Master of Science in International Affairs

The Master of Science in International Affairs degree program is a program that is adaptable to the interests and needs of a student who intends to enter a professional career requiring advanced training in international affairs or intends to continue studying at the doctoral level. The program emphasizes both traditional theoretical knowledge of international relations and strategic planning and analysis. The program includes core courses in the following:

  1. International relations theory and strategy
  2. Comparative politics
  3. International political economy
  4. International security
  5. Empirical research methods
  6. Modeling, forecasting, and decision making

Students also have the opportunity to design the program to meet their individual interests through elective offerings in the School and interdisciplinary work in the Schools of Economics and Public Policy; and the Colleges of Computing, Engineering, Management, and others. Overseas programs and internships are encouraged and facilitated by the School.

In addition to 36 semester hours of coursework, students must demonstrate foreign language familiarity and economics and computer literacy. These abilities are essential tools for professional or scholarly work in international affairs. Students must satisfy these requirements before graduating from the program, either through previous undergraduate work or during the Master’s program.

Foreign language familiarity is defined as a minimum of one year of college-level work in a single language. This requirement can be fulfilled while in residence or can be demonstrated through an examination taken in the School of Modern Languages.

Economics literacy is satisfied by successful completion of a course or courses in microeconomic and macroeconomic principles and a course in international economics undertaken while at Georgia Tech, or by successful completion of equivalent courses at another institution, either during undergraduate work or while in the Master’s program.

Computer literacy is satisfied by either:

  1. Successfully completing (B or higher) at least one semester of classes with content including at least one of the following:
    1. programming computers;
    2. database design and operation;
    3. development and operation;
    4. data analysis (if part of statistics courses, at least two quarters or two semesters);
    5. simulation model design and use;
    6. development and use of geographic information or cartography systems; or
    7. operation of large computer systems/ computer networks.
  2. Having held a job for at least six months in which a significant component of the work entailed one of the activities listed above.

The School's master's degree requirements supplement the Institute's master's degree requirements listed in the General Catalog. Students must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.0 to graduate, and no course below grade C will count toward graduation. For more information about the MS IA program, visit www.inta.gatech.edu/academic-programs/graduate/.