The Bachelor\u2019s-to-Master\u2019s program (Bachelor of Arts in International Relations\/Master of Arts in International Affairs) is an accelerated program designed to equip students with an interdisciplinary understanding of international affairs and in their chosen specialization.<\/p>\n
The Bachelor\u2019s-to-Master\u2019s program 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 this program gain foundational education in 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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>. We encourage applicants to meet with their undergraduate academic advisor if they have questions about their undergraduate requirements. Students then meet with the Graduate Student Advisor to share their Plan of Studies form and discuss program requirements.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2013 or higher. Study abroad is required for the BA-to-MAIA program. Students may study abroad through one of BU\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n 48 units of graduate coursework must be completed with a grade of B\u2013 or higher, 36 of which are taken in the master\u2019s year.<\/p>\n * If any of the 12 double-counted credits are applied toward the specialization, and all other requirements are met, students may apply additional graduate-level (500+) coursework as electives to meet the 48-credit program requirement.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n Students are required to demonstrate graduate-level reading proficiency in a foreign language prior to completion of the degree, which is the same requirement for students in any Pardee graduate program. Please refer to the foreign language requirements on the MAIA program page for more details.<\/p>\n In the case of non-native English speakers, knowledge of English fulfills this requirement.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n Eligibility <\/strong><\/p>\n Application documents<\/strong><\/p>\n Use this document as a planning tool to map out the double-counted BA+MA courses and your MA program requirements. Students are not committed to following the course selection listed on this sheet should they enroll; students meet with their Graduate Student Advisor prior to registration each semester.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n All candidates, both domestic and international, can be considered for a Pardee Dean\u2019s Scholarship, which is considered merit aid. No additional materials are needed for aid consideration; decisions are based on the application for admission. An admissions and scholarship decision are communicated at the same time.<\/p>\n 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 within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and current tuition rates can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n Students should apply at the end of their junior year, after spring semester grades are posted. Applications remain open through the fall semester of the senior year. Students are encouraged to apply once all eligibility requirements outlined in Step 1 have been met.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n No, there is no application fee for this program.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can I take a gap semester between my bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Residency means semesters of coursework taken, and includes semesters taken at other institutions. Most students will take 10 semesters to complete the Bachelor\u2019s-to-Master\u2019s program, meaning 4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 1 year of graduate study. Students who complete their BA requirements in 7 semesters via external credits or summer courses may also apply. Transfer students have a 3-to-4-year residency requirement based on transferred units.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Students may study abroad through one of BU\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Define your purpose for applying to the specific program and specialization. You may also wish to share why Pardee is the right place for you to pursue your chosen graduate program. You can discuss your relevant academic, professional, and\/or personal background that has motivated you on a career path in international affairs and global policy. We are particularly interested in hearing how any relevant international exposure, internships, or volunteer or personal experience has shaped your goals to help solve big global challenges.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s completely up to you. We recommend that you take at least some (if not all) of the 3 double counted courses at the 500+ level courses in your chosen specialization because this will allow you for more room for electives in your MA year. To see the list of which courses are pre-approved for each specialization, please refer to the lists on the MAIA program page (https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/pardeeschool\/academics\/graduate\/ma-in-international-affairs-maia\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We recommend planning your request early and meeting with the professor to discuss your intention to apply to the Bachelor\u2019s-to-Master\u2019s program at Pardee. Do not wait until the last minute to ask a professor to write you a recommendation! Attending a professor\u2019s office hours is a great way to get started.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/span>Bachelor\u2019s-to-Master\u2019s (BA\/MAIA) Curriculum<\/strong><\/h3>
BA in International Relations<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/span>MA in International Affairs<\/strong><\/h3>
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\nStudents who have completed CAS MA 116, CAS MA 214, CAS EC 305, CAS IR 295, and\/or QST SM 222 with a B- or better do not need to take IR 602. Instead, they may choose any graduate-level elective.<\/li>\n
\nCompletion of a MAIA specialization consists of six graduate-level specialization courses, of which two must be at the 600 level or above. See the specialization options and courses on the MAIA program page<\/a>.<\/li>\n
\nUp to 12 units at the 500-level or higher from the BA degree can be counted toward the MAIA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/span>Foreign Language Requirement<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/span>BA\/MAIA Eligibility and Application<\/strong><\/h3>
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\n500-1,000 word statement of purpose that includes a proposed research topic (1-2 pages).<\/li>\n
\nUnofficial transcripts that show current GPA and in progress or planned coursework.<\/li>\n
\nWe recommend planning your request early and meeting with the professor to discuss your intention to apply to the Bachelor\u2019s-to-Master\u2019s program at Pardee. Once you start the application, you will need their email address to send your recommenders a letter of recommendation request that will integrate with your application.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nBA\/MAIA Tuition and Scholarship<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>
When can I apply?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Is there an application fee?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n<\/strong>Unfortunately, no. These degrees must be taken sequentially.<\/p>\nWhat is the residency requirement?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What is the study abroad requirement?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What should I write about in my statement of purpose?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What are the required core courses for students in the BA\/MAIA program?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nStudents who have completed CAS MA 116, CAS MA 214, CAS EC 305, CAS IR 295, and\/or QST SM 222 with a B- or better do not need to take IR 602. Instead, they may choose any graduate-level elective.<\/li>\nWhat 500+ level courses should I take before starting the MA portion of the Bachelor\u2019s-to-Master\u2019s?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
How do I ask for a letter of recommendation?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Where do I find the list of the required specialization courses?<\/strong><\/h4>\n