations (M.A.I.R.) presents an opportunity for members of Brussels’ international professional community—such as diplomats, military officers, business professionals, and policy makers—to explore issues of critical importance to their work environment, including: international law and government, defense strategies, foreign policy, economics and development, intelligence and security, governance, and regional cultures and politics.

Students may complete the M.A.I.R. in one and a half years by enrolling on a part-time basis. This timeframe is allotted for completing the required coursework, the statistics and language requirements, and the master’s thesis paper.

The application process for the M.A.I.R. is administered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Click here to apply.

Requirements

8 courses/32 required credits.

Students may select from courses in four core areas of study: Theory and Policy, Economics, Security Studies, and Regional Studies. All students must successfully complete one course in three of the four core areas of study, selected from the list below.

Students must also take at least one International Relations course at the 700 level in order to complete their degree program.

Core Courses
3 courses/12 required credits:
CAS IR 550 West European Integration
CAS IR 589 North Atlantic/European Security Issues
GRO IR 704 Global Economic and Development Policy

Electives
5 courses/20 credits:
CAS IR 524 War and Statecraft
CAS IR 535 Diplomacy and Statecraft
GRO IR 701 International Relations for Practitioners
GRO IR 760 The Political Economy of the European Union
MET AD 725B Negotiations and Organizational Conflict Resolution
MET AD 749B International Economics
MET AD 751B International Commerce: European Community
MET AD 760B Going International: Importing/Exporting Operations
MET AD 764B Multinational Tactics, Strategy, and Positioning
MET MG 721B International Business Law

Language Requirement
All M.A.I.R. students are required to demonstrate graduate-level reading proficiency in English and one other language prior to completion of the degree program. Graduate-level proficiency is the ability to accurately understand newspaper and professional journal articles in the field of foreign relations, using standard reference materials.

Non-native English-speaking students who did not receive an undergraduate degree from a university in the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting a TOEFL score. A degree from an English language university located in a country other than these does not exempt an applicant from the TOEFL requirement. There are no exceptions to this policy.

GRE testing results are required.

Statistics Requirement
Students must pass a university statistics course prior to the completion of the degree program. This requirement can be filled by completion of MET OM 735 Statistical Analysis with a grade of B- or better.

Note: students who have taken a statistics course in their university studies may satisfy this requirement by presenting documentation of this coursework (online classes are not accepted).

Master's Paper Requirement
All candidates for the M.A.I.R. are required to write a master’s paper for degree completion in one of two forms: a traditional research paper or a policy paper. Students are given broad latitude in selecting topics and approaches in consultation with their advisors. A policy paper addresses a current issue and makes recommendations for a course of action to introduce new ideas or change an existing policy.

All papers must be defended orally in front of a panel of three professors. The purpose of the oral examination is to test the student’s knowledge in the area of research related to the master’s paper and to test the student’s ability to discuss that knowledge at length in a clear and organized manner.

Boston University Brussels offers Graduate Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates in Business Management, Administrative Studies, Finance, International Relations, Marketing, and Project Management.