The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations/Master of Arts in International Affairs (BA/MAIA) is a rigorous five-year program designed to ensure that students develop both broad and deep knowledge of the interdisciplinary field of international relations while acquiring a rich and varied research experience.
The BA/MAIA supports the academic and career goals of undergraduate students by allowing them to graduate with a rigorous professional MA in International Affairs, with only one additional year of course work. Students in the BA/MAIA gain foundational education in the economics, history and theory of international relations through their undergraduate coursework which is supplemented with graduate courses on the fundamentals of international relations scholarship, quantitative research methods, the workings of the global economy, and the practice of diplomacy and negotiation.
BA/MAIA Curriculum
The BA-to-MAIA program requires a total of 164 units. Students are required to study abroad for a minimum of one semester or one summer program. Students choosing a summer study abroad option must choose a program that carries at least 4 units. All students select two tracks for their BA program and one MAIA specialization. All applicants for the BA-to-MAIA program must complete a Plan of Study. To complete the plan, applicants must meet with their undergraduate academic advisor regarding their undergraduate requirements and with the Graduate Student Affairs Administrator regarding the graduate requirements. Any subsequent changes to the Plan of Study must be approved by both the undergraduate and graduate academic advisors.
BA in International Relations
Students must complete all the requirements of the BA in International Relations with the additional requirement that three of the eight BA track courses must be at the 500 level or above, with grades of B– or higher. Study abroad is required for the BA-to-MAIA program. Students may study abroad through one of BU’s 40 study abroad programs or in an external program. If students opt for a summer program, it must total 4 units or above. For international students, study abroad is not required.
MA in International Affairs
In addition to the BA requirements, 48 units of graduate coursework must be completed with a grade of B– or higher, 36 of which must be taken as a graduate student.
- GRS IR 602 Quantitative Analysis for Global Affairs [Students who have completed CAS MA 116, CAS MA 214, CAS EC 305, CAS IR 295, and/or QST SM 222 do not need to take IR 602. Instead, they may choose any graduate-level elective.]
- Completion of a MAIA specialization consisting of six graduate-level specialization courses, of which two must be at the 600 level or above. Specializations currently include: Diplomacy; Global Economic Affairs; Security Studies; Religion & International Affairs; and International Communication.
- Sufficient elective units at the 500 level or above to reach 48 total units.
- Up to 12 units at the 500-level or higher from the BA degree can be counted toward the MAIA.
BA/MAIA Requirements
Eligibility Requirements
- Have a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application
- Have a 3.6 major GPA (may exclude grades in EC 101 and 102) at the time of application
- Students must be an IR major and must have taken a minimum of four IR classes at the time of application, including at least one regional or functional track class. EC 101 and 102 do not count toward this requirement.
- Students apply in their junior year of study
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, knowledge of English fulfills this requirement.
BA/MAIA Tuition and Scholarship
All candidates, both domestic and international, will be considered for merit aid. No additional materials are needed for aid consideration; decisions are based on the application for admission. Scholarship offers will be made at the time of admission.
BA/MAIA students have official graduate student status during their final two semesters at Pardee. For a student who enrolls at BU as a first semester freshman, these are the final two semesters of their fifth year. The Pardee School is housed under GRS, and current tuition rates can be found here.