Master of Arts in International Affairs
International Affairs program is designed for working adult students with professional interests in:
- international economics, trade and business
- international law and politics
- foreign cultures
- environment and technology issues
Many students in this 30-credit program complete the Master's degree in two years.
Courses are offered during fall, spring, and summer in the late afternoons and evenings. Faculty include Washington University faculty and corporate specialists.
Advanced Certificate in International Affairs Requirements: For the 15-unit Advanced Certificate, you must take two international issues and two foreign area-studies courses. The fifth course may be chosen from the I.A. curriculum or a related area. All courses must be on the 400 (graduate) level or above. Tuition rates and application procedures are the same as for the 30-credit M.A. degree.
Follow the links at right for more information, or E-mail ucollege@artsci.wustl.edu.
Degree Requirements
Total Number of Credits for Graduation: 30 credits of graduate (400-level and above) course work is required for the M.A. degree. Up to 6 credits of related and comparable graduate-level course work may be transferred from another university or from a related program at Washington University with the approval of the program director.
Required Course (3 credits): Students must successfully complete an introductory seminar, Current Issues in International Affairs, early in their program of study.
Distribution Requirements (minimum 12 credits): Students must also include in their program:
- at least two "international issues" courses focusing on international trade, finance, politics, law, development, and other issues, and
- two "area studies" courses that explore the politics, economics, history, and culture of various regions of the world: East and Southeast Asia; Europe and Russia; Latin America; Africa; and the Middle East.
Research Project (3 credits): In most courses, students do research on issues related to their professional concerns. After the student has completed his/her course work, a three-credit research project, supervised by a Washington University faculty member, is required for the M.A. degree.
Foreign Language Proficiency: In addition to the 30 credits of graduate study in international affairs, M.A. candidates are required to demonstrate reading knowledge in a foreign language (normally equivalent to two semesters of college-level language study) as approved by the program director.
Oral Examination: After the student's research project is complete, students are required to discuss their independent research project in a meeting with three Washington University faculty members.
Graduation: The Master of Arts degree in International Affairs is conferred by the Washington University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Although degrees are awarded three times a year, commencement ceremonies are held only in May, at which time International Affairs degree recipients are recognized.
Final Project
M.A. in International Affairs
Final Project and Oral Exam
A final project, developed under the supervision of a Washington University faculty member, is required for the Master of Arts in International Affairs degree. This project presents an opportunity to explore independently and extensively an area of personal interest and must be completed at the conclusion of a student's course work. The project also provides an opportunity for students to work closely with a member of the International Affairs faculty. The topic may be a subject first identified during a course or one that has emerged over time in the program.
IAP students may choose between a two-term, six-credit Master's Thesis or a one-term, three-credit Directed Research Project. The difference between the Master's Thesis and the Directed Research Project is primarily one of scope. Students who undertake the Master's Thesis will spend the first term researching their topic and beginning to write, and the second term writing and revising. The thesis should be approximately 60 pages. The one-term Directed Research Project should be more narrowly focused, and the final paper should be comparable to that produced in a graduate research seminar, approximately 30 pages in length. In both cases, the paper must reflect a substantive engagement with relevant issues, questions, and scholarship. The student will develop this work in consultation with a faculty advisor responsible for helping the student define the project's scope and objectives and identify useful sources.
Students are emly recommended to write an academic paper. However, students may also apply to receive credit for other projects, such as museum exhibits, courses, and creative writing projects. If the nontraditional project is approved, the student should submit all relevant materials and a paper (6-8 pages) discussing the experience of working on the project, and its importance and objectives.
Each student must submit a Final Project Proposal Form, a detailed description of the project, the names of three faculty readers (the student's advisor and two additional members of the IAP faculty) and a Registration Form the semester before he or she plans to begin the final project. Proposals for the fall, spring, and summer semesters are due by the end of the preceding July, November, and April. Proposal Forms are available in the University College office or online. Each form must be approved and signed by the student's faculty supervisor, the University College IAP coordinator, Prof. Marvin Marcus (314/935-4797 or mhmarcus@artsci.wustl.edu); and the University College Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs. Students writing a 6-credit Master's Thesis should register for U85 502 "Directed Research" the first term, and U85 503 "Master's Thesis" the second term. Students doing the 3-credit Directed Research Project should register for U85 502 "Directed Research." Registration forms must be signed by the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs.
Because each Master's Thesis and Directed Research project will be read by 3 faculty members and discussed in the Oral Examination (see below), students should plan to have the Final Project completed no later than 3 weeks before the end of the semester. It is the student's responsibility to give a copy of the completed work to each reader, and one copy to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs. Students writing a Masters Thesis should contact Dean Nancy Pope in the Graduate School or Arts & Sciences (314/935-6848) for further information.
Further questions about the Final Project should be directed to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs (314/935-6700 or ucollege@artsci.wustl.edu).
Master of Arts in International Affairs Oral Examination
The oral examination gives the student an opportunity to discuss the Master's Thesis or Directed Research Project, as well as the whole International Affairs program experience, with a small group of faculty members. It should be held only after all other required work, including the Final Project, has been completed. The exam is approximately one hour long, and the examining committee consists of three faculty members, including the director of the Final Project, who should serve as chair. Students should identify the faculty committee members on the Final Project Proposal Form.
The Oral Examination must take place at least two weeks before the end of the semester in which the student wishes to graduate. At least four weeks before the end of the semester, the student should contact 314/935-6759 to arrange the time and place of the exam. In preparation for the exam, the student should write a 4-6 page essay describing his or her course of study in the International Affairs program, highlighting some of the ideas or themes the student has pursued, and relating the final project to his or her professional life or the world outside the classroom. It is the student's responsibility to provide each examiner with a copy of the Final Project and the essay at least 7 days before the scheduled exam date.
Questions related to the Final Project and the Oral Exam should be directed to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs (314/935-6700).
Faculty
Faculty in the International Affairs program include accomplished scholars and teachers from the University and the St. Louis community. Some are mentioned below:
Henry Berger, Ph.D., associate professor of history (U.S. foreign policy; Middle East)
Thomas Bottini, J.D., lecturer in international law (international business law)
John R. Bowen, Ph.D., professor of anthropology (Southeast Asia; religion and culture)
Pedro Cavalcanti, Ph.D., professor of anthropology (Latin America; social structures)
Beata Grant, Ph.D., associate professor of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures (Asian religions)
Ahmet Karamustafa, Ph.D., associate professor of Asian and Near Eastern languages and literatures (Islamic religion and society)
Carol Skalnik Leff, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, University of Illinois (Eastern Europe and Russia)
Victor T. LeVine, Ph.D., professor of political science (Africa, Middle East, international politics)
Marvin H. Marcus, Ph.D., program Director, associate professor of Japanese languages and literatures (Japanese literature and culture)
Charles R. McManis, J.D., professor of law (intellectual property; unfair trade practices)
Patricia Pollard, Ph.D., lecturer in international economics (international trade and finance)
Max Okenfuss, Ph.D., associate professor of history (Russia)
Eugene B. Shultz, Jr., Ph.D., professor of technology and human affairs (international development; environmental management)
Elizabeth Tsunoda, Ph.D., assistant professor of history (modern Japan)
John E. Walsh, Jr., Ph.D., professor of management (East Asia; international business)
Richard J. Walter, Ph.D., professor of history (Latin America)
Students
Our students include business executives and managers, lawyers and bankers, journalists and educators, military and government personnel, information and financial analysts, advertising and marketing professionals, and many others.
Some of the companies and organizations represented among International Affairs students and graduates include:
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Application Procedures
Admission to the Master of Arts degree program in International Affairs is open on a selective basis to qualified persons with a baccalaureate degree who seek to augment their professional training with part-time study in international affairs.
To apply to the program, please submit:
- a completed application form, including an essay of 300-350 words describing your interest in and qualifications for the program;
- a non-refundable $35 application fee;
- official transcripts of all previous college work;
- three academic or corporate letters of recommendation;
- a recent writing sample;
- we strongly recommend a personal interview.
Admissions preference will be given to applicants with a strong undergraduate record and several years of professional and/or international experience. In addition, successful applicants are expected to possess good writing and critical thinking skills. Previous course work in economics, history, and/or political science is helpful, although no specific undergraduate courses are required. Admission decisions are considered on a rolling basis, prior to the fall, spring, and summer terms. Qualified students may take up to six units on a non-degree-seeking basis.
