brussels
graduate
programs
graduate
degree programs
international
relations program
master of arts in international relations
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.
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
7 courses/28 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 717 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.
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. 
