Hone critical perspectives on international political issues

Earn your master’s in International Studies and develop a complex, informal perspective on global inequality. This academically rigorous program, grounded in critical theory, focuses on themes of power and global systems. We’re dedicated to building a community of scholars and researchers who demonstrate a commitment to questioning power and politics in a way that bridges theory and practice.

Courses are offered on weekday evenings at the Lincoln Park Campus. The program can be completed in two years.?
 

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Globally focused within the heart of Chicago

Study in Chicago, an international city with a strong foundation of NGOs and government entities. Connect with international and local NGOs like Amnesty International, Refugee One and Heartland Alliance, or with think tanks and diplomatic agencies like the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the U.S. State Department and Chicago’s consular offices.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, official transcripts, essay questions, writing sample, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose and résumé or curriculum vitae.

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Required Courses

You’ll take two foundation courses, four core courses, three electives and three research courses, and complete a final capstone project or thesis.

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93%

of College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Learn from faculty with interdisciplinary specializations

You’ll learn from faculty like Associate Professor Shiera Malik, who teaches and writes on themes of coloniality, politics and theory. Her research is guided by an interest in the intersection of politics of knowledge and lived experience. She is also an accomplished author in international political theory, feminism and African anti-colonial thought.

“After graduating I joined the State Department, and I’ve really learned to appreciate the critical analysis and professional writing skills I developed at DePaul. My time in the International Studies Department was invaluable in preparing me for a career in development and diplomacy. The program’s focus on theory also helped me build the necessary academic foundation required to effectively engage with complex policy issues, such as climate change and sustainable development policy. I’m grateful to the program for fostering a terrific cohort, as my relationships with faculty and other students have grown into a terrific professional network that I carry with me to this day.”

Andrew (MA ’12)

Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia 

Career Options

With a master’s in International Studies you’ll graduate equipped with the writing, research and critical-thinking skills necessary to succeed in a wide range of careers. Hone your writing skills with our full-time faculty, work toward a PhD or seek a career in nonprofits, international organizations and a range of diplomatic entities.

Scholarships & Aid

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

Admission Requirements

?????The MA in International Studies is an academically demanding two-year program.  The master’s program only admits in the Fall so students can begin their sequence of classes as a cohort.  There are no Winter or Spring admissions, and all of our graduate classes are offered in the evening.

This graduate program is committed to building a community of scholars and researchers who have demonstrated a commitment to engaging questions of power and inequality at an international level.   

Minimum Requirements for Acceptance into the MA Program

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate institution
• GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Grade of B or better on an advanced  modern language course (other than English) beyond the standard two-year college language learning sequence, or the equivalent score on a language placement exam


 

Application Materials

A complete application for the International Studies master’s program includes the following:

1.___  Application Form : Online at go.depaul.edu/apply

2.___  Application Fee of $40 US Dollars: Submitted online with application     

3.___ An official transcript: Acquired from each institution you have attended, showing successful completion of a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).  Unofficial transcripts can be submitted for initial review.  

4.___ Two letters of recommendation: At least one of the two letters must be written by a professor with whom you have worked, preferably in a class related to international studies. Both recommenders should address your:

• writing abilities,
• analytical skills,
• motivation and readiness for graduate study,
• ability to do independent work, and
• ability to see a project through to completion.

5.___ Statement of Purpose: 3-5 pages, double spaced that describes the following:  how this program will further your academic and professional goals, DePaul faculty you would like to work with, your primary research interests, and a possible research topic or project you would like to pursue. Your proposed topic or project of interest and any associated research interests should be explained in as much detail as possible. Our selection committee takes the statement of purpose seriously and will look for evidence that you are prepared for an academically rigorous program.

6.___ Writing Sample: Submit an analytical paper of 5-8 pages. Papers should demonstrate your writing and critical thinking abilities, ideally in a subject area related to international studies.??

International Applicants

??International students (those who were educated outside of the U.S. and/or require an F1 visa) must take additional steps to be considered for admission. Please visit the International Stude?nts Application Instructions page for exact information?.

Already applied?

To check the status of your application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission directly by calling  (773) 325-7315 , or by email to graddepaul@depaul.edu. Be sure to include your name, telephone number and email address.

Applying to the Juris Doctor/Master of Arts, International Law Studies Joint Program

To be accepted into the joint JD/MA in international law studies program you must be a student in DePaul’s College of Law. Once students have completed the first semester of the College of Law, they may apply for admission to the joint program. They must complete the online graduate application for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, specifying the MA in International Studies. Include a detailed note in the comments section specifying that this is an application for the joint JD/MA program. Students will be required to show evidence of having passed the two economic courses and the basic language requirement as described in the admission requirements for the MA. Students should then contact the Admission Office of the College of Law to complete their application procedures.

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Learn more about Graduate Admission.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Foundation Courses

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
INT 401	CRITICAL SOCIAL THEORY	4
INT 402	INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY	4

Students with no previous coursework in International Political Economy enroll in INT 402. Students who enter the program with some background in International Political Economy take a placement exam which will either place them in or out of INT 402 .

Core Courses (16 hours)

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
Choose four from the following:		16
INT 404	MIGRATION AND FORCED MIGRATION
INT 405	CULTURE AND INEQUALITY
INT 406	GLOBAL EMPIRES
INT 407	RACE, SEX, DIFFERENCE
INT 408	NATURE, SOCIETY, AND POWER
INT 409	CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY
INT 410	INTERNATIONAL LAW

Thesis Colloquia (12 hours)

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
INT 590	DIRECTED RESEARCH SEMINAR	4
INT 591	MASTERS RESEARCH I	4
INT 592	MASTERS RESEARCH II	4

Elective Courses (12 credit hours)

Students are free to select three elective courses in support of their thesis. The electives should be selected in consultation with the thesis advisor. Permission of the advisor must be obtained before taking courses outside of the International Studies Department.

Graduate Certificate Options

The MA in International Studies may also be expanded to include one of the following graduate certificate programs. The combined MA/certificate program requires careful selection of elective courses to fulfill all requirements. A separate application process is required. Students who are interested in the combined MA/certificate program should contact the program office for additional information.

• Certificate in Women and Gender Studies
• Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Certificate in Global Health
• Certificate in Social Research
• Certificate in Social and Cultural Foundations in Education
• Certificate in Community Development
• Certificate in Metropolitan Planning and Development

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