i Please note:
To view the current calendar, go to
International Studies
This full-time 12 month program, leading to a Master of Arts (MA) in International Studies, consists of seven courses that are completed over three consecutive terms. The duration of the program may be extended with the approval of the senior supervisor and graduate chair/director. Courses will be dependent upon which course stream a student is completing. These are
- Stream 1 - International Development
- Stream 2 - Governance and Conflict
- Stream 3 - Latin American Studies
間眅埶AV Requirements
Normally, to be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 from a recognized university, preferably in an arts or social sciences discipline. In addition, the School also requires a statement of research interest. Applicants seeking entry into the Latin American Studies stream must provide proof of reading and speaking competence in Spanish or Portuguese. At the discretion of the graduate program committee, proof of competence in another language spoken in Latin America and the Caribbean may be accepted. Those admitted with other credentials or those with arts degrees who in the judgment of the Graduate Chair are without adequate foundation in the social sciences may be required to make up any deficiency without receiving graduate credit for those courses. Students are admitted for commencement of studies in the fall semester only.
Concurrent Bachelor's-Masters Program*
間眅埶AV Requirements
The minimum requirements for this concurrent degree program is as per Graduate General Regulation 1.3.8a. In addition, the School also requires a statement of research interest. Students may be admitted for commencement of studies in the fall and spring terms. Please note that this program is only available to current 間眅埶AV declared International Studies Major or Honours undergraduate students.
Application Requirements
Please consult the School for International Studies website. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as they have completed 90 units for their bachelor's requirements.
* Students will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts (with major/honours and will be offered conditional admission into the Master of Arts in International Studies commencing in the fall term. Students may complete a portion of graduate units towards their bachelor's and master's requirements concurrently.
Application Requirements
Please consult the .
Program Requirements
1. Extended Essays Track
Students complete a minimum of 30 units, including at least 24 units of coursework and two extended essays (6 units). Each extended essay should be approximately 8,000 words. The options are writing a policy briefing (or policy briefings), a review essay (or review essays), or some other type of writing focused on synthesis and analysis, rather than original research.
Stream 1 International Development
An inter-disciplinary course which aims to bring to bear different perspectives on problems of International policy and practice. The particular problems taken up will change over time in light of global developments and current events. Prerequisite: REQ - graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
'The quality of institutions' is now said to exercise a crucial influence on the prospects for development, and the course interrogates this claim both through analysis of different paths of economic growth and change across the developing world, and in regard to public administration and development management. It examines development policies and institutional theories, the politics of institutions and state formation, and the relationships between political systems, institutions and patterns of development. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Examines the historical political economy of development. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream A of the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Introduces key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as concepts and as tools for helping understand the world around us. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the MA in International Studies Program. Undergraduate course work in methods is highly recommended.
Extended Essays. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
and two elective courses subject to approval of the graduate chair or director.
Stream 2 Governance and Conflict
An inter-disciplinary course which aims to bring to bear different perspectives on problems of International policy and practice. The particular problems taken up will change over time in light of global developments and current events. Prerequisite: REQ - graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
The challenges posed by the 'new wars' and by state failure, and their consequences, the needs of humanitarian intervention, and the tasks of reconstructing or building viable states, involve critical security dimensions that are of both a military and non-military nature. It will explore the extensive body of literature on state formation and decay, and on intervention, in various regional settings with an emphasis on the causes of state failure, and the prospects of state rebuilding. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream B of the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Introduces key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as concepts and as tools for helping understand the world around us. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the MA in International Studies Program. Undergraduate course work in methods is highly recommended.
An inter-disciplinary overview and critical introduction to key issues of governance and conflict within international studies. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream B (Governance and Conflict) of the MA in International Studies.
Extended Essays. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
and two elective courses subject to approval from the graduate chair or program director.
Stream 3 Latin American Studies
An inter-disciplinary course which aims to bring to bear different perspectives on problems of International policy and practice. The particular problems taken up will change over time in light of global developments and current events. Prerequisite: REQ - graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
A synthetic introduction to historical and contemporary theories of development in Latin America. Topics include political economy of development, sociological theories of development, an introduction to neoliberalism, and the contemporary experience of globalization and development in Latin America. This course is identical to LAS 815 and so students may not receive credit for both courses.
Introduces key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as concepts and as tools for helping understand the world around us. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the MA in International Studies Program. Undergraduate course work in methods is highly recommended.
A general overview of social and political change in Latin America, including revolutions, independence, transition to democracy, and contemporary social movements. Theoretical approaches may include social-movement theory, democratic theory, etc. This course is identical to LAS 835 and students may not receive credit for both courses.
Extended Essays. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
and two elective courses subject to approval from the graduate chair or program director.
2. Thesis Track
Students complete a minimum of 30 units, including at least 20 units of coursework, the thesis prospectus course (2 units) and the thesis course (8 units). The thesis prospectus (IS 886) should be comprised of 3,000 words and should lay out a research question, the relevant scholarly literatureand propose a method for conducting the research. Students will then research and write a thesis (IS 898) of between 14,000 to 16,000 words. The thesis will be the result of original research and will be designed with the goal of producing a publishable article.
Stream 1 International Development
An inter-disciplinary course which aims to bring to bear different perspectives on problems of International policy and practice. The particular problems taken up will change over time in light of global developments and current events. Prerequisite: REQ - graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
'The quality of institutions' is now said to exercise a crucial influence on the prospects for development, and the course interrogates this claim both through analysis of different paths of economic growth and change across the developing world, and in regard to public administration and development management. It examines development policies and institutional theories, the politics of institutions and state formation, and the relationships between political systems, institutions and patterns of development. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Examines the historical political economy of development. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream A of the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Introduces key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as concepts and as tools for helping understand the world around us. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the MA in International Studies Program. Undergraduate course work in methods is highly recommended.
Thesis Prospectus. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
MA Thesis. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
and one elective course subject to approval of the graduate chair or director.
Stream 2 Governance and Conflict
An inter-disciplinary course which aims to bring to bear different perspectives on problems of International policy and practice. The particular problems taken up will change over time in light of global developments and current events. Prerequisite: REQ - graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
The challenges posed by the 'new wars' and by state failure, and their consequences, the needs of humanitarian intervention, and the tasks of reconstructing or building viable states, involve critical security dimensions that are of both a military and non-military nature. It will explore the extensive body of literature on state formation and decay, and on intervention, in various regional settings with an emphasis on the causes of state failure, and the prospects of state rebuilding. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream B of the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
Introduces key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as concepts and as tools for helping understand the world around us. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the MA in International Studies Program. Undergraduate course work in methods is highly recommended.
An inter-disciplinary overview and critical introduction to key issues of governance and conflict within international studies. Prerequisite: Graduate students enrolled in Stream B (Governance and Conflict) of the MA in International Studies.
Thesis Prospectus. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
MA Thesis. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
and one elective course subject to approval of the graduate chair or director.
Stream 3 Latin American Studies
An inter-disciplinary course which aims to bring to bear different perspectives on problems of International policy and practice. The particular problems taken up will change over time in light of global developments and current events. Prerequisite: REQ - graduate students enrolled in the MA in International Studies, or permission of the instructor.
A synthetic introduction to historical and contemporary theories of development in Latin America. Topics include political economy of development, sociological theories of development, an introduction to neoliberalism, and the contemporary experience of globalization and development in Latin America. This course is identical to LAS 815 and so students may not receive credit for both courses.
Introduces key methods in international studies, critically assessing them as concepts and as tools for helping understand the world around us. Prerequisite: Acceptance into the MA in International Studies Program. Undergraduate course work in methods is highly recommended.
A general overview of social and political change in Latin America, including revolutions, independence, transition to democracy, and contemporary social movements. Theoretical approaches may include social-movement theory, democratic theory, etc. This course is identical to LAS 835 and students may not receive credit for both courses.
Thesis Prospectus. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
MA Thesis. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the MA in International Studies program.
and one elective course subject to approval of the graduate chair or director.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.
For calendar technical problems or errors, contact calendar-sfu@sfu.ca | Calendar Changes and Corrections