United States Foreign Policy and National Security, International Affairs (MA)

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The US Foreign Policy and National Security program presents a rigorous course of study that provides students with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in government, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, or academia. The program combines core competencies in foreign policy with programmatic flexibility, including student-selected concentrations.

Course Requirements (39-42 credit hours)

Core (18-21 credit hours)

Required (6-9 credit hours)

ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory (3)
Students with a strong background in economics may have this course requirement waived without substitution with permission of advisor.
SIS-682 Foreign Policy: Institutions and Processes (3)
SIS-689 Foreign Policy: Theories of Decision Making (3)

3 credit hours from the following:

SIS-616 International Economics (3)
Approved course in economic policy (3)

3 credit hours from the following:

HIST-661 U.S. Foreign Relations since 1918 (3)
SIS-653 Topics in U.S. Foreign Policy (3) : Continuity and Change in U.S. Foreign Policy
Approved course in diplomatic history (3)

6 credit hours from the following:

SIS-653 Topics in U.S. Foreign Policy (3) : Issues in Intelligence
or
SIS-681 Intelligence and Foreign Policy (3)
SIS-653 Topics in U.S. Foreign Policy
(3) :
U.S. National Security Strategy

President, Congress, and Foreign Policy

Diplomatic Practice

Politics of National Security Budgeting

Major Powers and Critical Issues

Defense Politics
SIS-688 Domestic Sources of United States Foreign Policy (3)
Approved course on US foreign policy toward a region
Other courses approved by program director

Social Science Research Methodology (6 credit hours)

SIS-600 Statistics, Research Design, and Research Methods for International Affairs (3)
or
SIS-619 Special Studies in International Politics (3) : Advanced Statistics, Research Design, and Research Methods for International Affairs
3 credit hours in methodology or professional skills coursework appropriate to the student’s research and career interests

Concentration (9 credit hours)

9 credit hours of approved coursework constituting an academically-sound functional area (e.g., diplomacy, energy/environment, national security, etc.) or regional field of study

Capstone Experience (3 credit hours)

Note: The thesis or substantial research paper must clearly relate to the field of US foreign policy.

SIS-797 Master’s Thesis Supervision (1-6) (may include 3 elective credit hours)
or
Substantial research paper or practicum requirement

Elective (3 credit hours)

3 credit hours selected from skills workshops, internship for credit, master’s thesis requirement, or other elective courses