Master of Arts (M.A.) Major in International Studies (Non-thesis Option)
Program Overview
The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree with a major in International Studies is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for work and leadership in an interdependent world. Through training in area studies, technology information training, oral and written communication skills, and business acumen, the program aims to develop leaders for business, government, military, education, non-profit organizations, and international institutions that are collectively facing an increasingly interdependent world where cultural diversity is a reality and the need to appreciate and value such heterogeneity is a prerequisite to global peace and prosperity.
Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program
The Coverdell Fellowship Program for returned Peace Corps volunteers is currently available for returned volunteers pursuing the master's degree in International Studies at the Center for International Studies.
Financial Assistance
A limited number of fellowships and scholarships are available to qualified graduate students. Departmental fellowships and scholarships are listed on the Center for International Studies website: http://www.txstate.edu/internationalstudies. The Graduate College can provide further information about scholarships.
Application Requirements
The items listed below are required for admission consideration for applicable semesters of entry during the current academic year. Submission instructions, additional details, and changes to admission requirements for semesters other than the current academic year can be found on The Graduate College's website. International students should review the International Admission Documents page for additional requirements.
- completed online application
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
or
- $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
- baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university
- official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted
- minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)*
- proficiency in the speaking, reading, and oral comprehension of a modern language other than English as demonstrated by the following:
-
- grade of B or better in modern language course work beyond the second year that was taken within the last three years at an accredited college, university, or language institute
- examination for proficiency levels in reading, speaking, and listening that would place the student beyond the second year of language courses*
- recent foreign living experience of at least six continuous months in a single non-English-speaking culture outside the U.S.
- GRE not required*
- resume/CV
- statement of purpose (2–5 pages) describing the following:
- the reasons for considering the international studies program
- how it fits into a process of professional development
- what the student hopes to accomplish by enrolling in the program
- three letters of recommendation from professors
Coverdell Applicants Requirements
- completed online application
- baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university
- official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted
- minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)*
- background course work: a passing grade in at least 6 hours in introductory (principles of) microeconomics and macroeconomics courses (can be taken prior to the start of the program or concurrently with first year courses) at a regionally accredited college of university
- proficiency in the speaking, reading, and oral comprehension of a modern language other than English as demonstrated by the following:
- grade of B or better in modern language course work beyond the second year that was taken within the last three years at an accredited college, university, or language institute
- examination of proficiency levels in reading, speaking, and listening that would place the student beyond the second year of language courses*
- recent foreign living experience of at least 6 continuous months in a single non-English-speaking culture outside the U.S.
- GRE not required*
- official Peace Corps description of service (application fees will be waived upon receipt)
- resume/CV listing Peace Corps Service
- statement of purpose (2–5 pages) describing the following:
- the reasons for considering the international studies program
- how it fits into a process of professional development
- what the student hopes to accomplish by enrolling in the program
- Peace Corps service
- two letters of recommendation from professors
TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS Scores
Non-native English speakers who do not qualify for an English proficiency waiver:
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
*Additional Information
GPA and GRE Requirement
If the last-60-hours GPA falls between 2.8–2.99, the student may submit the following:
- official GRE (general test only) scores with competitive scores
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement
If the last language course was taken more than three years before the date of admission, and there has been no significant involvement in the language in the interim, the student may be asked to take a refresher course(s) in the language.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree with a major in International Studies requires 36 semester credit hours, including an internship.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Choose 3 hours global history from the following: | 3 | |
| Early Modern Spain | ||
| Western European History Since 1815 | ||
| Women's Rights in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Women and Empire | ||
| Eighteenth Century England | ||
| The Age of the Stuarts | ||
| European Imperialism | ||
| European Sexualities | ||
| European Fascisms and Historical Memory | ||
| The Age of the Tudors | ||
| Society and Culture in Brazil | ||
| Race, Class, and Nation in Modern Latin America | ||
| Slavery and Emancipation in the Americas | ||
| Writing the History of Latin America: The Colonial Era | ||
| Modern Latin American Revolutions | ||
| History of Mexico to 1848 | ||
| Revolutionary Mexico | ||
| Mexico Since the Revolution | ||
| Twentieth-Century Russia | ||
| East European History | ||
| Caribbean Transnationalism and Diplomacy | ||
| Immigration and US History | ||
| History of Mexican American Music in the Southwest | ||
| Military History | ||
| Chinese Communism | ||
| China and the Modern World | ||
| Topics in the History of the Modern Middle East | ||
| Interpretations of World History | ||
| Mahatma Gandhi in World History | ||
| European Colonialism | ||
| Global Cold War | ||
| Choose 9 hours of global politics from the following: | 9 | |
| Studies in Ancient and Medieval Political Thought | ||
| Social Contract Theory | ||
| Contemporary Perspectives in Modern Liberalism | ||
| The Crisis of Liberalism and The Future of Democracy | ||
| Theological Perspectives in Modern Democracy | ||
| The Problem of Power and the Crisis of Modernity | ||
| Nuclear Weapons in International Politics | ||
| Party Systems in Latin America | ||
| Problems in Political Science: International Humanitarian Affairs | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics of European and Developing Countries | ||
| Authoritarian Regimes | ||
| Problems in American Foreign Relations | ||
| The British Political Order Since 1900 | ||
| Russian Politics and Josef Stalin | ||
| Comparative Democratization | ||
| Economic Development in Developing Nations | ||
| Government and Politics of African States | ||
| Problems of Democracy in Latin America | ||
| Party Systems in Latin America | ||
| Seminar in International Relations Theory | ||
| Problems in International Organizations | ||
| Problems in International Law | ||
| Problems in International Political Economy | ||
| International Conflict and Security | ||
| Directed Reading and Research | ||
| Internship | 3 | |
| International Studies Internship | ||
| Prescribed Electives | ||
| Choose 21 hours from the following: | 21 | |
| Advanced Principles of Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology and Art | ||
| Latin American Cultures | ||
| Rise of Civilization | ||
| Peoples and Cultures of Africa | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| Archaeology of Mexico | ||
| The Incas | ||
| Gender and Sexuality in Cross Cultural Perspective | ||
| Andean Civilizations | ||
| Cultural Heritage Management | ||
| The Politics of Language | ||
| Multicultural Teaching and Learning | ||
| Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language | ||
| Intelligence Gathering and Operational Issues As Applied to Terrorism and Counterterrorism Operation | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Seminar in Human Communication Theory | ||
| Diversity Studies: Theories & Issues | ||
| Global Issues in Diversity | ||
| International Economics | ||
| Emerging Market Economies | ||
| Foundations in Technical Communication | ||
| Studies in Principles of Technical Communication 1 | ||
| Specializations in Technical Communication 1 | ||
| Studies in Rhetorical Theory 1 | ||
| Environmental Studies | ||
| Geographic Analysis of Global Issues | ||
| Environment Problems of the U.S.-Mexico Border | ||
| Seminar in Nature and Heritage Tourism | ||
| Population Geography | ||
| Independent Study 1 | ||
| Early Modern Spain | ||
| Western European History Since 1815 | ||
| Women's Rights in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Women and Empire | ||
| Eighteenth Century England | ||
| The Age of the Stuarts | ||
| European Imperialism | ||
| European Sexualities | ||
| European Fascisms and Historical Memory | ||
| The Age of the Tudors | ||
| Society and Culture in Brazil | ||
| Race, Class, and Nation in Modern Latin America | ||
| Slavery and Emancipation in the Americas | ||
| Writing the History of Latin America: The Colonial Era | ||
| Modern Latin American Revolutions | ||
| History of Mexico to 1848 | ||
| Revolutionary Mexico | ||
| Mexico Since the Revolution | ||
| Twentieth-Century Russia | ||
| East European History | ||
| Caribbean Transnationalism and Diplomacy | ||
| Immigration and US History | ||
| History of Mexican American Music in the Southwest | ||
| Military History | ||
| Chinese Communism | ||
| China and the Modern World | ||
| Topics in the History of the Modern Middle East | ||
| Problems in Historical Research 1 | ||
| Interpretations of World History | ||
| Mahatma Gandhi in World History | ||
| European Colonialism | ||
| Global Cold War | ||
| International Studies Internship | ||
| Problems in International Studies Research | ||
| General Research Methods | ||
| Mass Media and Society | ||
| Research Methods in Mass Communication | ||
| Theories of Mass Communication | ||
| Refugees, Nonprofit Organizations and Strategic Communication | ||
| Global Media Issues | ||
| Latinos and Media | ||
| Global Media in the Connected World | ||
| Seminar in Management | ||
| Marketing Research Methods | ||
| International Marketing | ||
| History of Music in Latin America | ||
| Applied Philosophy | ||
| Professional Ethics | ||
| Food Ethics | ||
| Themes in Africana Philosophy | ||
| Comparative Public Administration | ||
| Studies in Ancient and Medieval Political Thought | ||
| Social Contract Theory | ||
| Contemporary Perspectives in Modern Liberalism | ||
| The Crisis of Liberalism and The Future of Democracy | ||
| Theological Perspectives in Modern Democracy | ||
| Nuclear Weapons in International Politics | ||
| Party Systems in Latin America | ||
| Problems in Political Science: International Humanitarian Affairs | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics of European and Developing Countries | ||
| Authoritarian Regimes | ||
| Problems in American Foreign Relations | ||
| The British Political Order Since 1900 | ||
| Russian Politics and Josef Stalin | ||
| Comparative Democratization | ||
| Economic Development in Developing Nations | ||
| Government and Politics of African States | ||
| Problems of Democracy in Latin America | ||
| Party Systems in Latin America | ||
| Seminar in International Relations Theory | ||
| Problems in International Organizations | ||
| Problems in International Law | ||
| Problems in International Political Economy | ||
| International Conflict and Security | ||
| Directed Reading and Research | ||
| Philosophical Issues in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | ||
| Seminar in Demography | ||
| Seminar in Sustainable Cities | ||
| Seminar in Sociology of Racial and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Directed Study 1 | ||
| Seminar in Food and Society | ||
| Seminar in Globalization and Development | ||
| Global Insecurity | ||
| International Social Work | ||
| Product Design and Development | ||
| Problems in Technology 1 | ||
| Readings in Technology 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Classes must have global/international emphasis
Comprehensive Examination Requirement
Students are required to take a written comprehensive exam in their last semester of the program. Students must pass the comprehensive exam during the last semester in at most two attempts. If the student fails to pass the comprehensive exam in two attempts during the final semester, the student will retake the comprehensive exam during the next regular semester.
An oral exam is part of the comprehensive examination requirement. Students are required to take the exam in their last semester and must pass in at most two attempts. If the student fails to pass the oral exam in two attempts during the final semester, the student will retake the oral exam during the next regular semester.
Students who do not successfully complete the requirements for the degree within the timelines specified will be dismissed from the program.
Master's level courses in International Studies: IS
Courses Offered
International Studies (IS)
IS 5387. International Studies Internship.
A work/research experience in a government agency or company related to the students’ career interests. The internship will consist of a minimum of 150 hours in the workplace and will require a research paper. This course may be repeated once for additional internship credit. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.
3 Credit Hours. 0 Lecture Contact Hours. 1 Lab Contact Hour.Course Attribute(s): Exclude from 3-peat Processing
Grade Mode: Credit/No Credit
IS 5390. Problems in International Studies Research.
The instructor and student create an in-depth research project on a topic of interest to both participants.
3 Credit Hours. 3 Lecture Contact Hours. 0 Lab Contact Hours.Course Attribute(s): Exclude from 3-peat Processing
Grade Mode: Standard Letter
IS 5398. General Research Methods.
The principal purpose of the General Research Methods seminar is to prepare students to successfully produce research papers and/or theses. Students in this course will produce a research paper using primary and secondary source materials.
3 Credit Hours. 3 Lecture Contact Hours. 0 Lab Contact Hours.Grade Mode: Standard Letter
