World politics has undergone a profound altercation over the past two decades. The collapse of the former Soviet Union, the evolution of the European Union, recent events in the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as the rise of non-state power centers such as al-Qa'ida, clearly demonstrate a significant paradigm shift in international affairs. The Cold War, which dominated global events for nearly five decades, is over. Yet, what replaces the institutions of that era is not altogether clear. What is clear is that the world community is increasingly interdependent, traditional identities and cultural norms are challenged, and new conflicts emerge.

The Master of Science in International Relations (MSIR) degree program is a 12-course, 36-credit-hour curriculum of study designed to provide students the foundation and knowledge needed for understanding the conflict international relations. Students are encouraged to gain wide-ranging appreciation for the political, historical, cultural, economics, and geographical factors that affect international relations. This appreciation is accomplished through an interdisciplinary course of instruction that draws upon a variety of resources. In additional, students develop methodological, analytical, and theoretical skills necessary for understanding and evaluating the impact of global and national issues on world events.

The program offers courses covering an array of topical areas such as history, regional studies, comparative government, foreign policy studies, political economy, geography, conflict management, national security, international organizations and law, intercultural relations, and developing states.

Prerequisite Requirements

Candidates for admission must have a baccalaureate degree in any subject area from a regionally accredited college or university. There are no prerequisite courses requirements.

Students with undergraduate degrees in areas not included in the curriculum are encouraged to inquire about the program. Graduates of Master of Science in International Relations program have included individuals with undergraduate degrees in the social science as well as areas as English, foreign languages, engineering, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, education, and business management.

Admission Requirements for the Master of Science in International Relations Degree

Unconditional Admission

Students may be admitted if they meet the following requirements:

1. Hold a master's or high degree from a regionally accredited university. No test score required. An official transcript showing completion of a master's or higher degree is required.

OR

2. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) or a 3.0 grade point average on the last 30 semester hours were reached will be used to calculate the grade point average. All transcripts from all colleges or universities are required.

AND

3. Have an acceptable score on the appropriate entrance exam (GRE 920-verbal plus quantitative, MAT 396, GMAT 490)

Conditional Admission

Conditional admission may be granted under certain circumstances to applicants who cannot satisfy all unconditional admission requirements to a graduate program. See conditional admissions requirements in the general regulations section of the graduate catalog.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of four courses (12 semester credit hours) taken at another regionally accredited institution, each with a "B" grade or better, can be applied toward the degree. These courses must be comparable in catalog description to Troy University courses in the MSIR program and must be approved by the Dean of Arts and Sciences or Chair of the Department of Political Science.

Requirements for Admission to Candidacy

1. To be admitted to candidacy, students must have a 3.0 GPA on all work attempted. If the student makes a "D" or "F" in a core course, the course must be retaken. If the student makes a "D" or "F" in an elective course, the course may be retaken or another elective taken in its place.

2. Unconditionally admitted graduate students may apply for admission to candidacy after completing six semester graduate hours and requirements as outlined for the specific degree program. A student will be admitted to candidacy the term following completion of 12 semester hours.

Degree Requirements

1. Unconditional admission

2. Overall 3.0 GPA

3. Completion of the curriculum listed below

4. Successful completion of comprehensive examinations or a thesis

5. Successful completion ("B" or better) of program research requirements - IR 6601

6. Admission to candidacy

Curriculum

All courses offer three semester hour credits

The MSIR curriculum of study consists of three integral components.

I. Four core required courses

II. The section and completion of program concentration.

III. The successful completion of the comprehensive examination OR the preparation and defense of a Master's Thesis.

Core Required Courses

ALL MSIR students must take these four courses:

IR 5551 Survey of International Relations

IR 6601 Research Methods in International Relations

IR 6620 International Political Economy

IR 6652 Theory and Ideology of International Relations

Concentrations

Students must choose ONE of the following concentrations:

• Global Studies
• National Security Affairs
• Regional Affairs

Global Studies Concentration

Students may choose any eight of the following courses:

GEO 5506 Urbanism

GEO 5511 Demography

GEO 5526 Geography of the Russian Realm

GEO 6624 Geography Characteristics of the Developing Realm

HIS 5503 Contemporary Europe

HIS 5504 Military History of the United States

HIS 5510 England since 1688

HIS 5515 Contemporary America, 1945 to Present

HIS 5523 U. S. Foreign Policy to 1920

HIS 5532 Russia to 1861

HIS 5533 Russia since 1861

HIS 5545 Modern Germany

HIS 5551 The Far East

HIS 5583 Latin American States

HIS 6614 Contemporary Japan

HIS 6615 Seminar in Latin American History

IR 5502 International Political Geography

IR 5524 Contemporary American Foreign Policy

IR 5533 Comparative Government

IR 5552 International Law

IR 5570 Politics of Southeast Asia

IR 6660 Selected Topics in International Relations

IR 6602 Geostrategic Studies

IR 6610 International Organizations

IR 6612 Comparative Public Policy

IR 6625 Specialized Study in International Relations

IR 6626 Specialized Study in International Relations

IR 6627 Specialized Study in International Relations

IR 6629 Seminar in International Relations

IR 6630 Seminar in International Relations

IR 6631 Intercultural Relations

IR 6633 Developed and Developing Nations

IR 6634 Traditional, Revolution, and Change

IR 6635 National Security Policy

IR 6640 Government and Politics of Developing Nations

IR 6641 Latin America in World Politics

IR 6642 Russia and Eastern Europe

IR 6644 Middle East in World Affairs

IR 6645 Asia in World Affairs

IR 6647 Western Europe in World Affairs

IR 6648 Sub-Saharan Africa in World Affairs

IR 6653 Political Psychology

IR 6654 Media, Technology, and International Politics

IR 6655 International Conflict Management

IR 6656 International Power and Influence

IR 6660 Military Strategy and International Relations

IR 6665 Readings in International Relations

IR 6668 Thesis

IR 6669 Thesis

IR 6670 United Kingdom in World Affairs

IR 6672 Germany in World Affairs

IR 6675 Central America in World Affairs

IR 6676 Japan in World Affairs

IR 6677 China in World Affairs

IR 6681 Tribalism and Colonialism in Africa

IR 6685 Terrorism and Political Violence

IR 6686 Drug Politics in the Americas

IR 6687 Free Trade and Economic Integration in the Americas

IR 6688 Islamic Fundamentalism

PA 6610 Foundations of Public Administration

PA 6612 Comparative Public Administration

National Security Affairs Concentration

Students must choose any four of the following courses:

HIS 5504 Military History of the United States

IR 5524 Contemporary American Foreign Policy

IR 5552 International Law

IR 6602 Geostategic Studies

IR 6635 National Security Policy

IR 6660 Military Strategy and International Relations

IR 6685 Terrorism and Political Violence

Free electives

Students must choose four courses from the remaining electives listed from the Global Studies Concentration.

Regional Affairs Concentration

Core Courses

Students must take each of the following courses:

IR 5533 Comparative Government

IR 6610 International Organizations

IR 6631 Intercultural Relations

Concentration Relevant Electives

Students must choose three courses from one of the following regional groups:

Latin America

HIS 5583 Latin American States

HIS 6615 Seminar in Latin American History

IR 6640 Government and Politics of Developing Nations

IR 6641 Latin America in World Affairs

IR 6675 Central America in World Affairs

IR 6686 Drug Politics in the Americas

IR 6687 Free Trade and Economic Integration in the Americas

Europe

GEO 5526 Geography of the Russian Realm

HIS 5503 Contemporary Europe

HIS 5510 Modern England

HIS 5545 Modern Germany

IR 6642 Russia and Eastern Europe in World Affairs

IR 6647 Western Europe in World Affairs

IR 6670 United Kingdom in World Affairs

IR 6672 Germany in World Affairs

Asia

GEO 5526 Geography of the Russian Realm

HIS 5551 The Far East

HIS 6614 Contemporary Japan

IR 6640 Government and Politics of Developing Nations

IR 6645 Asia in World Affairs

IR 6676 Japan in World Affairs

IR 6677 China in World Affairs

Free electives

Students must choose four courses from the remaining electives listed from the Global Studies Concentration.

The third component of the MSIR degree program is the successful completion of ONE of the following options:

1. Comprehensive Examination--Students choosing this option must successfully complete a six-hour comprehensive examination, typically after all course work is completed or during the last term that they are registered for course work. Comprehensive examination are given each term. Examination questions are developed by the MSIR faculty and approved by the Chair. Students must pass by successfully demonstrating the ability to integrate and synthesize information obtained from the course work. The comprehensive examination is graded by a minimum of two full-time and selected part-time faculty and submitted to the College of Arts and Sciences for review. Troy University faculty and staff administer comprehensive examinations.

2. Thesis-- Students choosing the thesis option must register for IR 6668 (3 credit hours) and IR 6669 (3 credit hours) as their last two courses in the program. They must then successfully research, write, and defend a thesis. This process 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 substantive substantive research paper of appropriate depth and scholarship. Students will receive no letter grade for the two thesis courses only a Pass or a Fail. Students completing this option are not required to take the Comprehensive Examination.

NOTE: Thesis option is not available to eCampus students.

Program changes from the Comprehensive Examination Option to the Thesis Option are not permitted after attempting the Comprehensive examination.

Troy University
Department of Political Science

331 McCall Hall (MSCX)
Troy, AL 36082
Phone: (334) 670-5926