Program Faculty
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
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
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
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
To be eligible for admission to the MA Program in International Studies, an applicant must:
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Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably in political science or a related area.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 admission should be made based on that review.
Candidacy
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
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.
- 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.
Language Requirement
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:
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Option I: Passing a departmental foreign language examination.
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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
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
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
MA International Studies (33 Credit Hours):
INST 501: Introduction to International Relations 3
INST 603: Research Methods 3
ENGL 581: Advanced Expository Writing 3
HIST 580/HIST 680: Hist. Origins of Contemp. Problems/America and the World 3
SOCI 531: Sociology of Oppression 3
INST 510: Sub-Saharan Africa 3
INST 511: The Middle East 3
INST 512: The Caribbean-Latin America 3
INST 513: Asia 3
INST 514: Western Europe 3
INST 515: Russia and the Former Soviet States 3
ART 510: Traditional African Art 3
HIST 572: Latin American History 3
HIST 575: A History of the Caribbean 3
HIST 613: History of South Africa 3
HIST 615: History of Traditional West Africa 3
Other regional courses must be pre-approved by the coordinator or chair. When taking non-INST courses, the student must consult with the relevant department about prerequisites.
GRAD XXX: Title 3
GRAD XXX: Title 3
Interest Area courses may be in International Studies or in related disciplines. Possible areas include the following*:
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International Public Health and the Environment
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International Business and Economics
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International Social and Historical Thought
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International Language and Culture
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International Politics and Foreign Policy
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International Engineering and Technology
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National Security
* NOTE: Alternative Interest Areas are possible, if approved by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies.
6 credit hours in Electives
GRAD XXX: Title 3
GRAD XXX: Title 3
INST 780: Advanced Internship 3
INST 788: Guided Research 3
INST 789: Guided Research (cont’d) 3
INST 793: Pre-Master’s Candidacy 3 (reports as 9)*
INST 797/799: Thesis Guidance / Thesis Defense 3 (reports as 9)**
* Note: This course conveys full-time status to a master’s graduate student engaged in study prior to the achievement of master’s candidacy. Students preparing for comprehensive examinations or for a thesis proposal defense enroll in this course. Additionally, students needing additional time to complete a Master’s Project enroll in this course after initial enrollment in the appropriate Master’s Project course. This course is a non-curricular course and cannot be used as a program credit requirement. The student registers for 3 credit hours and the registration reports the full-time status of 9 graduate credit hours.
** Note: Upon achieving Master’s Candidacy, students choosing the thesis option will continuously register in Fall and Spring terms for INST 797 (Thesis Guidance) until the Master’s Thesis is completed and submitted to the School of Graduate Studies for review. The course is used only when the curriculum is near completion, and the student is completing the research and writing of the thesis. The course registration maintains the student status as a matriculated, full-time student (student is registered for 3 credit hours and the system reports a full-time 9 credit hour load). After the Intent to Defend the Master’s Thesis form has been accepted by the School of Graduate Studies, this course registration will be changed to INST 799 (Thesis Defense) for the given semester and count for 3 credit hours of curricular coursework (INST 799 will also count for 9 credit hours of load). Other courses cannot be substituted for INST 797 (Thesis Guidance). The only eligible grade for INST 797 (Thesis Guidance) is the grade of “S” and the only acceptable grade for INST 799 (Thesis Defense) is “P/F” (Pass/Fail).
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