Master of Arts in International Relations & International Communication

Communication study is a necessary component of international relations; international relations study is essential for those engaged in international communication, whether in television, film, journalism, diplomacy, or international marketing and public relations. The College of Communication and the Department of International Relations of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences have developed a rigorous two-year interdisciplinary program leading to the degree of Master of Arts in International Relations & International Communication. Program graduates will be broadly educated but also well prepared to work in national government or international agencies, international banking, journalism, marketing, or global communications technology policy, depending on which required specialization they choose in each discipline.


The Master of Arts degree is intended as a capstone for students who have achieved high standing as majors in international relations, mass communication or journalism, or another relevant social science, or in a combination of majors (double majors) or majors and minors. Promising students from other majors who have practical experience since graduation, or who may not be fully qualified in preparation, may be required to take prerequisite courses at Boston University or elsewhere.


Admission


Students must apply to and be admitted by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (not the College of Communication). Applicants are asked to submit their test scores on the Graduate Record Examination. In the case of curriculum deficiencies in undergraduate study, additional coursework may be required that does not earn credit for the degree. Questions regarding this program should be directed to the Graduate Programs Administration in the Department of International Relations either by phone 617-353-9349, or e-mail at ir@bu.edu. Please visit the International Relations website for detailed admissions instructions and general program overview at International Relations.


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Requirements


Elective course options are limited because candidates are required to master the fundamentals and principles of international relations and of international communication, must satisfy the foreign language requirement, and will have acquired one area of specialty or expertise in international relations and another in international communication. To achieve this, candidates entering the program must successfully complete three international relations and three communication core courses, and three electives in their preapproved focused specialty categories, five IR electives, and two preapproved electives of either IR or COM. The objective in requiring preapproved electives in each discipline is to develop both in-depth knowledge of a country, region, or relevant international relations topic and a specialty in either international journalism, international marketing, global communications technology policy, communications research, or public relations.


A separate master’s paper supervisor will be assigned to ensure the quality and rigor of the candidate’s master’s paper and ability to pass an oral examination on it. The master’s paper will be closely supervised and must focus on the student’s chosen international relations or international communication specialty.


The degree is awarded by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Students must refer to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Bulletin for detailed information about degree requirements. Degree requirements and prerequisites for students accepted to the program are as follows:


1. Written translation proficiency into English must be demonstrated in one approved foreign language before completion of the program.
 
For nonnative speakers of English, English fulfills this foreign language requirement.

2. 
An undergraduate course in quantitative methods equivalent to CAS MA 115 Statistics I, or an approved undergraduate research methods course, is required. No graduate credit is given for fulfilling this requirement.

3. Sixteen approved courses. These must include at least eight (three core and five preapproved electives—country, region, or topic) courses in international relations and eight (three core, two electives, and three focused specialty—international journalism, international marketing, public relations, communications research, or global communications technology policy) in international communication. The elective courses must be taken from the core and elective courses listed below. Note:  to the extent that designated core and elective courses are offered, sixteen approved courses (64 credit hours) of full-time graduate study in the regular fall and spring terms, Summer Term, or Boston University’s London Program (explained elsewhere in this catalog) will normally take four full semesters. Study may be part-time in accordance with GRS rules.

4. A master’s paper, to be defended in an oral examination before a three-member faculty committee. The master’s paper should focus on either or both of the student’s chosen specialty areas in IR or COM, but under all circumstances should significantly reflect the joint nature of the degree and course of study. Written topic proposals, to include a planned research methodology, must be submitted in writing to the director of graduate studies in the International Relations Department during the second year of study. Deadlines will be posted on the IR calendar. 


For application forms and a Graduate School Bulletin, write directly to the Graduate School, 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; or call 617-353-2696.


Core Courses and Electives


The Department of International Relations has established four core areas within IR. Each student must take one course in three of the four core areas and five preapproved electives.


The College of Communication has established one set of core courses and has established five focused specializations leading to expertise in international journalism, public relations, international marketing, communications research, or global communications technology policy. Each student must take three core courses and three concentration courses, and usually two COM electives for their communication specialty.


Students take two of their four remaining elective courses from the College of Communication and two from IR electives listed below. Specific courses may vary from year to year. See the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Bulletin for detailed descriptions of IR core courses and electives, and the latest version of the COM course printout for each term.


IR Core Areas and Courses


CAS IR 535 Diplomacy and Statecraft


CAS IR 546 Power and Legitimacy: Ideology as a Political Tool


CAS IR 573 International Law Problems of World Order


CAS IR 576 Essentials of International Management


CAS IR 595 Global Governance of International Organizations


CAS IR 770 Public International Law


CAS IR 772 Classics of International Relations


CAS PO 581 National Development and International Politics


CAS IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America


CAS IR 592 International Economic Relations


CAS IR 765 Japanese Political Economy


CAS IR 789 Current Issues in International Economics and Business


GRS IR 760 The Political Economy of the European Community


GRS SO 720 Development and Underdevelopment


GRS PO 842 Comparative Development and Underdevelopment


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CAS IR 524 War and Statecraft


GRS IR 778 Problems of Strategic Intelligence


GRS IR 785 U.S. National Security Seminar: Problems of Guerrillas, Despots, and Narcotraffickers


CAS IR 503 U.S. in the Middle East


CAS IR 505 Central Asia in the Twentieth Century


CAS IR 509 Islam in Middle East Politics


CAS IR 514 Major Theories in the Middle East


CAS IR 541 Russia’s International Policies I


CAS IR 542 Reemergence of Russia


CAS IR 543 Changing Face of Eastern Europe


CAS IR 550 West European Integration


CAS IR 567 Latin American Politics


CAS IR 568 Latin American Relations


CAS IR 577 Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China


CAS IR 586 Islam in South Asian Politics


CAS IR 706 The Iranian Revolution and its Impact on the Middle East


GRS IR 787 Latin American Policies of the U.S.


GRS IR 788 International Relations of Asia-Pacific


COM Core Courses (select three)


Required.
 COM CM 531 Intercultural Communication


Required.
 COM CM 710 Communication Theory (fall only)


COM CM 722 Communication Research 


COM CM 729 Public Opinion and Public Policy


COM CM 831 International Communication (spring only)


Elective Courses


Students choose ten electives, including a minimum of three from IR and three from COM from the following list. (This minimum of three IR and three COM courses must be “focused” in a specific concentration to develop expertise.)


CAS IR 504 Seminar: The Persian Gulf/Arabian Peninsula


CAS IR 505 Central Asia in the Twentieth Century


CAS IR 509 Islam in Middle East Politics


CAS IR 514 Major Themes in the Middle East Peace Process


CAS IR 524 War and Statecraft


CAS IR 530 Maritime Power and Naval Strategy


CAS IR 542 The Reemergence of Russia


CAS IR 543 Changing Face of Eastern Europe


CAS IR 544 Comparative Political Systems and Foreign Policies


CAS IR 545 Central/East European Diplomatic History, 1789–1918


CAS IR 546 Power and Legitimacy: Ideology as a Political Tool


CAS IR 550 West European Integration


CAS IR 567 Latin American Politics


CAS IR 568 U.S.–Latin American Relations


CAS IR 569 Political Process of the People’s Republic of China


CAS IR 570 Politics and Social Change in Postwar Japan


CAS IR 571 Central America: Crisis, Conflict, and U.S. Policy


CAS IR 572 The Latin American Military


CAS IR 573 International Law: Problems of World Order


CAS IR 575 Political Economy of Mexico and NAFTA


CAS IR 576 Essentials of International Management


CAS IR 577 Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China


CAS IR 578 Foreign Intelligence and Security Systems


CAS IR 579 Japan in International Politics


CAS IR 581 The Evolution of Strategic Intelligence


CAS IR 582 America’s War in Vietnam


CAS IR 583 Aspects of Defense Planning and Technology


CAS IR 585 Problems and Issues in Post-Mao China


CAS IR 586 Islam in South Asian Politics


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CAS IR 588 Political Economy of Oil


CAS IR 592 International Economic Relations


CAS IR 710 Proseminar on the Mediterranean


CAS IR 711 Civil Society and the State


GRS IR 706 The Iranian Revolution and Its Impact on the Middle East


GRS IR 712 The International System


GRS IR 750 Defense Policies of Nations


GRS IR 760 The Political Economy of the European Community


GRS IR 765 Japanese Political Economy


GRS IR 767 Latin American Comparative Politics


GRS IR 770 Public International Law and the Quest for Peace


GRS IR 772 Classics of International Relations


GRS IR 776 American Foreign Policy


GRS IR 778 Problems of Strategic Intelligence


GRS IR 785 U.S. National Security Seminar: Guerrillas, Despots, and Narcotraffickers


GRS IR 787 The Latin American Policies of the United States


GRS IR 788 International Relations of Asia-Pacific


GRS IR 802 Russia’s International Policies II


CAS PO 551 Comparative Political Development


CAS PO 560 Politics and Society in North Africa and the Middle East


CAS PO 565 Government and Politics of Contemporary Africa


CAS PO 566 Political Systems of Southern Africa


CAS PO 581 National Development and International Politics


CAS PO 586 Nationalism in Post-Soviet Eurasia


CAS PO 663 Soviet/Post-Soviet Government


CAS PO 678 Seminar on Aggregate Approaches to International Relations


CAS PO 684 Russia and the World


GRS PO 741 Public Policy Analysis


GRS PO 771 Approaches to the Study of International Relations


GRS PO 777 Dynamics of World Politics


GRS PO 782 Negotiation in World Affairs


GRS SO 709 Theory and Practice of Field Research


GRS SO 720 Development and Underdevelopment


GRS SO 760 Political Sociology and Political Economy


GRS SO 820 Graduate Study in Women and Social Change in the Developing World


GRS SO 823 Modernization and Development in Comparative Perspective


GRS SO 851 Graduate Study in Revolutions and Revolutionary Societies


UNI SS 805 Issues in the Political Economy 
of the Pacific Rim


COM-Focused Specialties


COM CM 745 Comparative Political Systems (Summer London Program only)



Required.
 COM CM 831 International Communication (spring only)


COM JO 502 Reporting National Security Affairs


COM JO 516 Foreign Reporting (1st sem. only)


COM JO 523 The Presidency and the Media


COM JO 526 Covering International Terrorism


COM JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors (spring only)


COM JO 545 Reporting Military Affairs 
(2nd sem. only)


COM JO 577 Diplomatic Reporting


COM JO 721 Journalism Principles and Techniques (fall only)


COM JO 737E London Journalism Internship (Summer and Fall only)


COM JO 739E Reporting on Britain (Summer and Fall only) 


COM JO 744 International Mass Media (Summer London Program only)


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COM CM 531 International Marketing Communication (Summer London Program only)


COM CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising


COM CM 716 Advertising Media Planning and Buying


COM CM 719 Interactive Marketing


COM CM 722 Communication Research


COM CM 728 International Public Relations


COM CM 730 Marketing Communication


COM CM 744 International Mass Media (Summer London Program only)


COM CM 745 Comparative Political Systems (Summer London Program only)


COM JO 804 International Business and Economics Reporting


Global Communications Technology Policy


COM CM 523 Designing Interactive Communication (Instructor’s permission required)


COM CM 704 Contemporary Mass Media


COM CM 716 Computers in Communication


COM CM 719 Interactive Marketing (CM 708 or CM 730)


COM JO 540 Multimedia Publishing


COM CM 514 New Communication Technologies


COM CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution


COM CM 535 Political Campaigning


COM CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations


COM CM 716 Computers in Communication


COM CM 728 International Public Relations


COM CM 734 Governmental Public Relations (CM 701)


COM CM 742 Media Relations (CM 701, CM 707)


COM CM 744 International Mass Media (Summer London Program only)


COM CM 745 Comparative Political Systems (Summer London Program only)


COM CM 831 International Communication


COM CM 518 Creative Broadcast Advertising (CM 707, CM 717, CM 708 or CM 730)


COM CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution


COM CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations


COM CM 704 Contemporary Mass Media


COM CM 705 Writing for International Students


COM CM 707 Writing for Media Professionals


COM CM 723 Advanced Communication Research (CM 722) (spring only)


COM CM 729 Public Policy and Public Opinion


COM CM 734 Governmental Public Affairs (CM 701) (spring only)


COM CM 742 Media Relations (CM 701, CM 707)


COM CM 744 International Mass Media (Summer London Program only)


COM CM 745 Comparative Political Systems (Summer London Program only)


COM JO 516 Foreign Reporting 


COM JO 526 Covering International Terrorism


COM JO 545 Reporting on Military Affairs


COM JO 577 Diplomatic Reporting

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1 October 2008
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