International Studies (MA), Program Information

Program Faculty

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Department Chair

Dr. Helen L. Harrison, PHD

Associate Professor

 

Program Coordinator

Dr. M’baré N’gom, PHD

Professor

222 Jenkins Hall

Tel: (443) 885-3090

E-Mail: Mbare.Ngom@Morgan.edu

 

Program Faculty

Dr. Anne Génin, LLM, PHD

Lecturer of  Political Science

 

Dr. Stella Hargett, PHD

Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology

 

Dr. Getachew Metaferia, PHD

Professor of Political Science

 

Dr. Lawrence Peskin, PHD

Professor of History and Geography

 

Dr. Sushil Verma, PHD

Lecturer of Political Science

Program Description

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The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in International Studies is a 33-39 Credit Hour interdisciplinary program designed to provide a broad and solid foundation for analytical thinking and problem solving skills regarding international issues, cultural and policy analysis, and global governance. This interdisciplinary program prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of a global world by providing them with the appropriate knowledge, tools, and skills to understand, function, and work effectively and collaboratively in an increasingly interdependent and multinational world. 

Program Objectives

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The M.A. in International Studies is recognized both within and outside of the academy as an appropriate advanced degree for those pursuing further academic study or planning careers in many of the international aspects of contemporary society including culture analysis, politics, health and nutrition, business, art, architecture, engineering, communications, and environmental studies.  Students who complete the M.A. will be able to define and question the major theories and paradigms used in the study of international relations, to analyze the power issues between state and non-state actors, to discuss the role of the U.S. on the world stage, to demonstrate in depth knowledge of the politics and culture of at least one geographical region, to apply the principles of international studies to related fields, and to produce substantive and well-written research in the discipline. 

General Requirements

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Candidates for the M.A. degree must complete a minimum of thirty-three (33) academic credit hours, pass the comprehensive exams, complete the language requirement and complete one of the four exit options listed below.

All courses in which grades of C have been earned must be retaken.

Admission

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To be eligible for admission to the MA Program in International Studies, an applicant must: 

• Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably in political science or a related area. 

• Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.0 or better to be considered for regular admission. Students who possess a cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. of between a 2.5 and 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission.  Post-bachelor’s undergraduate credits will not be used to enhance G.P.A. requirements for admission to graduate study. 

• Submit an application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.  All required documents must be submitted as directed by the School of Graduate Studies prior to program review and admission decision.  

• Provide test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  Test scores may not be more than 5 years old prior to the date of application.  These scores must be delivered by ETS to the Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies.

• Use the application system to arrange for three letters of recommendation to be placed with the application.  These letters must be from officials or faculty members of institutions previously attended who are acquainted with the applicant’s ability for graduate study or from employment supervisors where applicable. 

• Submit a typed exposition regarding the candidate’s personal academic and professional plans and the reasons for selecting Morgan State University. 

 

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements and submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that an offer of admission will be made to the applicant.  The decision of the Program Admissions Committee involves a review and analysis of all the elements of the application as well as the availability of positions in the program.  The committee then recommends to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies that an offer of admission should be made based on that review.

Candidacy

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Students achieve candidacy by successfully passing the comprehensive examination and by satisfying the language requirement.   Prior to achieving Candidacy, the student must enroll in INST 793  : Master’s Pre-Candidacy.  

Once a student achieves candidacy, enrollment in any course other than INST 780 , INST 788 , or  INST 797  is generally prohibited. Students seeking additional skills, knowledge, or a certificate must seek approval through the program up to the School of Graduate Studies.  The request must be accompanied with a revised Plan of Study.

Exit Options

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International Studies Masters students must declare, in writing, to both the Chair and Graduate Coordinator which exit option they choose prior to the end of their fourth semester of coursework. An Exit Option Declaration form is available in the Department of International Studies office. Options include the following:

 

Exit Option 1: Thesis (36 credit program)

∙ Student must have finished all course work before beginning the thesis. In most cases, the student will be expected to have taken his or her comprehensive exams prior to beginning the thesis.

 ∙ Student must work with the Department Chair and the Graduate Coordinator to identify an Advisor (from the Department of International Studies, or in area of concentration, with the approval of the Chair for the latter).

 ∙ Student must identify two or three additional readers for the thesis. Readers should have some expertise in either the field of study or concentration. Readers are subject to approval by the Chair or Graduate Coordinator.

∙ Student must submit a Thesis Proposal for approval by the Advisor, Chair, and Graduate Coordinator. 

∙ Student will meet with the Advisor at intervals agreed upon with the Advisor. Advisor will supervise student’s progress towards completion of the thesis.

∙ Student will defend her or his thesis in front of the entire committee, composed of Advisor and Readers. The Chair and Graduate Coordinator, if not on the committee, may also be present.

 

Exit Option 2:  Internship and a Public Policy Research Paper (36 credit program)

∙ Student must have finished all course work before beginning internship. 

∙ Internship agency/site must be relevant to the field of study and concentration and will require approval by the department (Chair and Graduate Coordinator). Student will be expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week over 15 weeks.

∙ Student duties and responsibilities:

• Enrolling in INST 780 , Advanced Internship.
• Work with the Department Chair or Graduate Coordinator to identify an advisor (from the Department of International Studies, or in area of concentration, with the approval of the Chair). The advisor must sign the Exit Option Declaration form, available in the INST office. 
• Submitting bi-weekly reports to advisor during the internship period. Student will meet with advisor to evaluate reports at intervals agreed upon with the advisor.
• Submitting a paper proposal, including selected bibliographical entries, to advisor, Chair, and Graduate Coordinator for approval before beginning work on the public policy research paper.
• Writing a public policy paper of at least 50 pages in length, exclusive of bibliography.
• Receiving a grade of B or better from advisor for the public policy paper. In the case of a dispute, the paper will be reviewed by the Graduate Coordinator and, as necessary, the Chair. 

 

Exit Option 3: Six Additional Credits and Research Paper (39 credit program)

∙ One three credit course in INST, not being used to satisfy any other requirement. 

∙ One three credit course in area of interest or field of study, not being used to satisfy any other requirement. 

∙ Substitutions for the above two courses are possible with the approval of the Chair and Graduate Coordinator.

∙ Student duties and responsibilities:

• Work with the Department Chair or Graduate Coordinator to identify an advisor (from the Department of International Studies, or in area of concentration, with the approval of the Chair for the latter). The advisor must sign the Exit Option Declaration form, available in the INST office.
• Enroll in INST 796   (0 credits)
• Submitting a paper proposal, including selected bibliographical entries, for approval to Advisor, Chair, and Graduate Coordinator before beginning work on the research paper. 
• Writing a research paper of at least 50 pages in length, exclusive of bibliography. 
• Receiving a grade of B or better from advisor for the research paper. In the case of a dispute, the paper will be reviewed by the Graduate Coordinator and, as necessary, by the Chair. 

 

Exit Option 4: Study/Research Abroad and Research Paper (33 credit program)

∙ Student must spend at least one semester abroad participating in an accredited program approved by the Chair and Graduate Coordinator. 

∙ Student should choose an area where he or she speaks the language, or explain in writing how not knowing the language will not impair ability to study or conduct research in the chosen country. Student must gain approval from the Chair and Graduate Coordinator. 

∙ Student duties and responsibilities:

• Work with the Department Chair or Graduate Coordinator to identify an advisor (from the Department of International Studies, or in area of concentration, with the approval of the Chair for the latter). The advisor must sign the Exit Option Declaration form, available in the INST office. 
• Submitting regular reports during the period abroad to Graduate Coordinator and Advisor by email or alternative method, identified as necessary. 
• Submitting a paper proposal, including selected bibliographical entries, to Advisor, Chair, and Graduate Coordinator for approval before beginning work on the research paper. 
• Writing a research paper of at least 50 pages in length, exclusive of bibliography.
• Receiving a grade of B or better from advisor for the research paper. In the case of a dispute, the paper will be reviewed by the Graduate Coordinator and, as needed, by the Chair.  ​​​​​​​The grade will be submitted as the grade for INST 796 .

INST 796  Final Research Paper

Language Requirement

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The student must demonstrate a working knowledge of a foreign language that is not his or her native language. The foreign languages may include Arabic, French, German, or Spanish. Upon written approval by the Department, students may substitute for any of the above languages one deemed essential to their research or field of major concentration.  Students may not use their native or heritage language or the official language of their native country to complete the language requirement. Students who do not successfully pass the foreign language examination may be allowed to retake the exam when scheduled by the Department of World Languages. 

 

The student may satisfy the foreign language requirement in the following manner:

• Option I: Passing a departmental foreign language examination.

• Option II: Completing an approved study abroad program (minimum of six weeks), which includes formal enrollment in the study of a foreign language with evaluation of performance by authorized faculty of an accredited institution.   Course work must be at the Intermediate II level. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the chair’s approval of the program before departure.

Comprehensive Examinations

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The comprehensive examinations are intended to test students’ familiarity with, and critical understanding of, the broad range of ideas and literature that the disciplinary fields comprise. Students prepare for examinations by taking different combinations of courses according to the specific field guidelines presented below and in consultation with faculty advisors. Graduate students, who do not successfully pass all areas of the graduate comprehensive examination, are required to retake, by the following semester, only those areas failed. Students who do not retake the exam the following semester are subject to taking the entire examination. Students must complete the following in order to be eligible to take the comprehensive examination: the core courses, the regional courses and a minimum of six (6) credits in the student’s area of concentration. The comprehensive examination includes all core courses, exclusive of ENGL 581 and INST 603, one regional course, and one course in the student’s area of concentration.

Academic Integrity

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As a community of scholars, all participants in the International Studies program are required to abide at all by the norms of academic honesty.   Incidents of academic dishonesty (cheating or plagiarizing) will, if verified, result in immediate dismissal from the program.   

A student who is accused of academic dishonesty will be given a hearing by Adjudication Committee of the department of World Languages and International Studies.    The Adjudication Committee will make a recommendation to the Chair, who will decide if the accusation is valid. If the Chair upholds the accusation, the Chair will, within five days, notify the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and the Dean of the Graduate School and ask for the student’s dismissal.

 If either the professor or the student is dissatisfied with the Chair’s decision, an appeal should be filed within five days in the office of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Program Course Requirements

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MA International Studies

Suggested Curriculum Sequence

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• International Studies (MA), Curriculum Sequence