International Affairs, International Security and Peace Studies, M.A.

Admission Requirements

Admission decisions will be made after reviewing all materials and determining the applicant’s capacity, suitability, and preparation for graduate study.

Admission decisions are based upon consideration of a number of criteria which are believed to indicate a high potential in the graduate program.

Admission to the Master of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration in International Security and Peace Studies program requires

1. an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, including at least 18 hours of undergraduate courses in political science, international relations, or related disciplines; 
2. a minimum grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for all college work taken; 
3. satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Application deadline: Applications for Summer/Fall admission must be complete by March 1, and applications for Spring admission must be complete by October 1. Late applicants who meet the admission criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicant must

1. submit application with appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
2. submit official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
3. submit official transcripts of all previous college work;
4. submit three (3) letters of recommendation;
5. submit a statement of interest stating reason for applying to the program, academic interest, and professional goals.

Degree Requirements

Candidate must

1. complete at least 36 semester hours of graduate level designated courses in international affairs, with at least 70 percent of the hours at the 6000 level;
2. complete all core requirements (PS 6100 , PS 6200 , 
   PS 6400
    , and PS 6500 );
3. complete all required courses for the concentration in International Security and Peace Studies;
4. complete 6 hours of guided interdisciplinary electives selected in consultation with faculty in the program and tailored to area of concentration; 
5. complete either PS 6170 - Literature Review in International Affairs  AND PS 6640 - Thesis Research  OR PS 6290 - Practicum in International Affairs );
6. successfully pass a comprehensive examination; 
7. fulfill a foreign language requirement in a language relevant to the student’s career goals or geographic area of interest, in any of the following ways:
   1. complete 12 undergraduate semester hours in one foreign language;
   2. earn at least a C grade in any upper-division undergraduate foreign language course taught in the language and requiring translation;
   3. pass a written examination in the language administered by the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department;
   4. earn a grade of B or better in GERM 4990, FREN 4990, or SPAN 4990; or
   5. complete a three-month intensive language program in an accredited foreign language institute with passing certification.

Curriculum: International Affairs, International Security and Peace Studies

 Candidate must complete 36 hours in the following course of study:

Program Notes

Candidate must

1. file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies prior to the completion of 21 credit hours;
2. file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which candidate intends to graduate.