Master of Arts International Studies (MA)

GPIS is an interdisciplinary unit, offering advanced research and graduate training in global problems and transnational issues. Fields of concentration include Comparative Cultural and Political Studies, Conflict and Cooperation, International Political Economy and Development, Modeling and Simulation, Strategic Leadership, and US Foreign Policy. 

Dr. Regina Karp
Graduate Program Director
7045 Batten Arts & Letters
757-683-5700

Graduate Program in International Studies

Admission Requirements

1. All candidates for admission into the MA must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores.
2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate or prior graduate course work submitted directly by all universities attended.
3. An essay of not more than 500 words describing interest in and capacity for advanced training in global/transnational issues.
4. One example of writing or research (a paper submitted to a seminar, a publication or report, or another comparable example).
5. Two letters of recommendation addressing the candidate's capacity to undertake graduate work on international global issues.

Any prior graduate course work taken at Old Dominion University (e.g., in nondegree status) or at another institution can be counted toward the MA degree only in accordance with the provisions governing transfer of credit and the director’s approval.

Admission Standards

1. All applicants to the MA program must hold a baccalaureate degree or equivalent.
2. Candidates for the MA must attain a 3.00 cumulative GPA in all undergraduate courses. A GRE score of 146 Quantitative, and 156 Verbal is normally expected. (1100 Old Score).
3. Individuals whose native language is not English must submit a score of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL (the equivalent of 570 in the older, paper-based score scale) or 80 on the TOEFL iBT.

Application Deadline, MA

GPIS admits students for fall and spring semesters. We prefer applications to reach us by February 15 and October 15. Applications outside these timelines will be considered on a case-by-case basis. With the permission of the GPIS Director, individuals who want to begin graduate work but do not intend to finish their degree with GPIS or individuals who want to join GPIS at a later date, may be considered for taking graduate courses on a non-degree basis. GPIS offers a number of doctoral and master’s graduate assistantships and awards them on the basis of availability and competitiveness. Applicants who want to be considered for a graduate assistantship are advised to submit their application by the above deadlines. 

Curriculum Requirements

Credits for the MA

The M.A. requires 33 credits, of which at least 27 must be at the 600 level or above. The required course work for all MA students includes IS 600 Research Methods in International Studies, but does not include any courses needed for demonstrating foreign language competency. MA candidates writing theses will incorporate into their 33-credit program six credits of directed research on the thesis. Students pursuing a non-thesis track will take a four and 1/2 hour comprehensive examination after the completion of their course work.

Curriculum

MA students will NOT be allowed to take more than nine credit hours per semester. Each required course must be completed with a grade of B (3.00) or above. MA students must fulfill the requirements of nine credit hours in one field of concentration.

*

If thesis option, 6 of these credits will be directed research.
Up to six credits of elective coursework may be taken at the 500 level.

Fields of Concentration

Select one of the following six fields of concentration: Comparative Cultural and Political Studies, Conflict and Cooperation, International Political Economy and Development, Modeling and Simulation, Strategic Leadership (through a contract with the U.S. Navy, GPIS offers this concentration to Navy officers at the MA level. However, the concentration is open to all admitted MA students) and U.S. Foreign Policy and International Relations. Students must choose courses from the below lists as specified. IS 795 Topics in International Studies and IS 796 Selected Topics in International Studies courses may be accepted with the approval of the program director in coordination with the concentration coordinators. Courses not on these lists may be accepted with the approval of the program director in coordination with the concentration coordinators.

Comparative Cultural and Political Studies Concentration

Students must take IS 716 Theories of Comparative Sociopolitical Studies and  IS 760 International Cultural Studies: History, Theory and Application and one other course from the following list. 

Conflict and Cooperation Concentration

Students must take IS 702 Approaches to Collective Security and two other courses from the following list. 

International Political Economy and Development Concentration

Students must take IS 724 International & Comparative Political Economy and IS 740 Political Economy of Development and one other course from the following list. 

Modeling and Simulation Concentration

Students must take MSIM 601 Introduction to Modeling and Simulation (or MSIM 602 Simulation Fundamentals) and IS 723 Advanced Statistical Techniques in International Studies as their required field courses and one other course from the following list. 

Strategic Leadership Concentration

Students choosing this concentration must take IS 721 New World Order: Chaos and Coherence as their required field course and two more courses from the list below.

US Foreign Policy Concentration

Students must take IS 734 U.S. Grand Strategy and two courses from the following list.

Additional Information

Methodology Requirements

The MA requires one methodology course (IS 600). MA students are encouraged to take further methods courses as electives.

Language Requirements

MA students must demonstrate reading competence in one foreign language other than English. International students who have English as a second language fulfill this requirement.

Foreign language competence can be demonstrated in one of two ways:

1. Students may complete a third year of language instruction at Old Dominion University (students may choose to enter the third year through a University placement test) or other institutions. A grade of B or above in both semesters of third-year instruction will demonstrate competency in that language.
2. Students may take a language test. Exams are administered (for a fee) by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. GPIS requirements concern reading comprehension competence. For more information about which skills will be tested and what standards of competency are required, contact GPIS. If a student wishes to demonstrate competency in an uncommonly taught language, GPIS will endeavor, so far as practicable, to arrange an examination by Old Dominion University faculty and/or consultants. For more information about this method for demonstrating language competency, contact GPIS.

Comprehensive Examinations

In consultation with their advisors, MA students will select either a thesis or non-thesis option. Students selecting the non-thesis track must pass a written comprehensive examination. Thesis students must pass an oral defense of their thesis.

The MA comprehensive examination may not be scheduled before students have completed all core and methodology requirements, nor may the MA comprehensive examination be scheduled prior to the last semester in which regular course work is taken. MA examinations are scheduled twice a year. If MA students fail the written comprehensive on the first attempt, they may retake the entire written comprehensive exam only once, no earlier than one semester later.

Theses

MA students choosing the thesis option will submit a thesis prospectus to the chair of their thesis committee for approval after the completion of 18 credits or at the beginning of the third semester in the program. The thesis should be submitted to the thesis committee for its approval at least two weeks before a defense is scheduled. The committee will schedule the student’s oral defense of the thesis when the thesis appears to meet GPIS standards for master’s theses. The oral defense will concern questions of substance and methodology.

Grade Requirements

All MA students will be graded on the traditional A, B, C, F scale (with pluses and minuses) in all courses. Pass/Fail evaluations will be utilized only in the case of registration for internships or for thesis or dissertation research, or when specifically approved by the director.

Graduate students for whom grade point averages fall below 3.00 (B) will be placed on a probationary status. After two consecutive semesters below this average or the accumulation of two grades of “C” or below, the director will take under consideration, in consultation with faculty, termination of the student’s program.

Time Limit and Residency Requirements

The master’s degree can be completed in four full-time semesters, although many MA candidates continue the degree over a longer period on a part-time basis. The MA must be completed within an eight-year period.

Please see the GPIS Handbook and website at http://www.odu.edu/gpis. For other issues concerning GPIS, please contact:

Graduate Program in International Studies (GPIS)
7045 Batten Arts and Letters Building
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529-0086, USA
Telephone: 757-683-5700
Fax: 757-683-4763
E-mail: isgpd@odu.edu