 |
 |
International Studies Master of Arts Program
School for International Studies | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
91ÅÝܽ Calendar 2011 Fall
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. Courses will be dependent upon which course stream a student is completing. These are
- stream A – international development
- stream B – complex emergencies
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 from a recognized university, normally in an arts or social sciences discipline. Those admitted with other credentials, or those with an arts degree who, in the judgement of the program director, 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 normally admitted to the fall term in September.
Application Requirements
The following application documentation is required.
- A 91ÅÝܽ graduate application form.
- Official transcripts from all institutions that the student attended, showing all grades. Transcripts must be mailed directly from the granting institution to the School for International Studies.
- Three official confidential letters of reference, mailed directly from referees, at least two of which must be from faculty members. This requirement may be waived for mid-career applicants with significant professional experience, in which case employment referees may be used. Please consult the school when using employment referees.
- A one page letter of intent that explains the reason for pursuing the master of international studies program, and the desired stream of study.
- Students whose first language is not English and whose undergraduate degrees are from institutions where English is not the language of instruction are required to submit English language test scores as follows: IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum score of 7 on the academic modules; or TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language internet based test) with an overall score of 88 or better with a minimum score of 20 in each of the four components (listening, speaking, writing, reading); or TOEFL PBT (Test of English as a Foreign language paper based test) with a minimum score of 570 including a minimum essay score of 5; or TOEFL CBT (Test of English as a Foreign language computer based test) with a minimum score of 230 including a minimum essay score of 5.
Program Requirements
Candidates complete a minimum of 30 units, including at least 24 units of course work and a project (six units).
Stream A International Development
Students who choose this stream complete all of
- IS 800-4 Problems in International Development Policy and Practice
- IS 801-4 Institutions, Policies and Development
- IS 802-4 Political Economy of Development
- IS 830-4 Analytic Approaches for International Studies
- IS 888-6 MA Project
and two elective courses subject to approval from the graduate chair or program director.
Stream B Complex Emergencies
Students who choose this stream complete all of
- IS 800-4 Problems in International Development Policy and Practice
- IS 806-4 State Failure and Reconstruction: Comparative Perspectives
- IS 807-4 Complex Emergencies and Humanitarian Intervention
- IS 830-4 Analytic Approaches for International Studies
- IS 888-6 MA Project
and two elective courses subject to approval from the graduate chair or program director.
Project
A major project is required for either stream, involving either two extended essays (each of not more than 8,000 words) based on core readings or, with the approval of the program director, a project.
It is expected that the project will have some international dimension and may take different forms (e.g. a CD with sound and video, or a web site). The student will also be expected to write a short text (15,000-20,000 words, or six or seven pages of normal type) explaining briefly the question or topic, and the methods that have been employed. If the project is the production of a text alone, a 12,000-15,000 word paper (40-50 pages of normal type) is required explaining the question or theme, its significance, and methodology.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations (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.