Master of Arts in International Studies Degree

Program Description

The Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) is designed for two kinds of students. First, students  concurrently pursuing another graduate degree in one of six professional schools at the University:  the Graduate School of Business Administration, the College of Forest Resources, the School of Law, the School of Marine Affairs, the Graduate School of Public Affairs, and the School of Public Health. Second, students enter the program after already having gained professional experience or education. All graduate students participate in a year-long core series dealing with a broad framework for the study of international issues and institutions. In addition, students take a two-course practicum series, and concentrate in two of the following three supplemental fields: regional, professional, or special topics. The graduate program requires proficiency in a modern foreign language.

The International Studies faculty is actively engaged in searches for new cross-regional approaches and transdisciplinary methods that are neither part of the existing academic disciplines nor simple composites of several disciplinary approaches. We have funded centers that study ethnic conflict, foreign policy and security issues, and research projects on state-society relations and how empires end.  We also work with many other departments and area studies programs on campus.

Sara Curran, Chair

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet basic Graduate School requirements, which include a 3.00 GPA or better in their last 90 quarter (60 semester) graded credits, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, and submission of test results from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). The GMAT is acceptable only for applicants who are concurrently applying to the Business School. Applicants also must meet all application requirements and deadlines set by the Jackson School and described in its application guidelines. Meeting minimum standards, however, does not ensure admission.

Prior foreign language study and preparation in intermediate-level macroeconomics and micro-economics is highly recommended for all applicants. Those applying concurrently to a professional program must first be accepted by the professional school. For non-concurrent applicants, preference is given to those who have a professional interest, or previous professional experience or education.

Degree Requirements

All students must complete at least 36 credits in addition to fulfilling the language requirement. Those enrolled concurrently with one of the above mentioned professional schools must meet the requirements of both the professional school and those of the International Studies program; however some course work is counted for both degrees. 

Language

Students must reach a proficiency equivalent to the completion of 2 years of college level work in a modern foreign language. For Chinese and Japanese the requirement is 3 years.

Coursework

Required Coursework:

The core courses are:  SIS 500/Origins of Global Systems; SIS 501/Comparative Studies;  SIS 502/Globalism and Transnationalism; SIS 522/Ethnicity and Nationalism; and SIS 511-512/Practicum in International Studies (3 credits each). An intermediate-level economics course (3 credits) and a statistics course for the social sciences are also required of those who have no background or training in economics.

• SIS 500/Origins of Global Systems (3 credits)
  Development of global systems from the 15th century to today. Focuses on several key texts studying this process. Emphasizes the changing relationships among politics, economics, cultures and institutions in this history. Students will develop skills in writing exegeses of international studies texts.
   
• SIS 501/Comparative Studies (3 credits)
  This course will focus on comparison across geographical areas, including comparative political economy, comparative cultures, and comparative institutions. It will provide students with a familiarity with comparative method of inquiry, an understanding of the interplay between area studies and cross-regional theories, and skills in conducting comparative research and writing.
   
• SIS 502/Globalization and Transnationalism (3 credits)
  The focus of this course is on globalization and it will include International Relations and transnational studies. It will provide students with an understanding of the interplay of area studies with processes that transcend geographical areas and intersect political boundaries and skills in undertaking a major research and writing project.
   
• SIS 511-512/Practicum in International Studies (3 credits each)
  Each student will create a major independent research article that will include the use of primary sources and will count as one of the two required seminar papers. This article will have to focus on one of the student¹s two fields. The class as a whole will then constitute an editorial board of an electronic journal. The instructor will be the managing editor and will, with the students, review all papers for possible publication in that journal.

Other Coursework:

Students must complete at least 18 credits in two of the following three fields (3 courses per field):

• Regional Studies Field
  Students may focus on Japan, China, Korea, Russia, East Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, Canada, Latin America or Africa.
   
• Special Topics Field
  Students choose an internationally significant topic that is thematic and/or comparative in nature. Some examples of special topics are development, state-society relations, international migration, demography, food production, technology transfer and ethics in international affairs.
   
• Professional Field
  This field consists of courses offered by a professional school that deal with the international and comparative dimensions of the profession.  For students pursuing concurrent degrees, these courses can be counted for both the International Studies program and the professional degree. 

Final Papers and Oral Exam

At the end of the course of study each student must pass an oral examination based on two research  papers. The M.A. examining committee will be composed of three faculty members representing the fields the student has chosen.