Master of Science in International Relations (MSIR)

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
  1. Unconditional Admission
  2. Overall 3.0 GPA
  3. Completion of curriculum listed below
  4. Successful completion of Comprehensive Examination* (10 course option);
    or a Thesis (12 course option) (Thesis Guidelines)
  5. Successful completion (“B’’ or better) of research requirement
  6. Admission to Candidacy

*The comprehensive examination consists of subjective essay questions related to the core and concentration areas of study. The Master of Science in International Relations (MSIR), for all but the Civil/Psychological Affairs concentration, consists of a 10 course option or a 12 course option. The difference between the 10 and 12 course options exists in that the 12 course option requires 2 additional courses and does not require the student to take a comprehensive examination. A student must choose an option and concentration upon entry into the program. Changing that choice entails written explanation to and approval by the Chair of the Department of Political Science and the student must file a new admission to candidacy form. The 12 course option requires the student to do a thesis (POL 6668/6669**). The 10 course program option requires the student to take and pass a comprehensive examination at the end of the degree program. There are 7 concentrations available from Troy State University.

**POL 6668 & POL 6669 are required courses for the 12-Course option only.

COURSE CONCENTRATIONS AND OPTIONS

Courses listed in bold, red print are those courses currently available online through Distance Learning. Courses listed in regular black text below are NOT available online through Distance Learning at this time.

International Affairs - 10 Course Option

Core - 3 Courses:
Relevant Electives (Select 7 Courses):
Notes:
  1. POL6625, 6626, 6627, 6665 and 6668-9 may be substituted as approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
  2. Comprehensive Exams will be given to students who select this degree program and concentration.

International Affairs - 12 Course Option

Core (3 Courses) - same as above for International Affairs 10 Course Option.

Relevant Electives - choose seven courses from the same list above for International Affairs 10 Course Option.

Notes:
  1. POL6625, 6626, 6627, and 6665 may be substituted as approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
  2. Comprehensive Exams will NOT be given to students who select this degree program and area of concentration.

National Security Affairs - 10 Course Option

Core - 3 Courses:
Concentration Requirements (Select 4 Courses):
Relevant Electives (Select 1 Course):
Free Electives:

Select 2 courses from the remaining Relevant Electives listed for the concentration in International Affairs.

Notes:
  1. POL6625, 6626, 6627, 6665 and 6668-9 may be substituted as approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
  2. Comprehensive Exams will be given to students who select this degree program and concentration.

National Security Affairs - 12 Course Option

Core (3 Courses) - same as above for National Security Affairs 10 Course Option.

Concentration Requirements - choose four courses from the same list above for National Security Affairs 10 Course Option.

Relevant Electives - choose three courses from the same list of relevant electives offered in the 10-course option of either the concentration of National Security Affairs or International Affairs. POL 6668 & POL 6669 Thesis required.

Free Electives - select two courses from the remaining Relevant Electives listed for the concentration in International Affairs.

Notes:
  1. POL6625, 6626, 6627, and 6665 may be substituted as approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
  2. Comprehensive Exams will NOT be given to students who select this degree program and area of concentration.

Regional Affairs - 10 Course Option

Core - 3 Courses:
Concentration Requirements - 2 Courses in A or B or C or D:
A. European Emphasis
B. Latin American Emphasis
C. Asian Emphasis
D. African Emphasis
Relevant Electives

Select 3 courses in A or B or C or D to match your choice from the above list.

A. European Emphasis
B. Latin American Emphasis
C. Asian Emphasis
D. African Emphasis
Free Electives - Select 2 Courses:
Notes:
  1. POL 6625, 6626, 6627, 6665, and 6668-9 may be substituted as approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
  2. Comprehensive Exams will be given to students who select this degree program and concentration.
  3. The POL 6601 research paper must support a chosen regional emphasis.
  4. Area emphasis Relevant Electives not initially chosen can be used to fill the Free Elective requirement.

Regional Affairs - 12 Course Option

Core (3 Courses) - same as above for Regional Affairs 10 Course Option.

Concentration Requirements - choose two courses from the same list above for Regional Affairs 10 Course Option.

Relevant Electives - choose three courses from the same list of Relevant Electives offered in the Regional Affairs 10-course option. POL 6668 & POL 6669 Thesis required.

Free Electives - select two courses from the same list of free electives offered in the Regional Affairs 10-course option.

Notes:
  1. POL 6625, 6626, 6627, and 6665 may be substituted as approved by the Dean of the College of Arts and Science.
  2. Comprehensive Exams will be given to students who select this degree program and concentration.
  3. The POL 6601 research paper must support a chosen regional emphasis.
  4. Area emphasis Relevant Electives not initially chosen can be used to fill the Free Elective requirement.

Civil Affairs/Psychological Operations - 12 Course Program

Note: There is NO 10-course option available for this concentration.

Core - 3 Courses:
Concentration Requirements - 7 Courses:
Relevant Electives - Select 2 Courses:
Note:
Thesis Information for All Programs with Thesis Option:

Students choosing the thesis option (POL 6668 and POL 6669) must successfully research, write, and defend a thesis. This involves directed research in selected areas of international relations, based on the student’s proposal, related to the student’s needs, with the advice and approval of a thesis adviser and a faculty reader, and culminating in a research paper of appropriate depth and scholarship. (Thesis Guidelines)

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