Master of Arts in International Studies

The Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) will provide you with the multidisciplinary education and practical experiences you need to understand and address complex global problems. We cover a wide range of perspectives in international studies, including critical and alternative perspectives. With leading scholars as your professors, and a range of research and work opportunities, this program will empower you to connect academic theory, deep regional expertise, and practical forms of engagement.
The MA in International Studies is a 12 months program completed over three semesters. The program typically consists of two terms (Fall and Spring) of full-time course work, and a third term in which students complete their final essays. Students also have the choice to use the third term (Summer) as a co-op term to gain paid work experience, or to conduct their own research toward a thesis, and thereby finish the program in a fourth term.

Students should consider the program a full-time commitment. Tuition and additional funding support are made available to ensure students do not try to combine their studies with other full-time work.
The MAIS program is designed to give every student a confident grounding in key knowledge and methodologies relevant to International Studies. To this end, MAIS students enjoy a set of core courses together as a learning cohort in small-size seminars. These are stimulating opportunities for students and professors to conduct in-depth examination of key issues, and to learn together through small group dialogue and participation.

Normally, to be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 from a recognized university, preferably in an arts or social sciences discipline. In addition, the School also requires a statement of research interest. Those admitted with other credentials or those with arts degrees who in the judgment of the graduate chair are without adequate foundation in the social sciences may be required to make up any deficiency without receiving graduate credit for those courses.

English Language Requirements:

Internet-based TOEFL: 93 with minimum of 20 in each category

Paper-based TOEFL: 580 and TWE 5

IELTS (academic): overall band score of 7.0 of the academic (NOT general) test with a minimum of 6.5 in each section

CAEL: overall 70; minimum 60 in each section

Pearson Academic (PTE): overall 65; minimum 60 in all of their sections

Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced - minimum score of 193; C2 Proficiency - minimum score of 200

Duolingo English Test (DET): Provisionally through the Fall 2026 admission cycle - Duolingo English Test (DET) 130 overall with a minimum of 120 in each section.