Master of Arts in International Affairs

The Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) is designed to prepare students to pursue careers in the field of international relations after graduation. The program provides the contextual knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand the contemporary world in all its complexity, in an environment that combines academic rigor, practical focus, and active discussion. It is appropriate for anyone interested in becoming an international relations professional, regardless of educational background, age, or experience. This degree is well suited for students with a limited background in the field, such as recent college graduates.

Individuals with seven years or more of experience as international relations professionals may wish to consider our One-Year Mid-Career MA Program. Army Foreign Area Officers interested in doing their civilian schooling at BU should apply for the Mid-Career Program.

The International Affairs degree is a two-year program, during which time students complete 15 regular classes as well as an MA Paper workshop that will assist them in writing their final MA Paper. The curriculum ensures that graduates will emerge with a comprehensive perspective on international issues and a clear understanding of the means by which these issues are researched, discussed, and acted upon. There is also a strong emphasis on developing students’ skills in writing policy-relevant documents. The final MA paper, which each student must orally defend before a panel of three faculty members, reflects that emphasis.  To see a progress report for the MAIA program, go to the forms page.

Students with an interest in Africa can complete a Graduate Certificate in African Studies under the joint direction of the IR Department and the African Studies Center. This certificate can be completed as part of students’ regular coursework. Click here for details on the African Studies Certificate.

Requirements of the Program

  • Four required core courses
  • Four courses within a primary functional or regional track and three non-overlapping courses in a secondary track (at least one of the tracks must be functional).
  • One 4-credit Master’s Paper workshop leading to completion of a substantial, final research or policy paper
  • Four elective courses
  • Master’s Paper and an Oral Defense of that paper
  • Passing grade on Foreign Language examination

Required Courses

Core Courses

  • GRS IR 701 Introduction to International Relations
  • GRS IR 702 Research Methods for International Relations Practitioners
  • GRS IR 703 International Security
  • GRS IR 704 Global Economic and Development Policy

Master’s Paper Workshop

  • GRS IR 799 Master’s Paper Workshop

See the departmental course listings for detailed descriptions of each class.

Track Courses

Students choose a primary track (four courses) and a secondary track (three courses). Courses for the two tracks must be non-overlapping. At least one of the tracks must be a functional track.

Functional Tracks

Regional Tracks

Elective Courses

Students choose four elective courses from the graduate level course offerings of the IR Department. Click here to go to a complete list of the graduate level IR courses. Students may also select their electives from any of the courses included in the listings for any of the functional or regional tracks. Courses not included in these lists may be petitioned to count toward the student’s degree. Some classes from other departments have been pre-approved.

Foreign Language Requirement

All students in this program must fulfill the Foreign Language requirement. More information about this requirement can be found here.

Capstone MA Paper and Oral Examination Requirement

All students in this program must fulfill the IR Department’s requirement of a Capstone MA Paper and an Oral Defense of that paper. More details on the MA Paper can be found here and here.

The IR 799 course, taken in the second year of study, will assist students in developing and writing their MA Paper.