Master of Arts in International Relations and 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 and Sciences have developed a rigorous two-year interdisciplinary program leading to the degree of Master of Arts in International Relations and 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 and 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 Office of International Relations.

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 and Sciences. Students must refer to the Graduate School of Arts and 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 and 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

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 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

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

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)

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)

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

Required. COM CM 514 New Communications Technologies

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)
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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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28 September 2007
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