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 stream a student is completing. These are
- Stream 1 - International Development
- Stream 2 - Governance and Conflict
In addition, students can earn a regional concentration by completing two courses and writing their thesis(IS 898) or extended essay (IS 880) on their region of expertise. Approved courses for each regional concentration can be found below.
The available concentrations are
Latin American Studies
Middle Eastern Studies
Southeastern European 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. 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.
Application Requirements
Please consult the .
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 . 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.
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. A minimum grade of B+ is required for IS 880 for degree completion.
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: 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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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 literature and 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.
** Those pursuing the optional regional concentration complete a minimum of 34 units, including at least 24 units of coursework, the thesis prospectus course (2 units) and the thesis course (8 units).
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: 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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
and one elective course subject to approval of the graduate chair or director.
Concentrations
Latin American Studies (LAS)
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. Students who have taken LAS 815 or SA 815 for credit may not take this course for further credit.
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. Students who have taken LAS 835 or SA 835 for credit may not take this course for further credit.
or an elective course with significant LAS content subject to the approval of the graduate chair or director.
Middle Eastern Studies (MES)
or an elective course with significant MES content subject to the approval of the graduate chair or director.
Southeastern European Studies (SEES)
Examines state formation in the Balkans in the 19th century, the failures of the 20th century (dictatorships, coups, revolutions, civil wars etc.), the new efforts of state formation in the 20th century and the new failures.
Examines and analyzes how war has impacted the evolution or contemporary society in Europe, North American and the Middle East. Topics include: industrialization of society for war; intelligence and code breaking; "black Ops"; breakdown of "rules of War" and transition to total war as experienced from 1939-1945; and terrorism.
or an elective course with significant SEES content subject to the 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.