Master of Arts in International Relations

Course of Study:

Students are required to complete 40 points for the M.A. in International Relations.

Core Course Sequence (12 credits):

Students must take:

International Relations, INTRL-GA 1700
Global and International History, INTRL-GA 1600

They must also choose one of the following elective core courses:

Quantitative Analysis I, INTRL-GA 1120
Qualitative Analysis I, INTRL-GA 1220
Regional and Comparative Politics, INTRL-GA 1450
The World Economy, INTRL-GA 1900

Required Course Sequence (4 credits):

Students must also take:

Master’s Thesis Seminar INTRL-GA 4000
Writing for International Affairs, INTRL-GA 3992

IR Elective Courses (12 credits):

Of the remaining coursework, students must take a minimum of 12 points in International Relations electives defined as any course listed under International Relations course code, INTRL-GA. Students cannot double-count core or required courses as elective courses, but may take additional core courses to fulfill the elective course requirements.

General Elective Courses (12 credits):

The remaining points are general electives which can be a graduate level course from any NYU department or school, subject to approval from the student’s assigned International Relations’ academic advisor. 

Thesis:
Students will enroll in Master's Thesis Seminar, INTRL-GA 4000 during their last semester. The course is designed to provide structure and guidance to students writing a thesis.  The thesis will be an academic work of 11,000-13,000 words dealing with an important and timely topic in international relations.

Internship Requirement:

To further their professional development all MAIR students are required to complete an internship. The internship places students in a professional work environment in either the public or private sector. The internship must total at least 140 hours in no more than 14 weeks. 

Language Requirement:
Students must demonstrate proficiency in one language other than English.  Students demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by completing one of the following:

(1) Passing the GSAS foreign language proficiency examination;
(2) completing an intermediate-level foreign language course with a grade of B or better at NYU or another accredited institution (student must submit official transcript as proof of completion); or
(3) completing secondary education or undergraduate degree in an institution where language of instruction is not English.

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences as the standard M.A. program described above. In addition students must take 12 points in Asian Studies electives and 12 points in International Relation electives. The program will provide a listing of approved Asian Studies elective course offerings each term. Other NYU courses may be approved as electives with the permission of the program director. Courses taken outside the IR program may require permission of the instructor. Students must also attain the level of “advanced” in an Asian language (speaking, oral comprehension, reading, and writing), to be demonstrated by passing an examination; completing a third-year language course with a grade of B+ or higher; or completion of primary and/or secondary school with language of instruction in an Asian language. All other requirements are the same.

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences as the standard M.A. program described above. In addition students must take What is Europe?, EURO-GA 2301, as well as 8 points in European and Mediterranean Studies electives and 12 points in International Relations electives. Students must also attain the level of “advanced” in a contemporary European language (speaking, oral comprehension, reading, and writing), to be demonstrated by either passing an examination or completing a third-year language course with a grade of B+ or higher. All other requirements are the same.

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences as the standard M.A. program described above. In addition students must take 12 points in International Law electives and 12 points in International Relation electives. All other requirements are the same. The following existing international law courses will be accepted as the concentration’s international law electives.

European Union Law (LAW-LW.10851.001)
Chinese Attitudes Toward International Law Seminar (LAW-LW.10070.001)
Indigenous Peoples in International Law (LAW-LW.10902.001)
International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Scholarship Seminar (LAW-LW.10492.001)
International Human Rights (LAW-LW.11329.001)
International Humanitarian Law (LAW-LW.12259.001)
The United Nations and the Making of International Law Seminar (LAW-LW.10043.001)
War, Crime and Terror Seminar (LAW-LW.11756.001)
European Human Rights Law (LAW-LW.11601.001)
Foreign Relations Law of the United States Seminar (LAW-LW.10235.001)
History and Theory of International Law Seminar (LAW-LW.10997.001)
International Organizations (LAW-LW.10256.001)
Law and Development (Colloquium only; LAW-LW.10295.001)

Other NYU courses may be approved as electives with the permission of the program director.

Please note that MAIR/IPB students are subject to GSAS' add/drop deadline for courses. If courses are not dropped or added by the GSAS deadline, no refunds will be issued and a W will be issued for the course. No exceptions.

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences for the standard M.A. program described above.  In addition students must take 12 points from a designated group in other disciplines in the Leonard N. Stern School of Business and 12 points in International Relations electives. All other requirements are the same.

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences as the standard M.A. program described above. In addition students must take Introduction to Latin American and Caribbean Studies II, LATC-GA 2001, 8 points in Latin American and Caribbean Studies electives and 12 points in International Relation electives. The program will provide a listing of approved Latin American and Caribbean Studies elective course offerings each term. Other NYU courses may be approved as electives with the permission of the program director. Courses taken outside the IR program may require permission of the instructor. Students must also attain the level of “advanced” in a Latin American or Caribbean language (speaking, oral comprehension, reading, and writing), to be demonstrated by passing an examination; completing a third-year language course with a grade of B+ or higher; or completion of primary and/or secondary school with language of instruction in a relevant language. All other requirements are the same.

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences as the standard M.A. program described above. In addition students must take Middle East Politics, INTRL-GA 1756, as well as 8 points in Middle Eastern and Levantine Studies electives and 12 points in International Relations electives. The program will provide a listing of approved Middle East and Levantine Studies elective course offerings each term. Other NYU courses may be approved as electives with the permission of the program director. Courses taken outside the IR program may require permission of the instructor. Students must also attain the level of “advanced” in a language of North Africa or Middle East (Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Greek, Hebrew, and Armenian). Language skills (speaking, oral comprehension, reading, and writing) are demonstrated by passing an examination; completing a third-year language course with a grade of B+ or higher; or completion of primary and/or secondary school with language of instruction in a language of the Levant.All other requirements are the same.  

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences as the standard M.A. program described above. In addition students must take Graduate Proseminar, RUSSN-GA 2121, as well as 8 points in Russian and Slavic Studies electives and 12 points in International Relations electives. Students must also attain the level of “advanced” in all Russian language skills (speaking, oral comprehension, reading, and writing), to be demonstrated by either passing an examination or completing a third-year Russian language course (NYU’s RUSSN-UA 108 Advanced Russian II equivalent) with a grade of B+ or higher. All other requirements are the same.

Students must complete the same core and required course sequences as the standard M.A. program described above. In addition students must take US Foreign Policy, INTRL-GA 1748, The US in the World, INTRL-GA 1751 and 8 points of U.S. Foreign Policy electives, which will leave 8 points in International Relations electives. The student's thesis must deal with a policy issue relevant to U.S. foreign policy. All other requirements are the same.