International Relations

Program Description

The master's degree in international relations at Webster University is unique for a number of reasons. Students are able to take advantage of Webster’s global footprint by studying abroad at Webster campuses throughout the world and are taught by faculty who are noted scholars and practitioners in the field. .

International relations students at Webster have gone on to work for Meds for Kids, Boeing, ABB, Enterprise, the Associate Ministry of Coordination and Competitiveness in Ecuador, the United States Army, and as a preparatoria teacher in Honduras. Other graduates have gone on to practice law and work in academia (for example, at Washington University in St. Louis).

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students who complete this program will be able to:

•     Demonstrate a working knowledge of several subfields of the international relations discipline.
•     Demonstrate strong research skills.
•     Critically analyze international events and issues.
•     Apply theories of international relations.
•     Demonstrate effective written communication skills.

Program Curriculum

The 36 credit hours required for the master of arts (MA) degree in international relations must include the following courses:

• INTL 5000 Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
• INTL 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives (3 hours)
• INTL 6000 Capstone in International Relations (3 hours)
  or INTL 6250* Thesis (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirement (0 hours)
• Two courses from the Comparative Politics Cluster (6 hours)
• Four courses from the International Politics Cluster (12 hours)
• Additional graduate elective credit hours (9 hours)

* Students taking INTL 6250 Thesis (6 hours) must also register for INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirements (0 hours). INTL 6900 acknowledges successful completion of all thesis requirements including conforming to university and departmental guideline as well as depositing the thesis in the University library.

* Students completing their degree at either the Vienna or Geneva campuses are required to complete INTL 6250 Thesis to meet this requirement.

The 57 credit hours required for the master of business administration (MBA) with an emphasis in international relations must include the following courses:

• INTL 5000 Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
• INTL 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives (3 hours)
• Two courses from the Comparative Politics Cluster (6 hours)
• Four courses from the International Politics Cluster (12 hours)
• INTL 6000 Capstone in International Relations (3 hours)

Comparative Politics Cluster (2 courses)

• INTL 5050 Comparative Politics (3 hours)
• INTL 5580 Politics of Development (3 hours)
• INTL 5570 Comparative Foreign Policy (3 hours)
• INTL 5600 Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5605 Topics in Comparative Politics (3 hours)
• INTL 5625 Middle East Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5635 Western European Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5645 Asian Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5655 African Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5665 South and Central Asian Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5675 Central and Eastern European Area Studies (3 hours)
• INTL 5685 Latin American Area Studies (3 hours)

International Politics Cluster (4 courses)

• INGO 5000 Introduction to International Nongovernmental Organizations (3 hours)
• INTL 5400 International Political Economy (3 hours)
• INTL 5510 Theories of International Relations (3 hours)
• INTL 5530 International Law (3 hours)
• INTL 5535 International Disaster Response Law (3 hours)
• INTL 5540 International Organizations (3 hours)
• INTL 5550 War and Diplomacy (3 hours)
• INTL 5560 U.S. Foreign Policy (3 hours)
• INTL 5585 Food and Water Security (3 hours)
• INTL 5590 International Security (3 hours)
• INTL 5595 Energy Security (3 hours)
• INTL 5700 Humanitarian Issues in International Politics (3 hours)
• INTL 5800 Globalization (3 hours)
• INTL 5860 Issues in International Politics (3 hours)
• INTL 5870 International Law and Politics of Outer Space (3 hours)
• INTL 5890 Terrorism in World Politics (3 hours)

International Relations Elective Courses (3 courses)

Any additional courses from the two clusters above, or any of the following:

• INTL 5300 Field Work (3-6 hours)
• INTL 5500 Professional Seminars (1-3 hours)
• INTL 5610 Non-Thesis Readings/Research (3 hours)
• INTL 5900 Advanced Research Methods* (3 hours)
• INTL 6500 Internship (3 hours) 
• Any other graduate elective course (3 hours)

Not all of the courses listed above will be available to students at all locations.

If the requisite course is waived, the student must choose an elective course from this major.

* Advanced Research Methods may be substituted for a course in the Comparative cluster or in the International cluster.

The required courses and electives listed in this core may be taken as directed studies, subject to the conditions stated in the Directed Studies section under Academic Policies and Procedures.

Dual Major INTL/INGO

51 credit hours

The dual major in international relations and international nongovernmental organizations is designed for the student who wishes to seek a single Master of Arts degree with two majors: international relations and international nongovernmental relations. Unlike a sequential or dual degree, the student earns a single master's degree but with two concentrations. It is therefore more credit hours than a single-concentration Masters (36 credit hours) but still fewer than a sequential degree (60 or 63 credit hours).

This program is offered at the Geneva campus.

Required Courses:

• INTL 5000 Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
• INGO 5000 Introduction to INGO (3 hours)
• INTL 5100 or INGO 5200 Methods (3 hours)
• INTL 6000 or INGO 6000 Capstone (3 hours) 
  or INTL 6250* Thesis (6 hours) and INTL 6900 University Thesis Requirements (0 hours)  
  or INGO 6250* Thesis (6 hours) and INGO 6900 University Thesis Requirement (0 hours)
• INTL 5540 International Organizations (3 hours)
• INGO 5600 Principles of Negotiations (3 hours)
• INGO 5700 Grant Writing, Fundraising, and Development for INGOs (3 hours)
• INGO 5900 Project Management for INGOs (3 hours)

* Students taking INTL or INGO 6250 Thesis (6 hours) must also register for INTL or INGO 6900 University Thesis Requirements (0 hours). INTL or INGO 6900 acknowledges successful completion of all thesis requirements including conforming to university and departmental guidelines as well as depositing the thesis in the University library.

Elective Courses:

• Skills Cluster from INGO (9 hours)
• Comparative Cluster from INTL (6 hours)
• International Politics Cluster from INTL (12 hours)

Application Requirements

• Signed Application Form
• Proof of English Proficiency:

– TOEFL: PBT 550 | iBT 80
– IELTS: 6.5
– Pearson: 53

• Undergraduate Transcripts
• Essay: 300-500 word essay on a topic of your choice OR Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• One Letter of Recommendation
• Certificate of Finance showing $Tuition plus $16,000
• Copy of Passport ID Page
• Official University/College Transcripts (for Transfer Students)
• Some programs have additional entry requirements. Please contact your advisor for more information.