The two-year MA in International Affairs (MAIA) with a Specialization in Diplomacy prepares students for a variety of careers in the international relations field, including work for national governments and a broad range of IGOs and NGOs.
Rigorous core classes train students in the fundamentals of international relations scholarship, quantitative research methods, the workings of the global economy, and the practice of diplomacy and negotiation. Electives enable students to gain in-depth understanding of the issues most important to them.
Most classes are taught once per year, but some, particularly those outside the Pardee School, may be taught less frequently.
Curriculum
The MA in International Affairs with a Specialization in Diplomacy requires a total of 16 courses (64 credits) divided among core classes (20 credits), specialization (24 credits) and electives (20 credits). Elective coursework can include up to two undergraduate or graduate language courses (8 credits).
Core Courses
Students take four core classes (16 credits) that provide breadth of knowledge in the critical issues and research techniques of international affairs plus a directed study (4 credits) with their advisor in their final semester as part of writing an individual MA research or policy paper.
- GRS IR 601 Fundamentals of International Relations
- GRS IR 602 Quantitative Analysis for Global Affairs
- GRS IR 603 Economics for Global Policy
- GRS IR 604 Negotiation and Diplomacy
- GRS IR 799 Master’s Paper (Directed Study with MA Paper Advisor)
Diplomacy Specialization Courses
Students take one required course (4 credits):
- CAS IR 535 Diplomacy and Statecraft
Students take five courses (20 credits) from the list of approved courses below or other courses with pre-approval from the Associate Dean for Studies:
- CAS IR 501 (PO 554) Conflict and Cooperation in Asia
- CAS IR 503 (PO 503) The U.S. in the Middle East
- CAS IR 504 Persian Gulf
- CAS IR 505 Arms Control and Proliferation of Weapons
- CAS IR 507 Islam in Middle East Politics
- CAS IR 510 Comparative Immigration and Racial Politics
- CAS IR 511 The Middle East Today
- CAS IR 519 People Power in Global Politics
- CAS IR 528 Global History of Military Occupation
- CAS IR 531 Intercultural Communication
- CAS IR 532 The Far Right in Europe
- CAS IR 533 Contentious Politics and the Arab Uprisings in the Middle East
- CAS IR 534 Contemporary African Politics
- CAS IR 537 Environment and Empire
- CAS IR 544 Humanitarian Crises
- CAS IR 545 History of Inequality
- CAS IR 550 (PO 535) European Integration
- CAS IR 553 Digital Diplomacy
- CAS IR 556 Current Intelligence Issues
- CAS IR 557 Guerilla Warfare and Terrorism
- CAS IR 559 Leadership & Cultural Change in Large Organizations
- CAS IR 560 Ethnic Conflict in Global Perspective
- CAS IR 561 (RN 561) Religion and International Relations
- CAS IR 566 History of Deportation and Border Security in the Americas
- CAS IR 568 (PO 565) U.S.-Latin American Relations
- CAS IR 572 Ballot or Bullet: The Global Struggle for Justice
- CAS IR 573 Introduction to Public International Law
- CAS IR 574 Laws of War
- CAS IR 577 (PO 576) Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China
- CAS IR 579 (PO 552) Japan in International Politics
- CAS PO 587 Ethics and International Relations
- CAS IR 589 (PO 582) North Atlantic/European Security Issues
- CAS IR 592 Economic Development and International Institutions
- CAS IR 594 (GE 594) Global Environmental Negotiation & Policy
- CAS IR 621 Global Governance, Economic Development, and Human Rights
- CAS IR 653 Forced Migration and Human Trafficking in Europe: Virtual Policy Incubator
- CAS IR 660 Rwanda: Genocide and Its Aftermath
- CAS IR 661 American Grand Strategy
- CAS IR 723 (PO 528) The Political Economy of Advanced Industrialized Societies
- CAS IR 732 Public Diplomacy
- CAS IR 735 Global Health Diplomacy
- CAS IR 759 Understanding Global Money
- CAS IR 788 (PO 789) International Relations of Asia-Pacific
- CAS IR 789 Globalization, Development, Governance
Electives
Students select five elective courses (20 credits), from the graduate-level course offerings of the Pardee School. Students may include up to two undergraduate or graduate language courses (8 credits).
Foreign Language
Students are required to demonstrate graduate-level reading proficiency in a foreign language prior to completion of the degree. Graduate-level proficiency is the ability to understand newspaper and professional journal articles in the field of foreign relations accurately, using standard reference materials. Language proficiency must be demonstrated through a language examination. Language exams are offered by the Pardee School Graduate Office several times per year.
In the case of non-native English speakers who were required to submit a TOEFL score report as part of their application for admission, knowledge of English fulfills this requirement.
Research Project
Students write a Master’s Paper (commonly referred to as an MA Paper) as the capstone component of their degree. The paper may take one of two forms: either a traditional research paper or a policy paper. Students are given broad latitude in selecting topics and approaches, in consultation with their advisors. All MA Papers must be defended orally in front of a panel of three professors, chosen by the Pardee School (one of the three professors will be the student’s advisor).
As part of writing their MA paper, students take a directed study (4 credits) with their advisor in their final semester.