International Affairs (MA)
The growing interconnectedness of the world’s almost 200 countries, termed globalization, and the rising impact of foreign affairs on our daily lives increasingly require individuals with advanced knowledge of International Affairs. The Master of Arts in International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in International Affairs requires 30 credits hours. Four required core classes, including a capstone experience, and an additional six elective classes, with no more than three offered by a single department in Arts & Sciences or another school at Loyola.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 9 | |
Core International Affairs Courses | ||
| Comparative Political Systems | ||
| Theories of International Politics | ||
| Political Analysis I | ||
| Elective Courses (max three classes per department or another School) | 18 | |
Criminal Justice and Criminology Department | ||
| Research Methods and Program Evaluation | ||
| Applied Data Analysis and Interpretation | ||
| International Criminal Justice | ||
History Department | ||
| Women's & Gender History: Europe | ||
| Environmental History | ||
| Transnational Urban History | ||
| Oral History: Method and Practice | ||
Modern Languages and Literatures Department 1 | ||
| Critical Methods (pan-Hispanic world) | ||
| Hispanic Culture & Civilization (Latin American film, with a focus on human rights) | ||
Philosophy Department | ||
| Philosophy Research Tools | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Virtue Ethics (includes non-Western philosophy) | ||
| Social & Political Philosophy (focuses on global development on a regular basis) | ||
| Current Philosophical Issues (Critical Race Theory) | ||
Political Science Department | ||
| Intro to Research Design & Method | ||
| Democratic Political Systems | ||
| Authoritarian Political Systems | ||
| Formulation US Foreign Policy | ||
| Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis | ||
| International Organization | ||
| International Political Economics | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| Political Analysis II | ||
Psychology Department | ||
| Social Psychological Theory (Psychology Department) | ||
| Attitude and Attitude Change | ||
| Research in Group Dynamics | ||
| Prejudice and Intergroup Relations | ||
| Methods of Program Evaluation | ||
Sociology Department | ||
| Logic of Sociological Inquiry | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Social Research | ||
| Statistical Methods Analysis I | ||
| Statistical Methods of Analysis II | ||
| Demography | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Sociology of Religion | ||
| Sociology of Culture | ||
| Race & Ethnicity | ||
Theology Department | ||
| Contemporary Theology | ||
| Seminar in History of Theology | ||
| Religion & Politics in Christian History | ||
| Foundations Crititical Issues Theological Ethics | ||
| Seminar in Christian Ethics | ||
| School of Education (International Education) | ||
| Introduction to Educational Policy Analysis | ||
| International Higher Education | ||
| Comparative Education | ||
| Seminar in the History of Education | ||
| Seminar on Globalization and Education | ||
| Seminar Comparative Education | ||
| School of Communication | ||
| Foundations of Global Strategic Communication | ||
| Organizational Leadership and Change Management | ||
| Global and Multicultural Audiences and Stakeholders | ||
| School of Social Work | ||
| Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice | ||
| Global Social Work: Reflective Practice for Justice and Peace | ||
| Immigration Dynamics and U.S. Social Policy | ||
| Social Work Practice with Refugees and Immigrants | ||
| Migration, Social Justice, and Human Rights | ||
| North American Migration Dynamics, Challenges & Opportunity | ||
| School of Law 2 | ||
| International Trade Law | ||
| International Business Trans | ||
| International Law and Practice | ||
| Global Access to Medicine: A Patent Perspective | ||
| Intro to English Legal Profession | ||
| European Union Law | ||
| School of Law at John Felice Rome Center | ||
| Comparative and Ethical Lawyering for the Rule of Law | ||
| History, Theory and Practice of Rule of Law for Development | ||
| Theory and Practice of Assessments in Rule of Law Advising | ||
| International Development Architecture | ||
| Sustainable Development Through International Commerce and Investment | ||
| Design of Rule of Law Programs and Proposal Preparation | ||
| Rule of Law in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding | ||
| Legal Systems and Methods | ||
| Research and Writing on the Rule of Law | ||
| Rule of Law Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation | ||
| Parkinson School of Public Health | ||
| Determinants of Population Health | ||
| Introduction to Global Health | ||
| Global Maternal & Child Health | ||
| Population Health Planning & Management | ||
| Health Economics and Healthcare Financing | ||
| Health Impact Assessment | ||
| Quinlan School of Business | ||
| International Business Economics | ||
| International Financial Management | ||
| Global HR Management | ||
| Global Employment Relations | ||
| International Marketing | ||
| Comparative Consumer Behavior | ||
| International Business Ethics | ||
| Global Logistics | ||
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Fieldwork in PLSC-Internship | ||
| Directed Readings | ||
| Master's Study | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Students interested in honing their foreign language skills will have the option of taking a 300 or 400-level language course (i.e., a course beyond 101, 102, 103, and 104), and having that course count as one of the six elective courses. Current language possibilities offered at Loyola at the 300 level include Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Modern Languages and Literatures offers graduate-level courses in Spanish. The courses that follow are open only to interested students with advanced writing, speaking, and reading skills in Spanish.
- 2
MA in International Affairs students must take variable credit Law courses for 3 credit hours. The course cannot be taken for less than 3 credit hours.
Note on Elective Courses
Students will take six elective courses, with no more than three offered by a single department in the College of Arts and Sciences or another School at Loyola. The core International Affairs courses in Political Science do not count toward this three-course total, and thus a student may take three Political Science courses in addition to the three core (required) courses. The participating programs that will contribute classes include eight departments in Arts & Sciences (History Department, Philosophy Department, Political Science Department, Psychology Department, Sociology Department, Theology Department, Criminal Justice & Criminology Department, and Modern Languages and Literatures Department) and four additional Schools (School of Communication, School of Education [International Education], School of Social Work, and School of Law). Please note that the courses listed might not be offered every year and new courses may be added to this list. Students should talk with the Graduate Program Director if they want to take a course that is not on the list of elective courses below for approval.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
In order to provide optimal flexibility in the Master's program, there is no required course sequence. However, it is suggested that students first take the required courses (PLSC 420, PLSC 430, and PLSC 475) as soon as they are offered before taking elective courses.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Students will graduate from our program having achieved:
- A foundation for understanding and critiquing research related to International Affairs, including methods training that leverages both qualitative and quantitative data
- Knowledge of the principal theories of comparative politics and international relations, as well as the key areas of research in these two subfields
- An interdisciplinary understanding and appreciation of International Affairs through coursework available within eight different departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and four additional Schools at Loyola
- Enhanced writing and critical thinking skills and dispositions through class-based projects and a capstone experience
- Strengthened methods, research, or writing skills tailored to students interests with advanced methods courses, language training, or the writing of a master’s thesis