| Graduate Program Head | Scott Gartner |
|---|---|
| Program Code | INTAF |
| Campus(es) | University Park (M.I.A.) |
| Degrees Conferred | Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) Integrated B.A. in Asian Studies and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.A. in Chinese and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.A. in German and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.S. in German and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.A. in International Politics and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.A. in Japanese and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.A. in Political Science and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.A. in Russian and M.I.A. in International Affairs Integrated B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis and M.I.A. in International Affairs Joint J.D./M.I.A. with Penn State Law |
| The Graduate Faculty |
The School of International Affairs (SIA) is designed to prepare students for occupations involving public service, private enterprise, nonprofit organizations, and international organizations worldwide. The Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) degree program will provide students with a substantial knowledge base in international systems, institutions, issues and history and the advanced analytical tools and cross-cultural skills and competencies necessary for these occupations. Students will work closely with faculty to design a curriculum around their core course work, which incorporates a functional or regional theme and provides the opportunity to apply and enhance the core knowledge component with a thematically based set of graduate courses from across Penn State's existing graduate and professional curriculum.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
All applicants will submit GRE scores, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.
Applicants with a score of 19 or higher on the speaking section of the TOEFL Internet-based test will be considered for admission, though a score of 23 or higher is desirable.
Admissions will be based on a review of all submitted materials and spaces will be offered to the best qualified applicants, taking into account academic achievement, relevant work experience and other indices of aptitude for advanced study in international affairs.
Degree Requirements
Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.)
Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies.
The program requires six courses which are designed to establish a base of knowledge in key subject areas which reflect the basic mission of the SIA. These courses will form the core curriculum for the M.I.A. This core curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the ethical dimensions of international exchange, with skills essential to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis in cross-cultural contexts and with leadership training designed to understand and bridge the cultural differences. A minimum of 42 credits at the 400, 500 or 800 level will be required for completion of the program, at least 18 of which must be from courses at the 500 and 800 level. A minimum of 6 credits must be at the 500 level. Students are required to take 18 credits of core courses in: INTAF 506(3), INTAF 801(3), INTAF 802(3), INTAF 803(3), INTAF 804(3), and INTAF 890(3).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| INTAF 506 | International Economics: Principles, Policies, and Practices | 3 |
| INTAF 801 | Actors, Institutions, and Legal Frameworks in International Affairs | 3 |
| INTAF 802 | Foundations of Diplomacy and International Relations Theory | 3 |
| INTAF 803 | Multi-sector and Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| INTAF 804 | Global Cultures and Leadership | 3 |
| INTAF 890 | Colloquium | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Students will choose their remaining courses, with faculty guidance, from a substantial list of elective courses for a total of 21 credits. A list of approved elective courses is maintained by the graduate program office. The courses usually will be clustered around areas of concentration designated by the SIA faculty, but students also will be permitted to design an independent interdisciplinary curriculum with faculty approval. The areas of concentration, which will be pre-approved by the faculty, will take advantage of Penn State's rich graduate curriculum by aggregating in appropriate thematic clusters pre-existing and specially-created graduate-level classes. | 21 | |
| Culminating Experience | ||
| INTAF 594 | Research Topics (Master's Paper) | 3 |
| or INTAF 595 | Internship | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
In addition to the core curriculum and elective courses, degree candidates must complete either:
- a master's paper; or
- a supervised internship placement.
If the first option is chosen and the candidate opts to complete a paper, they must enroll in 3 credits of INTAF 594. The master's paper will involve integrating and showing mastery of the subject matter of the student's curricular emphasis, and may also involve original research. If the second option is chosen, the candidate will enroll in 3 credits of INTAF 595. The student will participate in a supervised internship placement of sufficient depth and professionalism that will allow the student to experience the integration of their curricular studies in an actual professional environment. A reflective paper will be submitted as a part of this credit requirement.
In order to graduate, students also will need to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Proficiency will be defined as follows:
- four semesters of a Penn State language sequence or its equivalent (15 credits with a quality grade of a C or better using a 4.0 scale);
- native acquisition, as shown by the candidate's personal history and approved by the SIA faculty; or
- performance on a proficiency evaluation sufficient to equal four semesters of language learning: for this purpose, either Penn State's proficiency certification process or another pre-approved proficiency assessment may be used.
Integrated Undergrad-Grad Programs
Integrated B.A. in Asian Studies and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.A. in Asian Studies / M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in this major to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
An increasingly globalized economy is likely to escalate the demand for graduate training in international affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply.
The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in Asian Studies or Asian languages and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations. The School of International Affairs (SIA) Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) represents a professional degree designed to prepare students to thrive in these increasingly global career paths.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.A./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the Asian Studies B.A. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of Asian Studies.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| ASIA 400 | International Culture in East Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 401 | Technology & Society in Modern Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 430 | Japan in the World | 3 |
| ASIA 463 | Government and Politics of China | 3 |
| ASIA 465 | 3 | |
| ASIA 469 | Government and Politics of South Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 475Y | The Making and Emergence of Modern India | 3 |
| ASIA 481 | Modern Japan Since 1800 | 3 |
| ASIA 486 | China in Revolution | 3 |
| ASIA 501 | Proseminar in Asian Studies I | 1-3 |
| ASIA 502 | Proseminar in Asian Studies II | 1-3 |
| ASIA 577 | Critical Perspectives on Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.A. in Chinese and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.A. in Chinese/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in this major to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
An increasingly globalized economy is likely to escalate the demand for graduate training in international affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply.
The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in Asian languages and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations. The School of International Affairs (SIA) Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) represents a professional degree designed to prepare students to thrive in these increasingly global career paths.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.A./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the Chinese B.A. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of Asian Studies.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies, Chinese, and Japanese are listed on the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| ASIA 400 | International Culture in East Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 401 | Technology & Society in Modern Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 430 | Japan in the World | 3 |
| ASIA 463 | Government and Politics of China | 3 |
| ASIA 465 | 3 | |
| ASIA 469 | Government and Politics of South Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 475Y | The Making and Emergence of Modern India | 3 |
| ASIA 481 | Modern Japan Since 1800 | 3 |
| ASIA 486 | China in Revolution | 3 |
| ASIA 501 | Proseminar in Asian Studies I | 1-3 |
| ASIA 502 | Proseminar in Asian Studies II | 1-3 |
| ASIA 577 | Critical Perspectives on Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.A. in German and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.A. in German/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in this major to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
An increasingly globalized economy is likely to escalate the demand for graduate training in international affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply. The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in German and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations. The School of International Affairs (SIA) Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) represents a professional degree designed to prepare students to thrive in these increasingly global career paths.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.A./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the German B.A. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in German are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| GER 408 | Advanced German Business Communications | 3 |
| GER 431 | History of German Literature and Culture I | 3 |
| GER 432 | History of German Literature and Culture II | 3 |
| GER 489 | Introduction to German Film History and Theory in Context | 3 |
| GER 494 | Research Project | 1-12 |
| GER 540 | Seminar in German Culture and Civilization | 3-12 |
| GER 581 | Topics in Literary Genres | 3-12 |
| GER 592 | Seminar in German Literature | 3 |
The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.S. in German and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.S. in German/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in this major to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
An increasingly globalized economy is likely to escalate the demand for graduate training in international affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply. The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in German and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations. The School of International Affairs (SIA) Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) represents a professional degree designed to prepare students to thrive in these increasingly global career paths.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.S./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the German B.S. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science in German are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| GER 408 | Advanced German Business Communications | 3 |
| GER 431 | History of German Literature and Culture I | 3 |
| GER 432 | History of German Literature and Culture II | 3 |
| GER 489 | Introduction to German Film History and Theory in Context | 3 |
| GER 494 | Research Project | 1-12 |
| GER 540 | Seminar in German Culture and Civilization | 3-12 |
| GER 581 | Topics in Literary Genres | 3-12 |
| GER 592 | Seminar in German Literature | 3 |
The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.A. in International Politics and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.A. in International Politics/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in International Politics to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
The demand for graduate training in international affairs will grow significantly in the near future along with the burgeoning requirements for international knowledge and professional experience in commerce, humanitarian service, and public affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply. The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in politics and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.A./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the International Politics B.A. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade-point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of the undergraduate program/department.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in International Politics are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 9 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. The following 9 credits may be double-counted toward the B.A. and the M.I.A.:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| PLSC 415 | International Organization: Political and Security Functions | 3 |
| PLSC 550 | Comparative Politics: Theory and Methodology | 3 |
| PLSC 554 | The Politics of Development | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.A. in Japanese and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.A. in Japanese/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in this major to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
An increasingly globalized economy is likely to escalate the demand for graduate training in international affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply.
The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in Asian languages and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations. The School of International Affairs (SIA) Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) represents a professional degree designed to prepare students to thrive in these increasingly global career paths.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.A./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the Asian Studies, Chinese, or Japanese B.A. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of Asian Studies.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Japanese are listed on the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed n the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| ASIA 400 | International Culture in East Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 401 | Technology & Society in Modern Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 430 | Japan in the World | 3 |
| ASIA 463 | Government and Politics of China | 3 |
| ASIA 465 | 3 | |
| ASIA 469 | Government and Politics of South Asia | 3 |
| ASIA 475Y | The Making and Emergence of Modern India | 3 |
| ASIA 481 | Modern Japan Since 1800 | 3 |
| ASIA 486 | China in Revolution | 3 |
| ASIA 501 | Proseminar in Asian Studies I | 1-3 |
| ASIA 502 | Proseminar in Asian Studies II | 1-3 |
| ASIA 577 | Critical Perspectives on Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.A. in Political Science and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.A. in Political Science/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in Political Science to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
An increasingly globalized economy is likely to escalate the demand for graduate training in international affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply. The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in politics and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are: federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations. The School of International Affairs (SIA) Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) represents a professional degree designed to prepare students to thrive in these increasingly global career paths.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.A./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the Political Science B.A. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade-point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of Political Science.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 9 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. The following 9 credits may be double-counted toward the B.A. and the M.I.A.:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| PLSC 415 | International Organization: Political and Security Functions | 3 |
| PLSC 550 | Comparative Politics: Theory and Methodology | 3 |
| PLSC 554 | The Politics of Development | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.A. in Russian and M.I.A. in International Affairs
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.A. in Russian/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in this major to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
An increasingly globalized economy is likely to escalate the demand for graduate training in international affairs. The career choices for graduates with this training will also expand sharply. The integrated degree program prepares students for a variety of careers requiring an interdisciplinary background in Russian and international affairs. Examples of types of entities hiring in these areas are federal, state, and local governments, international organizations, multinational corporations, international banking and financial institutions, media organizations and journalism, consulting firms, policy research centers, and development assistance programs and foundations. The School of International Affairs (SIA) Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.) represents a professional degree designed to prepare students to thrive in these increasingly global career paths.
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.
The number of openings in the integrated B.A./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the Russian B.A. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate course work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all course work completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser.
- Must provide written endorsement from the head of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Russian are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| RUS 400 | Senior Seminar in Russian Culture | 3 |
| RUS 405 | Seminar in Russian Literature | 3-6 |
| RUS 406 | Russian Film | 3 |
| RUS 412 | Russian Translation | 3 |
| RUS 494 | Research Project | 1-12 |
| RUS 501 | Readings in Russian Literature | 3-6 |
| RUS 525 | Pushkin | 3 |
Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. The graduate thesis or other graduate culminating/capstone experience (including any associated credits and/or deliverables) may not be double counted towards any other degree.
Integrated B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis and M.I.A. in International Affairs
The integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program (B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis/M.I.A. in International Affairs) provides an opportunity for strong students in these majors to complete a master’s degree with 5 total years of study.
Persistent advanced threats to cyber networks; transnational threats such as climate, migration, poverty, and energy sustainability; hybrid-war strategies; and non-state actors’ seeking to cause chaos by compromising cyber-space create an evolving international threat environment that challenges the balance between security and privacy and requires experience in intelligence analysis and knowledge of threats and vulnerabilities pertaining to cybersecurity. Identifying and mitigating the prevalent threats and vulnerabilities associated with the new age requires critical thinkers who are the product of interdisciplinary education. Collaboration between the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) and the School of International Affairs (SIA) positions Penn State to provide a program that prepares the next generation to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from the threats posed by this dynamic international environment.
Admission Requirements
The number of openings in the integrated B.S./M.I.A. program is limited. Admission will be selective based on specific criteria set by the School of International Affairs. Students shall be admitted to an IUG program no earlier than the beginning of the third semester of undergraduate study at Penn State (regardless of transfer or AP credits accumulated prior to enrollment) and no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree, as specified in the proposed IUG plan of study. Specific requirements:
- Must be enrolled in the Security and Risk Analysis B.S. program.
- Must apply to and be accepted into The Graduate School and the M.I.A. program in the School of International Affairs. Students must complete the Graduate School application. All applicants will submit one letter of recommendation and a personal statement addressing their reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs and discussing their plans and goals.
- Although the program has no fixed minimum grade point average, an applicant is generally expected to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate coursework and a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all coursework completed for the major.
- Must include a plan of study identifying undergraduate credits to be applied to the M.I.A. degree elective requirements. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser.
- Must provide written endorsement from the Associate Dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology.
Degree Requirements
Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the M.I.A. degree are listed on the Degree Requirements tab. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.I.A. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count towards the graduate degree.
Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees | ||
| SRA 421 | The Intelligence Environment | 3 |
| SRA 433 | Deception and Counterdeception | 3 |
| SRA 440W | Security and Risk Analysis Capstone Course | 3 |
| SRA 468 | Visual Analytics for Security Intelligence | 3 |
| INTAF 801 | Actors, Institutions, and Legal Frameworks in International Affairs | 3 |
| INTAF 802 | Foundations of Diplomacy and International Relations Theory | 3 |
| INTAF 804 | Global Cultures and Leadership | 3 |
Joint Degrees
Joint J.D./M.I.A. with Penn State Law
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-211 Joint Degree Programs.
Penn State Law and the School of International Affairs (SIA) offer a joint degree program that enables a student to complete in four academic years both a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) and a Master of International Affairs (M.I.A.). A J.D./M.I.A. graduate will have the education and skills background to practice law in the United States, to work in an international context, and to assume a leadership role in international affairs.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply to and meet the admission requirements of both the graduate program in which they intend to receive their graduate degree and the professional degree program. Upon the student's request and at the discretion of the program, LSAT scores may be accepted in place of GRE scores for joint degree admission purposes. Admissions requirements and applications for admission for Penn State Law are available at the J.D. Admissions section of the Penn State Law website.
Students applying to the joint degree program must be admitted separately into both Penn State Law and the School of International Affairs.
Residency
A typical J.D./M.I.A. joint degree student will be in residence at Penn State Law for six semesters and at SIA for two semesters.
Liaisons
The respective liaisons for Penn State Law and SIA shall be as follows: the department and faculty liaisons for Penn State Law shall be the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the student adviser will be the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or such other faculty member(s) as may be designated by the Dean. The liaison for SIA shall be the Director or such faculty member(s) as may be designated by the Director.
Double-Counting of Credits
Penn State Law
A maximum of twelve credits of M.I.A. course work may be double-counted for credit toward the J.D. degree at Penn State Law. Courses eligible for double-counting towards the J.D. and M.I.A. include the courses on the M.I.A. Electives list and any other courses taken as M.I.A. electives with the express written permission of the M.I.A. and J.D. advisers. Students must obtain a grade satisfactory to Penn State Law for the course work to be credited towards the J.D. degree.
SIA
A maximum of twelve credits of law school course work may be double-counted for credit toward the M.I.A. degree. Courses eligible for double-counting towards the J.D. and M.I.A. include the courses on the M.I.A. Electives list and any other courses taken as M.I.A. electives with the express written permission of the M.I.A. and J.D. advisers.
Sequence
Joint Degree students will complete their SIA core courses by the end of the second year of the joint degree program. The third and fourth year of the joint program will be in residence with Penn State Law and will include both required law classes and remaining electives to fulfill the M.I.A.
Recommended Program of Study and Advising
All students in the program will have two advisers, one from Penn State Law and one from SIA. Periodic interaction between the two advisers is encouraged. A program of study is developed for each student, taking into account the fact that some courses at both locations are offered on a rotating or intermittent basis. Many courses are offered every year but some are offered every two or three years. Advisers will have available a list of projected relevant courses or educational experiences in order to work with the student on an individualized program of study. The standard committee structure will apply to the SIA programs.
Tuition
Students will be charged the applicable Penn State Law tuition to cover the J.D. program and the applicable SIA tuition to cover the M.I.A. degree program. The Penn State Law tuition will be paid for the semesters that the student is in residence at Penn State Law, and the SIA tuition will be paid for the semesters that the student is in residence there. A student may take up to one course (3 credit hours) per semester in the school where the student is not in residence without any change in tuition, but must pay additional tuition to the non-residential program if he or she wishes to take additional course work in that program during that semester.
Financial Aid and Assistantships
Decisions on financial aid and assistantships are made by each school according to that school's procedures. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by The Graduate School.
Fulfillment of Degree Requirements and Graduation
A student in the program may complete the requirements for one of the degrees and be awarded that degree prior to completing all the requirements for the other degree; provided, however, that the student shall have successfully completed at least two semesters of work towards the other degree. All courses in one program that will count towards meeting the requirements of the other must be completed before the awarding of either degree. Students will be required to fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the inter-program transfer of credits. If students accepted into the joint degree program are unable to complete the J.D. degree, they are still eligible to receive the M.I.A. degree if all the M.I.A. degree requirements have been satisfied.
Important Note: If the joint degree student is using law (900-level) credits toward the graduate degree during their last semester of enrollment, they should be prepared to extend their graduate degree graduation to a subsequent semester (the following semester at a minimum). This is due to the graduate degree approval deadline falling before the law (900-level) course grading processes are complete.
Student Aid
Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the Tuition & Funding section of The Graduate School’s website. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by The Graduate School.
Courses
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.
Learning Outcomes
- KNOW: International Affairs students will demonstrate a basic cross-disciplinary knowledge of the components and dynamics of the international system, international economics, international actors and institutions, and processes of globalization.
- KNOW: International Affairs students will acquire concentrated knowledge in a specific area of focus that will enable them to respond creatively and effectively to local and global challenges.
- APPLY/CREATE: International Affairs students will develop techniques of research in International Affairs.
- COMMUNICATE: International Affairs will demonstrate competence in the techniques of scholarly writing in international affairs.
- COMMUNICATE: International Affairs will develop skills in oral and written communication to articulate ideas and arguments clearly and effectively.
- COMMUNICATE: International Affairs students will demonstrate competence at the ACTFL intermediate level or higher in the use of a modern foreign language.
- THINK: International Affairs students will be able to analyze an international problem or issue in a manner that demonstrates global or regional understanding and sensitivity to cultural difference.
- PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE/ETHICS: International Affairs students will develop the capacities for self-reflection, ethical reasoning and effective interaction with others so as to act responsibly and to promote justice and sustainability in professional and communal life.
Contact
| Campus | University Park |
|---|---|
| Graduate Program Head | Scott Sigmund Gartner |
| Program Contact | Christie Persio |
| Program Website | View |