Master of Science in International Relations
World politics has undergone a profound alteration over the past two decades. The collapse of the former Soviet Union, the evolution of the European Union, recent events in the Middle East and Central Asia, as well as the rise of non-state power centers such as al-Qa’ida, clearly demonstrate a significant paradigm shift in international affairs. The Cold War, which dominated global events for nearly five decades, is over. Yet, what replaces the institutions of that era is not altogether clear. What is clear is that the world community is increasingly interdependent, traditional identities and cultural norms are challenged, and new conflicts emerge.
The Master of Science in International Relations (MSIR) degree program is a 12-course, 36-credit-hour curriculum of study designed to provide students the foundation and knowledge needed for understanding the conduct of international relations. Students are encouraged to gain a wide-ranging appreciation for the political, historical, cultural, economic, and geographical factors that affect international relations. This appreciation is accomplished through an interdisciplinary course of instruction that draws upon a variety of resources. In addition, students develop methodological, analytical, and theoretical skills necessary for understanding and evaluating the impact of global and national issues on world events.
The program offers courses covering an array of topical areas such as history, regional studies, comparative government, foreign policy studies, political economy, geography, conflict management, national security, international organization and law, intercultural relations, and developing states.
Core Required Courses
All MSIR students must take these four courses:
| IR 5551 | 3 | Survey of International Relations |
| IR 6601 | 3 | Research Methods in International Relations |
| IR 6620 | 3 | International Political Economy |
| IR 6652 | 3 | Theory and Ideology of International Relations |
Concentration
Students must choose ONE of the following concentrations:
••• Global Studies
••• National Security Affairs
••• Regional Affairs
Global Studies Concentration
Students may choose any eight of the following courses:
| GEO 5506 | 3 | Urbanism |
| GEO 5511 | 3 | Demography |
| GEO 5526 | 3 | Geography of the Russian Realm |
| GEO 6624 | 3 | Geographic Characteristics of the Developing Realm |
| HIS 5503 | 3 | Contemporary Europe |
| HIS 5504 | 3 | Military History of the United States |
| HIS 5510 | 3 | England since 1688 |
| HIS 5515 | 3 | Contemporary America, 1945 to Present |
| HIS 5523 | 3 | U.S. Foreign Policy to 1920 |
| HIS 5532 | 3 | Russia to 1861 |
| HIS 5533 | 3 | Russia since 1861 |
| HIS 5545 | 3 | Modern Germany |
| HIS 5551 | 3 | The Far East |
| HIS 5583 | 3 | Latin American States |
| HIS 6614 | 3 | Contemporary Japan |
| HIS 6615 | 3 | Seminar in Latin American History |
| IR 5502 | 3 | International Political Geography |
| IR 5524 | 3 | Contemporary American Foreign Policy |
| IR 5533 | 3 | Comparative Government |
| IR 5552 | 3 | International Law |
| IR 5570 | 3 | Politics of Southeast Asia |
| IR 6600 | 3 | Selected Topics in International Relations |
| IR 6602 | 3 | Geostrategic Studies |
| IR 6610 | 3 | International Organizations |
| IR 6612 | 3 | Comparative Public Policy |
| IR 6625, 6626, 6627 | 3 | Specialized Study in International Relations |
| IR 6629, 6630 | 3 | Seminar in International Relations |
| IR 6631 | 3 | Intercultural Relations |
| IR 6633 | 3 | Developed and Developing Nations |
| IR 6634 | 3 | Tradition, Revolution, and Change |
| IR 6635 | 3 | National Security Policy |
| IR 6640 | 3 | Government and Politics of Developing Nations |
| IR 6641 | 3 | Latin America in World Affairs |
| IR 6642 | 3 | Russia and Eastern Europe |
| IR 6644 | 3 | Middle East in World Affairs |
| IR 6645 | 3 | Asia in World Affairs |
| IR 6647 | 3 | Western Europe in World Affairs |
| IR 6648 | 3 | Sub-Saharan Africa in World Affairs |
| IR 6653 | 3 | Political Psychology |
| IR 6654 | 3 | Media, Technology, and International Politics |
| IR 6655 | 3 | International Conflict Management |
| IR 6656 | 3 | International Power and Influence |
| IR 6660 | 3 | Military Strategy and International Relations |
| IR 6665 | 3 | Readings in International Relations |
| IR 6668 | 3 | Thesis |
| IR 6669 | 3 | Thesis |
| IR 6670 | 3 | United Kingdom in World Affairs |
| IR 6672 | 3 | Germany in World Affairs |
| IR 6675 | 3 | Central America in World Affairs |
| IR 6676 | 3 | Japan in World Affairs |
| IR 6677 | 3 | China in World Affairs |
| IR 6681 | 3 | Tribalism and Colonialism in Africa |
| IR 6685 | 3 | Terrorism and Political Violence |
| IR 6686 | 3 | Drug Politics in the Americas |
| IR 6687 | 3 | Free Trade and Economic Integration in the Americas |
| IR 6688 | 3 | Islamic Fundamentalism |
| PA 6610 | 3 | Foundations of Public Administration |
| PA 6612 | 3 | Comparative Public Administration |
| National Security Affairs Concentration | ||
| Students must choose any four of the following courses: | ||
| HIS 5504 | 3 | Military History of the United States |
| IR 5524 | 3 | Contemporary American Foreign Policy |
| IR 5552 | 3 | International Law |
| IR 6602 | 3 | Geostrategic Studies |
| IR 6635 | 3 | National Security Policy |
| IR 6660 | 3 | Military Strategy and International Relations |
| IR 6685 | 3 | Terrorism and Political Violence |
| Free electives | ||
| Students must choose four courses from the remaining electives listed for the Global Studies Concentration. | ||
| Regional Affairs Concentration | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| Students must take each of the following courses: | ||
| IR 5533 | 3 | Comparative Government |
| IR 6610 | 3 | International Organizations |
| IR 6631 | 3 | Intercultural Relations |
| Concentration Relevant Electives | ||
| Students must choose three courses from one of the following regional groups: | ||
| Latin America | ||
| HIS 5583 | 3 | Latin American States |
| HIS 6615 | 3 | Seminar in Latin American History |
| IR 6640 | 3 | Government and Politics of Developing Nations |
| IR 6641 | 3 | Latin America in World Affairs |
| IR 6675 | 3 | Central America in World Affairs |
| IR 6686 | 3 | Drug Politics in the Americas |
| IR 6687 | 3 | Free Trade and Economic Integration in the Americas |
| Europe | ||
| GEO 5526 | 3 | Geography of the Russian Realm |
| HIS 5503 | 3 | Contemporary Europe |
| HIS 5510 | 3 | Modern England |
| HIS 5545 | 3 | Modern Germany |
| IR 6642 | 3 | Russia and Eastern Europe in World Affairs |
| IR 6647 | 3 | Western Europe in World Affairs |
| IR 6670 | 3 | United Kingdom in World Affairs |
| IR 6672 | 3 | Germany in World Affairs |
| Asia | ||
| GEO 5526 | 3 | Geography of the Russian Realm |
| HIS 5551 | 3 | The Far East |
| HIS 6614 | 3 | Contemporary Japan |
| IR 6640 | 3 | Government and Politics of Developing Nations |
| IR 6645 | 3 | Asia in World Affairs |
| IR 6676 | 3 | Japan in World Affairs |
| IR 6677 | 3 | China in World Affairs |
Free electives
Students must choose two courses from the remaining electives listed for the Global Studies Concentration.
The third component of the MSIR degree program is the successful completion of ONE of the following options:
- Comprehensive Examination – Students choosing this option must successfully complete a six-hour comprehensive examination, typically after all course work is completed or during the last term that they are registered for course work. Comprehensive examinations are given each term. Examination questions are developed by the MSIR faculty and approved by the Chair. Students must pass by successfully demonstrating the ability to integrate and synthesize information obtained from the course work. The comprehensive examination is graded by a minimum of two full-time and selected part-time faculty and submitted to the College of Arts and Sciences for review. Troy University faculty and staff administer comprehensive examinations.
- Thesis — Students choosing the thesis option must register for IR 6668 (3 credit hours) and IR 6669 (3 credit hours) as their last two courses in the program. They must then successfully research, write, and defend a thesis. This process involves directed research in selected areas of international relations, based on the student’s proposal, related to the student’s needs, with the advice and approval of a thesis adviser and a faculty reader, and culminating in a substantive research paper of appropriate depth and scholarship. Students will receive no letter grade for the two thesis courses, only a Pass or a Fail. Students completing this option are not required to take the Comprehensive Examination.
Note: Thesis option is not available to eCampus students.
Program changes from the Comprehensive Examination Option to the Thesis Option are not permitted after attempting the Comprehensive Examination.
