Pursuing a Professional Degree  Program

Concurrently with

International  Studies

The general International Studies (IS) program was specifically designed as a concurrent program to complement a professional degree.  One component of the program therefore requires students to take three courses of relevance to both the International Studies program and the professional program which would serve to fulfill degree requirements for both. Concurrent degree programs have been formally established between the International Studies program and six professional programs: Public Affairs, Business Administration, Law, Forest Resources, Marine Affairs, and Public Health.

Completion of the International Studies program concurrently with a professional degree takes approximately one year longer than the estimated time to complete the professional degree. The following schedule illustrates how the IS program and a concurrent degree are typically completed. This pattern may vary depending on the professional degree program.

 1st year:

Required core for professional program.

 2nd year:

Three required core courses for IS.  Electives for either/both programs.

 3rd year +:

Two core courses for IS. Electives for either/both programs, any final papers and/or final exams required. 

Foreign language study, for those who have not met the IS requirement, usually begins after the first year. Any internships required by the professional schools generally are scheduled for the summer.

INTERNATIONAL  STUDIES

PROGRAM (MAIS)

Concurrent candidates must submit application materials to both the Jackson School and the professional school. (See application procedures for both.) IS evaluates applicants accepted by the professional school on academic and practical/professional performance, test scores, references, essay, and writing ability. Applicants denied by the professional school are automatically denied by IS.

Description

The IS program draws on both area studies and various disciplines in molding a new approach to the study of international affairs. This interdisciplinary study is intended to help students approach their profession with a better understanding of how to relate it to the increasingly interdependent world.

Requirements

Language:

 Proficiency equivalent to 2 years of college- level work in a modern foreign language
       (3 years for Chinese or Japanese).

Required Core:

● Origins of Global Systems

● Comparative Studies

● Globalization and Transnationalism

● Ethnicities and Nationalism

● International Studies Practicum (2 quarters)

● statistics course for the social sciences

● intermediate-level economics course

Electives:

Two fields of study: the Professional Field must be completed by courses relevant to both programs; the second field can be either a Regional Studies Field or a Special Topics Field.

Final Papers and Oral Exam:

Students present two research papers to a faculty examining committee.

*Formally approved concurrent professional degree programs:

Last Updated

12/13/2006