International Relations MA Requirements

The following is the list of requirements that apply to all degree programs in international relations, with a few exceptions (noted below). For the requirements of specific degree programs, please refer to the appropriate section below.

Core Course Requirement

The Department has established four core areas of study within international relations: Theory and Policy, Political Economy, Security Studies, and Regional Studies. A variety of courses are offered within each of the four core areas. All students must successfully complete (at least) one course in three of the four core areas to satisfy the core course requirement. The core course requirement ensures that students gain exposure to a range of important facets of international affairs.

Core courses are selected using the track course listings for the MA in International Affairs (below). The Functional tracks of the International Affairs degree are identical to the first three core areas (Theory and Policy, Political Economy, and Security Studies). For the Regional Studies core area, students may select a course from any of the Regional Studies tracks.

Exception: The International Affairs, International Relations & Religion, Global Development Policy, and Latin American Studies programs do not use the general core course requirement. These programs each have their own set of core courses.

Statistics Requirement

Students in IR programs are expected to have a reasonable facility working with statistical data. The IR Department requires that students in all of our programs take one course in statistics.

Several of our degree programs include required coursework that satisfies the statistics requirement. These programs, and the classes that satisfy the statistics requirement, are as follows:

• International Affairs (IR 702)
• International Relations and MBA (GSM QM 716 or GSM QM 717)
• Global Development Policy (IR 702, GE 516, or either SPH BS 701 or SPH BS 703, depending on the chosen concentration)

Students in those programs do not need to take an additional statistics course beyond the one that is required for their degree program. Students in other programs may satisfy the requirement in several ways:

1. A dedicated two-credit (or more) undergraduate- (or higher) level course in statistics. This course may be taken either prior to matriculation at BU or while studying at BU. At BU, either CAS MA 113 or CAS MA 115 can be taken to satisfy this requirement. Comparable courses at other universities may also be used (online courses, however, are not accepted). Please note that while a dedicated statistics class will satisfy the statistics requirement, the credits from the class, whether it is taken at BU or elsewhere, will not be applied toward the IR degree. The course must be taken for a grade, not pass/fail.
2. Students in any IR degree program may take IR 702, Research Methods for International Relations Practioners, as an elective toward their degree. Students who have not completed the statistics requirement prior to beginning their studies at BU are strongly encouraged to take IR 702 to satisfy this requirement.
3. Students in the IREP and IRIC programs have courses available to them that fulfill the statistics requirement and also count toward their degree program. For students in the IREP program, GRS MA 614, GRS MA 684, GRS GE 516, or GRS GE 712 will fulfill both the statistics requirement and a CEES elective. For IRIC students, COM CM 722, Communication Research, will fulfill the statistics requirement and will also count as either a COM core class or a COM elective.

Exception: Students in the International Relations & Religion and Latin American Studies programs are not required to fulfill the statistics requirement.

Language Requirement

All students in the Department of International Relations are required to demonstrate graduate level reading proficiency in a foreign language prior to completion of the degree program. Graduate-level proficiency is the ability to understand accurately newspaper and professional journal articles in the field of foreign relations, using standard reference materials. English is considered a second language for non-native English speakers. Language examinations are administered by the department three times each year. All students are strongly encouraged to meet this degree requirement before the last semester of their degree program. Exam instructions: www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/current/exam.

Exception: The Latin American Studies program requires a different, more rigorous examination, detailed in the description of that program.

Master’s Paper Requirement

All students must complete a master’s paper. The Department allows students the option to choose between writing a traditional master’s research paper or writing a policy paper. The requirements for both options as well as examples of both research and policy papers are available at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/current/papers.

Exception: Students in the Global Development Policy program do not write an MA paper.

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

All Master of Arts students in the Department of International Relations must orally defend their MA papers before a panel of three professors chosen by the Department. Students are permitted to participate in the oral defense examination only after all other degree requirements have been met. The purpose of the oral examination is to test the student’s knowledge in the area of research related to the MA paper and to test the student’s ability to discuss that knowledge at length in a clear and organized manner. You may access the latest schedule for these exams via the Web at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/current/papers.

Exception: Students in the Global Development Policy program do not conduct an oral defense.

The Master of Arts in International Affairs 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. 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.

This program is appropriate for anyone interested in becoming an international relations professional, regardless of educational background, age, or experience. The International Affairs 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 Mid-Career MA in International Relations program.

Requirements

The International Affairs degree is a two-year program during which students must complete sixteen classes (64 credits). The coursework consists of four required core courses; four courses within a primary functional or regional track and three non-overlapping courses in a secondary track; an MA Paper Workshop; and three electives. Students must also pass the department’s foreign language exam (in a language relevant to the program of study). The capstone to the program is an MA paper and an oral defense of that paper. The Master’s Paper Workshop, taken during the second year of the program, will assist students in writing their MA papers.

Required Courses

Core Courses

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

Master’s Paper Workshop

• IR 799 Master’s Paper Workshop

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.

The options for functional tracks are: Theory and Policy, Political Economy, and Security Studies. The options for regional tracks are: Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, and Muslim World. Lists of approved courses for each track can be found online at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate.

Functional Tracks

• Theory & Policy
• Political Economy
• Security Studies

Regional Core Area/Tracks

• Asia
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
• Muslim World

Elective Courses

Students choose four elective courses from the graduate-level course offerings of the IR Department. 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.

This innovative two-year degree program is a joint offering of the departments of International Relations and Religion, in cooperation with the Institute on Culture, Religion & World Affairs.

The MA program emphasizes both the intellectual and policy aspects of the role of religion in international relations. The course offerings underscore the need for a comparative, interdisciplinary approach to the study of religion and world affairs, and the degree program offers students the opportunity to develop theoretical, functional, and/or regional expertise in the examination of religion’s role in sub-state, inter-state, and transnational phenomena. The curriculum draws on courses in the departments of Religion and International Relations, as well as the School of Theology and other social science and humanities departments throughout the University.

The MA is designed for students interested in both academic and policy careers that deal with the intersection of religion and world affairs. Particularly suitable undergraduate majors include international relations, political science, theology, and religion; related disciplines such as history, sociology, anthropology, and economics also provide useful background. Students and public policy professionals working in the areas of conflict resolution, peacebuilding, peace studies, and mass media are also encouraged to apply to the MA degree program. However, there is no firm requirement that applicants have pursued specific majors or career paths if they can demonstrate a clear interest in and ability to complete the program.

Requirements

For the two-year MA in International Relations & Religion program, students are required to complete successfully 64 credits (sixteen 4-credit courses). These are divided into four required courses, two tracks (one in a religious tradition, one in a regional or functional specialization) consisting of four courses each, an MA paper workshop, and three electives. Students must also satisfy the Department of International Relations’ foreign language exam (in a language relevant to the program of study) and write a final master’s paper, as per the general degree requirements explained above. The course requirements are as follows:

Required Courses

Four Core Courses

• IR 701 Introduction to International Relations
• IR 561/RN 561 The Multiple Modernities of Religion and International Relations
• RN 795 Humanities Approaches to Religion
• or RN 796 Social Science Approaches to Religion
• AN 564/IR 564 Public Religion and Politics across Cultures

Master’s Paper Workshop

• IR 799 Master’s Paper Workshop

Track Courses

Students must take four classes in each of two tracks. One track must focus on a religious tradition, while the other must be an IR Functional or Regional track. At least one course in the Religious Tradition track must be chosen from among the offerings of the Department of Religion or the School of Theology. Lists of approved courses for each of the tracks can be found online at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate. The tracks are as follows:

Religious Tradition Tracks

• Buddhism
• Chinese Religions
• Christianity
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Judaism

IR Functional Tracks

• Theory and Policy
• Political Economy
• Security Studies

IR Regional Tracks

• Asia
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
• Muslim World

Elective Coursework

Students choose three elective courses from the graduate-level course offerings of the International Relations Department, from the courses on any of the track listings, or from the list of approved IRRN elective courses, which can be found at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate. Students may petition to have other classes count toward their degree.

Students may also take elective coursework through the Boston Theological Institute (BTI), a consortium of nine Boston area theology schools. BTI courses must be approved by the International Relations Director of Graduate Studies.

The need to improve living standards, health, and quality of life for people throughout the developing world in an environmentally sound manner is increasingly being recognized as a top priority by the global community. Heightened attention to addressing this challenge has in turn created a burgeoning need for professionals who can bring a varied combination of knowledge, skills, and practices to work in relief operations and development programs administered by NGOs, governments, and international aid and policy organizations, including in positions requiring economic analysis and quantitative research skills.

The Master of Arts in Global Development Policy degree program is designed to prepare students for a fast-growing number and variety of careers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of development programs. A joint project of the School of Public Health and the Departments of International Relations and Geography & Environment, these new programs will provide students with leading-edge exposure to a wide range of development-related knowledge and skills that are currently in demand. Students with an economics background may wish to consider the related Master of Arts in Global Development Economics described in the Economics section of this website.

Requirements

The MA in Global Development Policy is a three-semester program consisting of a total of twelve classes (48 credits). Students complete three core development policy courses, an economics course, a statistics/methods course, a final capstone course, sixteen credit hours of coursework in a chosen track, and eight credit hours of elective coursework. In addition, students must pass the IR Department’s foreign language examination.

Required Courses

Global Development Policy Core Requirements

• GRS GE 756 Geography of Third-World Development
• GRS IR 701 Introduction to International Relations
• SPH IH 770 Poverty, Health, and Development

Economics Course

• GRS IR 704 Global Economic and Development Policy

Statistics/Methods Course

• All students will take a statistics/methods course. The specific course taken will depend on the track chosen by the student. See the section below on track courses for details.

Capstone Course

All students in both the Global Development Policy and the Global Development Economics programs take a capstone course in their second year, GRS IR 798 Global Development Capstone. This is a project-based course in which students, working in groups, design and carry out an interdisciplinary policy analysis comparable to those performed for a government or nonprofit agency.

Track Courses

Students in the Global Development Policy program choose to concentrate in one of three tracks: Governance and Political Economy, Environment and Development, or International Public Health. Each track includes a required statistics/methods class plus a further 16 credits of coursework, consisting of two or more required courses and one or more optional courses. Students take the required courses for their track and then select sufficient optional track coursework to bring their total credits in the track up to at least 16 credit hours (not including the credits for the statistics/methods class). The three tracks are detailed below.

Governance & Political Economy

Statistics/Methods Course

• GRS IR 702 Research Methods for International Relations Practitioners

Required Track Courses

• GRS IR 759 International Institutions for Finance Development, and Trade
• GRS IR 789 Globalization, Governance, and Development

Optional Track Courses

Students choose two additional track courses. Track course listings can be found online at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate.

Environment & Development

Statistics/Methods Course

• CAS GE 516 Multivariate Analysis

Required Track Courses

• CAS GE 541 Economic Geography of Transport
• CAS GE 542 Models of Urban Transportation Systems
• GRS GE 913 or 914 Topics in the Geography of Development

Optional Track Courses

Students choose one additional track course. Track course listings can be found online at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate.

International Public Health

Statistics/Methods Course

• SPH BS 701 (3 credits) Elementary Biostatistics
  or SPH BS 703 (4 credits) Biostatistics

Required Track Courses

• SPH EP 711 (3 credits) Introduction to Epidemiology
• SPH IH 704 (4 credits) The Organization, Delivery, and Financing of Medical Care Services
• SPH IH 871 (4 credits) Program Evaluation
• SPH PH 709 (4 credits) The Biology of Public Health

Optional Track Courses

Students choose one additional track course. Track course listings can be found online at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate..

Elective Courses

Students take sufficient elective coursework to bring their total credit count up to 48 credits. For students in the Governance and Political Economy track and the Infrastructure and Environment track, this will mean two regular courses. Because the School of Public Health offers coursework with varying credits, the number of courses taken by students in the International Public Health track will vary, but students must take sufficient elective coursework to bring their total credit count up to at least 48 credit hours.

Elective coursework may be chosen from the optional track courses of any of the three tracks. Students are welcome to take coursework from outside of their own track, but they must satisfy any prerequisites for the courses that they take.

Elective coursework can also be selected from the graduate level regional studies offerings of a variety of departments at BU. An extensive listing of regional studies class offerings can be found by perusing the course listings for the various regional tracks of the IR Department’s MA in International Affairs degree program. Students may take any of the regional studies courses listed there and can also petition the IR Director of Graduate Studies for approval to take a regional studies class that is not on one of those lists.

Students may also talk with the coordinator for their track to inquire about the possibility of taking other coursework to fulfill the elective requirement, if that other coursework will fit within the intent of the degree program and will contribute to preparation of the students for their intended career paths.

The Master of Arts in Latin American Studies is a versatile and rigorous four-semester program that provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the regional context, languages, dynamics, and issues in Latin America today. The program exposes students to a range of facets of Latin America and provides them with in-depth training in chosen Issue Areas.

This MA degree gives students the necessary tools to pursue either professional careers or further academic study. Graduates are well prepared for work in the private sector, government, policy and research think tanks, non-governmental organizations, international institutions, and education.

Requirements

The MA in Latin American Studies requires 36 credits of coursework at Boston University, distributed among required courses and Issue Area courses (chosen by the student). In addition to coursework at BU, students spend a semester studying abroad in Latin America, compose a Master’s Paper, and fulfill a rigorous foreign language requirement.

Required Courses

• GRS IR 702, Research Methods for International Relations Practitioners
• GRS IR 766, Contemporary Issues in Latin America (2 credits)
• A Directed Study with the student’s chosen adviser (2 credits)

IR 702 and IR 766 are normally taken during the first semester in the program. The directed study is taken during the final, fourth semester.

Issue Area Courses

Students take four courses in one issue area, two in a second issue area, and one from any issue area. All issue area courses must be non-overlapping. It is expected that students will take these courses during their first year. The issue areas are: Globalization & Development; Politics & Civil Society; U.S. Policy & Inter-American Relations; History & Archaeology; Literature, Art, & Culture. Approved course lists can be found at www.bu.edu/las/graduate-studies/lasmarequirements/.

Semester Study Abroad

Students spend the first semester of the second year studying abroad. Students are required to complete a minimum of twelve credits at an approved institution in Latin America. To facilitate completion of this requirement, BU has arranged for students to study at the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This program includes three 3-credit classes and a 3-credit internship, to be arranged after arrival in Buenos Aires.

Students with insufficient Spanish skills for graduate study abroad will also need to enroll in an intensive language course offered at the Universidad de Belgrano prior to the start of the regular semester. This language course will not count toward the MA degree and will incur an additional cost for the student.

Students whose language skills are in Portuguese rather than Spanish can work with the LAS Director and BU’s International Programs Office to identify an appropriate Portuguese language institution.

Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate a high level of competence in either Spanish or Portuguese, including the capability to read, write, and speak the language with sufficient proficiency to understand and be understood, though a few errors in grammar and accent are allowed. Competence in the foreign language of the students’ choosing will be determined by examination by BU language instructors. Students must pass this examination in order to complete the degree.

This is not the same language requirement that is used by all other IR Master of Arts programs. Rather, this is a more rigorous examination that requires both a greater degree of proficiency and a broader range of competence, testing not only reading knowledge but also writing, listening, and speaking capabilities.

The management of natural resources and the resolution of environmental issues are increasingly important factors in determining the course of international relations. Competition for natural resources and efforts to control that competition are shaped largely by the geographical distribution of resources and by those who consume them. Environmental problems cross borders. This unique 12-course joint degree program offers students an opportunity to combine study in international relations and environmental science. Students divide their coursework between the Department of International Relations (IR) and the Center for Energy & Environmental Studies (CEES).

Admission into this joint degree program requires separate admission decisions by the Department of International Relations and the Center for Energy & Environmental Studies. These decisions are based on one complete application to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Students who are admitted by one department and not the other have the option to pursue the regular MA degree in the department into which they were admitted.

Requirements

Students are required to complete all of the International Relations Core MA Requirements, as described above. Students must complete an additional nine courses (36 credits) for a degree total of twelve courses (48 credits). Of these nine additional courses, one is a jointly offered requirement, five are taken through CEES, two through the IR Department, and the final course may be taken either through CEES or IR.

CEES Core Course Requirement

Students are required to take a total of four classes. All students take IR/GE 594 International Environmental Policy. Additionally, students select one class from three of the four categories listed below.

• Group A: GE 505 (Geographic Information Systems), GE 516 (Multivariate Analysis for for Geographers), GE 712 (Regional Energy Modeling), or MA 684 (Applied Multiple Regression and Multivariable Methods)
• Group B: GE 510 (Physical Principles of the Environment)
• Group C: GE 519 (Energy, Society, and the Environment)
• Group D: GE 625 (Environmental Policy Analysis and Modeling) or GE 660 (Resource Economics)

CEES Elective Courses

Students are required to complete two approved elective courses from the CEES course offerings. For a list of these courses, please see the Center for Energy & Environmental Studies section of this website.

IR Elective Courses

Students are required to complete two approved IR elective courses for a total of 8 IR elective credits.

An understanding of international relations is necessary for the practice of international communication. This two-year joint degree program prepares students for careers in an international setting, working in film and television, journalism, mass communication, advertising, marketing, and public relations. Students complete all of the graduate-level international relations requirements as stated below and concurrently enroll in graduate-level communications courses through the College of Communication at Boston University.

This program is administered through the Department of International Relations. All application materials must be sent to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, not to the College of Communication.

International Relations Course Requirements

Students are required to complete all of the International Relations Core MA Requirements, as described above. To fulfill the international relations course requirements, students must select three courses out of the four core areas, and five approved electives from the list of international relations courses.

Students must complete eight international relations courses (32 credits) and eight communications courses for a degree total of sixteen courses (64 credits).

International Relations Core Course Requirements

All students must take (at least) one course in three of the four core areas of study (12 credits total), as per the general MA requirements.

International Relations Elective Course Requirements

In addition to the three core courses listed above, students must complete five elective courses, three of which should focus on a regional or functional concentration.

Communication Course Requirements

In addition to the International Relations courses listed above, students are required to complete three communication core courses, three track courses, and two approved communication electives for a total of eight courses (32 credits). The specific requirements are listed below.

Communication Core Course Requirements

Students must complete IR 531 Intercultural Communication and CM 710 Communication Theory, and one additional core course from the following list:

• CM 722 Communication Research
• CM 729 Public Opinion and Public Policy
• CM 831 International Communication or
  CM 744 during the London Summer Program

Communication Track Course Requirement

Students must complete three courses from one of the track areas listed below. (Courses marked with * are required for students choosing that concentration.) For courses that can be taken either toward a concentration or as a core class, students must choose whether to use the course toward their concentration or their core requirement, not both.

International Journalism

• CM 831 International Communication
• JO 502 Journalism Special Topics
• JO 516 Foreign Reporting
• JO 523 The Presidency and the Media
• JO 526 Covering International Terrorism
• JO 534 Broadcast News for Non-Majors
• JO 545 Reporting Military Affairs
• JO 577 Diplomatic Reporting
• JO 701 Reporting British Politics and Culture (London Only)
• JO 708 The Foreign Correspondent: Reporting from Europe (London Only)
• JO 710 Modern British Drama: A Critic’s Perspective (London Only)
• JO 721 Journalism Principles and Techniques*
• JO 722 Advanced Journalism Seminar*
• JO 737E London Journalism Internship
• JO 804 International Business and Economics Reporting
• JO 954 Journalism Directed Study (London Only)

International Marketing

• CM 519 Interactive Marketing
• CM 708 Principles and Practices of Advertising*
• CM 716 Advertising Media Planning and Buying
• CM 722 Communication Research
• CM 728 International Public Relations
• CM 730 Marketing Communication
• CM 738 Global Marketing Communication
• CM 744E International Political and Media Systems
• JO 804 International Business and Economics Reporting

Public Relations

• CM 510 Computers in Communication
• CM 514 New Communication Technologies
• CM 534 Communication Strategies in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• CM 535 Political Campaigning
• CM 701 Contemporary Public Relations*
• CM 709 Corporate Public Affairs
• CM 715 Public Relations in Nonprofit Settings
• CM 728 International Public Relations
• CM 734 Governmental Public Relations
• CM 742 Media Relations
• CM 744 International Political and Media Systems (London Only)
• CM 745E Comparative Political Systems (London Summer Program only)
• CM 809 London Internships (London Only)
• CM 909 Project Research (London Only)
• CM 831 International Communication

Global Communication Technology Policy

• CM 510 Computers in Communication
• CM 514 New Communications Technologies*
• CM 519 Interactive Marketing
• CM 523 Design Interactive Communication
• CM 704 Contemporary Mass Media
• JO 540 Multimedia Publishing

Communication Research

• CM 722 Communication Research
• CM 723 Advanced Communication Research
• CM 724 Sampling Design and Measurement Techniques
• CM 824 Technical Writing for Communication Research

This dual degree program is offered to meet the needs of students seeking careers in administrative management, international affairs, consulting, international banking, or finance.

Note that admission into this dual degree program requires separate admissions decisions by the Department of International Relations and the Graduate School of Management (GSM). These decisions are based on one complete application to GSM. Students who are admitted by GSM and not the Department of International Relations have the option to pursue a degree in GSM. Students not admitted by GSM will not be considered by the Department of International Relations.

Requirements

Completion of this dual degree program requires a total of 80 credits. Students must complete all of the International Relations Core MA Requirements, as described above, as well as five IR elective courses. In addition, students must complete (at least) 40 credits in GSM, including the core MBA courses and eight credits of additional GSM electives. Eight credits worth of courses (free electives) can be taken either in the Department of International Relations or GSM. Up to eight credits of the required 20 IR elective credits can be chosen from a limited list (see below) of GSM electives.

Core MBA Course Requirement

All dual degree students must complete the following courses for the MBA degree. The following courses should total 34 of the 80 required credits.

• AC 710 Financial Reporting and Control
• ES 700 Executive Presentations
• ES 701 Executive Written Communication
• ES 704 Career Launch
• ES 705 Professional Portfolio
• FE 721 Financial Management
• FE 727 Economics and Management Decisions
• IS 710 IT Strategies for a Networked Economy
• MK 723 Marketing Management
• OB 713 or OB 712 (part-time students only) Managing Individuals and Organizations
• OM 725 Creating Value Through Operations and Technology
• QM 716 Data Analysis for Managerial Decision Making
• SP 700 Current Topics in Law and Ethics
• SP 750 Competition, Innovation, and Strategy

Elective MBA Course Requirement

Students must take two elective courses or the equivalent of six credits through GSM to fulfill the 40-credit residency requirement for GSM.

Free Elective Courses

Dual degree students can take any approved international relations elective courses or any GSM electives to fulfill the 8-credit free elective requirement.

IR Electives

Dual degree students must complete a total of 20 credits of IR electives. This requirement can be fulfilled with any approved International Relations elective courses. Students who so desire may fulfill up to eight credits of this requirement with GSM electives from the following list.

• FE 827 International Financial Management
• FE 882 Analysis of Political Economics
• IM 830 International Business Environment
• IM 848 Fundamental Business Fuctions in International Operations
• IM 849 Fundamental Business Functions in International Operations II
• IM 859 International Strategic Alliance
• IM 860 International Business Strategies
• MK 853 Global Strategic Marketing
• SP 856 International Entrepreneurship

This dual degree program requires three and one half years of study divided between the School of Law (LAW) and the Department of International Relations. A study of international relations and law prepares students for careers in national governments or international agencies, international negotiation, and human rights organizations.

Students, please note that admission into this dual degree program requires separate admissions decisions by the Department of International Relations and LAW. These decisions are based on one complete application to LAW. Students who are admitted by LAW and not the Department of International Relations have the option to pursue a degree in LAW. Students who are not admitted by LAW will not be considered by the Department of International Relations.

Requirements

In addition to the International Relations Core MA Requirements described above and three IR electives, students must complete all of the requirements for the Juris Doctor through the School of Law. As part of the law curriculum, students must complete either Introduction to International Law (JD 927) or International Law; Origins and Development (JD 840). Three law electives are required during the second or third years of law school as part of the dual degree curriculum. At least one of these electives must be a seminar and at least one must be a course. All three classes must be chosen from among the School of Law’s international law offerings. For a complete listing, please contact the School of Law Registrar’s Office (617-353-3115).

Students are also required to complete three international relations elective courses in addition to the three core courses (total 24 credits). These courses can be chosen from the list of approved electives that appears below.

The Mid-Career Master of Arts in International Relations is designed as a terminal MA program for students who intend to pursue careers in the field of international relations after graduation. Although the program can be completed in one academic year, most students spend three semesters (or two semesters and one summer term) in the Department. Two semesters are devoted to completing the required coursework, statistics and language requirements, and the third semester is devoted to writing the MA paper.

This program is ideal for U.S. Army Officers who are required to complete a master’s program as part of their training in the Foreign Area Officer (FAO) training program. Boston University is on the U.S. Army approved list of schools for Advanced Civil Schooling in Latin American studies, East and West European studies, Russian studies, East Asian studies, Middle Eastern studies, and African Studies.

Requirements

In addition to the International Relations Core MA Requirements described above, five approved graduate-level elective courses are required to complete this degree program. A total of eight courses or the equivalent of 32 credits is required for graduation.

Students in International Relations MA programs have the option of completing one of two Graduate Certificate programs: the Graduate Certificate in African Studies and the Graduate Certificate in Asian Studies. Completion of these certificates does not require any additional coursework above that required for the student’s degree. Courses can be chosen so as to fulfill the requirements of both the student’s degree program and the student’s chosen certificate program. Students should talk with their advisor and plan carefully to ensure that they fulfill all requirements correctly.

Please note that while in theory these certificates can be combined with any of our degree programs, in practice the relatively complex course requirements of some of our joint programs make it difficult to complete a certificate. The certificates can easily be undertaken by students in the International Affairs, IR & Religion, IR & International Communication, IR & Master of Business Administration, and the Mid-Career International Relations MA programs. Combination with other degree programs may prove difficult.

African Studies Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in African Studies is completed under the joint direction of the IR Department and the African Studies Center. Students complete at least 16 hours of coursework in African studies, write a substantive research paper on an African topic, and demonstrate language proficiency in an African language or a European language used in African studies. For further details regarding this certificate, please see the section on the African Studies Center in this bulletin or contact them at 617-353-3673. Details can also be found online at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/programs/africanstudies/.

Asian Studies Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Asian Studies is offered by the Boston University Center for the Study of Asia (BUCSA). It can be earned by post-baccalaureate students in any Boston University graduate or professional program who fulfill the following requirements, in addition to the requirements of their degree programs.

Requirements

Students are required to complete at least 16 credits of coursework (four standard courses) in courses primarily focused on Asia, with a minimum grade of B in each course. At least three of the four courses must focus on a subregional or substantive area (e.g. East Asia, Southeast Asia, comparative government, cultural/archeological preservation, Buddhism). Courses must be chosen from at least two departments or schools, and no more than four credits can be earned through directed study.

Students must complete a piece of significant independent work such as an MA or MFA thesis, a doctoral dissertation, or two substantial research papers in graduate level seminars. Additionally, students must demonstrate reading knowledge of an Asian language relevant to the course of study. Language proficiency will be demonstrated by passing the language proficiency test of the student’s own department; for students in schools or departments that do not offer language proficiency testing, BUCSA will arrange an assessment of reading proficiency based on a dictionary-aided, timed translation of a professionally relevant scholarly (or equivalent) document.

A listing of pre-approved coursework can be found online at www.bu.edu/ir/graduate/programs/asianstudies. Other courses may be applied to the certificate with permission of the director of BUCSA.

International Relations Courses

The following is the list of courses offered by the Department of International Relations. As part of the Master of Arts curriculum, students should choose their elective courses from this list. Both core and elective courses are listed below with course descriptions. Some coursework may be done outside of the Department with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

• CAS IR 500 Topics in International Relations
• CAS IR 503 U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East
• CAS IR 504 Seminar: The Persian Gulf/ Arabian Peninsula
• CAS IR 506 India: An Emerging World Power
• CAS IR 507 The Muslim and Western Worlds: A “Clash of Civilizations”?
• CAS IR 508 Islamic Political Movements and U.S. Policy
• CAS IR 509 Islam in Middle East Politics
• CAS IR 511 The Middle East Today
• CAS IR 513 Bureaucracy and Governance: A Comparative Inquiry
• CAS IR 514 Major Themes in the Middle East Peace Process
• CAS IR 516 Intelligence and Homeland Security
• CAS IR 520 The State and Public Purpose in Asia
• CAS IR 521 Congress and National Security
• CAS IR 522 Ideas and American Foreign Policy
• CAS IR 527 (PO 527) Political Economy of China
• CAS IR 529 Cuba in Transition
• CAS IR 531 Intercultural Communication
• CAS IR 535 Diplomacy and Statecraft
• CAS IR 536 European Environmental Policy
• CAS IR 538 France, Europe, and the World: The History of French Foreign Relations in Modern Times
• CAS IR 539 State-Formation and Nation-Building in Southeastern Europe: From Byzantium to Brussels
• CAS IR 540 Committing to Defend Europe: The U.S. and the U.K.
• CAS IR 541 Russia’s International Policies I
• CAS IR 542 The Reemergence of Russia
• CAS IR 543 The Changing Face of Eastern Europe
• CAS IR 544 Comparative Political Systems and Foreign Policies
• CAS IR 546 Power and Legitimacy: Ideology as a Political Tool
• CAS IR 548 United Nations Peacekeeping
• CAS IR 549 Politics and International Relations of the New Germany
• CAS IR 550 West European Integration
• CAS IR 551 Social Europe
• CAS IR 552 Nordic Europe
• CAS IR 553 Masterworks of International Affairs
• CAS IR 556 Current Intelligence Issues
• CAS IR 557 Guerrilla Warfare and Terrorism
• CAS IR 560 The Politics of Religion, Ethnicity, and Nationalism in International Relations
• CAS IR 561 The Multiple Modernities of Religion and International Relations
• CAS IR 562 Politics and Religion in Modern Europe: Church-State Relations in Comparative Perspective
• CAS IR 563 Public Religion and Politics Across Cultures
• CAS IR 566 Democracy in Latin America
• CAS IR 567 Latin American Politics
• CAS IR 568 U.S.– Latin American Relations
• CAS IR 570 Politics and Social Change in Postwar Japan
• CAS IR 571 Central America and U.S. Policy
• CAS IR 572 The Latin American Military
• CAS IR 573 Introduction to Public International Law
• CAS IR 574 Ethics and International Relations
• CAS IR 575 Political Economy of Mexico and NAFTA
• 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 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 587 Political Economy of the Middle East
• CAS IR 589 North Atlantic/European Security Issues
• CAS IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America
• CAS IR 591 Great Powers in the Middle East 1798–1922
• CAS IR 594 Global Environmental Negotiation and Policy
• CAS IR 596 Globalization and Contemporary Capitalism in Advanced Industrialized Nations
• CAS IR 597 Development and Environment in Latin America
• CAS IR 598 International Business Intelligence and Security Practices
• CAS IR 599 Science, Politics, and Climate Change
• GRS IR 701 Introduction to International Relations
• GRS IR 702 Research Methods for International Relations Practitioners
• GRS IR 703 Introduction to Security Studies
• GRS IR 704 International Economic Relations
• GRS IR 706 The Iranian Revolution and Its Impact on the Middle East
• GRS IR 707 Political Reform in the Middle East
• GRS IR 711 Civil Society and the State
• GRS IR 712 International State Systems
• GRS IR 718 International Migration and Diaspora in World Politics
• GRS IR 721 War, Guilt, and World Politics
• GRS IR 722 U.S. Foreign Policy since the End of the Cold War
• GRS IR 757 Transnational Shi’ism
• GRS IR 758 Comparative Political Economy of China and India
• GRS IR 759 International Institutions for Finance, Development, and Trade
• GRS IR 760 The Political Economy of the European Union
• GRS IR 762 Turkey and the European Union: The History and Contemporary Aspects of Turkey’s European Path
• GRS IR 764 Seminar on China in the Contemporary World
• GRS IR 765 Japanese Political Economy
• GRS IR 767 Latin American Comparative Politics
• GRS IR 768 Reform of the State: Political and Institutional Reforms in Latin America
• GRS IR 772 Classics of International Relations
• GRS IR 778 Problems of Strategic Intelligence
• GRS IR 780 CIA’s National Clandestine Service
• GRS IR 787 The Latin American Policies of the United States
• GRS IR 788 International Relations of Asia-Pacific
• GRS IR 789 Globalization, Development, Governance
• GRS IR 794 Current Issues in International Environmental Affairs
• GRS IR 798 Global Development Capstone
• GRS IR 799 MAIA Paper Workshop
• GRS IR 825 Graduate Study in Women and Social Change in the Developing World

Teaching Fellow Training

• GRS IR 699 Teaching International Relations I

Directed Study

All Directed Study courses require a memorandom of understanding written by the student and approved by the supervising faculty member and the Director of Graduate Studies/Chair of the International Relations Department. Please contact the Graduate Programs Administrator for more details at 617-353-9349 or irgrad@bu.edu.

• GRS IR 901 Directed Study I
• GRS IR 902 Directed Study II