The School of International Relations offers graduate curricula leading to the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. These programs are designed primarily for students seeking careers that rely heavily on advanced research, such as teaching. The school also welcomes professionally-oriented students, particularly in the Ph.D. program in political economy and public policy offered jointly with the Departments of Economics and Political Science and the dual degree, J.D./M.A. program offered with the Law School.

Admission Requirements

The School of International Relations welcomes talented candidates from a variety of academic backgrounds. Admission decisions are based on consideration of applicants' prior academic performance, as reflected in course grades and letters of recommendation. Applicants also are strongly encouraged to submit a sample of their written work in English, preferably a research-oriented paper. The committee also considers the potential for success in a graduate program based on Graduate Record Examinations scores. Business, government and other practical experiences related to international relations also are taken into account.

It is strongly recommended that master's and doctoral candidates should have completed at least one undergraduate course in statistics or quantitative methods and at least one course in economics before enrolling for graduate study. A course in social or political theory or international history also is highly desirable. The faculty may admit promising students who lack one or more of these three prerequisite courses, but such students are encouraged to fulfill these prerequisites, ideally before starting classes at USC or otherwise within one year of enrolling in the School of International Relations. Students with this preparation tend to be more successful in the program and more likely to prosper in an academic or research setting afterwards.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Foreign Language Requirement

All master's and doctoral students must show proficiency in at least one foreign language at the fourth semester level. In special instances a doctoral student's dissertation guidance committee may require a student to show research competence in one or two foreign languages. International students whose native language is not English may satisfy this requirement by submitting proof of their ability to read and understand social science materials in their native language where appropriate, or in another language in which significant social science material is available.

Methodological Skills

All students take methods courses as part of the School of International Relations core program. For doctoral students, appropriate levels of competence in quantitative and qualitative research techniques are established by the student's guidance committee on a case-by-case basis. Students who need advanced methodological skills to complete their dissertations may be required by their guidance committees to undertake additional preparation or course work.

Master of Arts in International Relations

Advisement

Academic advisement for all entering M.A. students is provided by the faculty graduate advisor of the School of International Relations. Students should consult with the school's faculty advisor each semester before registering for courses for the next semester. Students also are encouraged to seek advice from other faculty who work in areas related to their interests. Students may, if they wish and if a faculty member agrees, select a different faculty advisor from among the school's faculty. Consult with and inform the Office of Student Affairs regarding changes in faculty advisors.

Course Requirements

Students enrolled in the Master of Arts program must complete a minimum of 32 units of course work, at least 24 of which must be completed within the School of International Relations at the 500 level or above. These students are required to successfully complete IR 500 International Relations Theory and IR 513 Social Science and Historical Research Methods and two domain courses selected from among IR 521 Introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis, IR 541 Politics of the World Economy, IR 509 Culture, Gender and Global Society, and IR 502 Conflict and Cooperation. Students enrolled in the Master of Arts program should develop a specific plan of study in consultation with the graduate advisor no later than their second semester at USC.

Substantive Paper Requirement

Students in the master's program must submit a substantive paper or alternative project. This requirement is meant to encourage students to polish articles that may ultimately prove suitable for publication, to develop materials that will display their talents for doctoral and graduate school admissions committees or prospective employers, and to begin to develop dissertation proposals early in the graduate education process. A student may submit a revised version of a research paper or of a detailed policy memorandum along with a copy of the original paper for which he or she received a grade of B+ or better in one IR graduate class. Students also may submit a paper or project based on other original work. A three-person faculty examining committee, at least two of whom must be School of International Relations faculty members, will evaluate the substantive paper or project and may, at their discretion, call the student for an oral examination on the project. They may also choose to examine the student on his or her course work in international relations.

Dual Degree - Master of Arts, International Relations and Juris Doctor

The USC Law School and the School of International Relations jointly offer a three-year program leading to the J.D. and M.A. degrees. (Students may extend the dual degree program to four years.) Applicants must apply to both the Law School and the School of International Relations and meet requirements for admission to both. In addition to the LSAT, students interested in this program are required to take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Law students may apply to the School of International Relations during their first year at the Law School.In the first year students take their course work in the Law School exclusively. The second and third years include 24 units of courses in international relations and 40 units of law. Students pursuing the dual degree must complete LAW 601, LAW 662, or LAW 764 and one additional international law course.

Students pursuing the dual degree must complete 24 units within the School of International Relations at the 500 level or above. These students are required to successfully complete IR 500 International Relations Theory, either IR 513 Social Science and Historical Research Methods or IR 517 International Policy Analysis, and two domain courses selected from among IR 521 Introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis, IR 541 Politics of the World Economy, IR 509 Culture, Gender and Global Society, and IR 502 Conflict and Cooperation. Like all other master's students, students in the dual degree program must complete a substantive paper or alternative project. The requirements, standards and evaluation procedure for the substantive paper are identical to those listed above for all M.A. students except that one member of the examining committee must come from the Law School.

Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations

The degree requirements are fulfilled by: completion of a minimum of 56 units (14 courses) and a dissertation (minimum of four units of IR 794 Doctoral Dissertation); passing a foreign language requirement; passing a written and oral qualifying examination; completing one substantive paper or alternative project; a dissertation proposal; and writing a dissertation. In some cases a student's guidance committee may impose additional requirements.

Admission to the Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program is designed for students who show the highest level of creativity and the potential for original research and writing about complex problems in international relations. Students admitted to the doctoral program who have completed graduate classes or a master's degree in international relations or a related discipline elsewhere may request that some of their previous work be counted toward the School of International Relations degree. The number of credits which will be applied toward completion of the Ph.D. will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Students admitted to the School of International Relations M.A. program who then wish to be admitted into the School of International Relations Ph.D. program must submit a new application to the admissions committee. No decision will be made until the student has completed at least three graduate School of International Relations courses. Classes completed at USC while in the M.A. program will automatically be applied toward the doctoral degree. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program, who do not already have a master's degree, are urged to complete their M.A. degrees as they progress towards their doctoral degree.

All recommendations for admission to the Ph.D. program are reviewed by the graduate admissions committee and the director of the school. Students who fail to gain admission to the Ph.D. program may appeal in writing to the director for reconsideration.

Advisement Procedures

At the beginning of his or her first semester in the program every new graduate student meets with the graduate advisor to review the requirements and enroll in appropriate courses. In consultation with the graduate advisor, during their first two semesters at USC doctoral students are paired with appropriate faculty advisors. Every doctoral student is required to report to the Graduate School the results of a screening procedure undertaken prior to completing 24 units in the doctoral program. The screening and advisement meeting normally takes place at the end of the second semester of course work. At that meeting the student, the faculty advisor and two other professors review the student's complete file and academic plan. Before the meeting the student needs to submit a written academic plan prepared by the student in consultation with the advisor. The titles of courses for which transfer credit is sought, USC courses completed and USC courses underway and planned should be listed. For transfer credits, transcripts should be provided along with syllabi if possible. The academic plan should also show the student's foreign language and methodological skills with a date of completion or projected completion. At the screening, the student, in consultation with the committee, should identify five professors, including a professor from outside the School of International Relations, who might serve on the guidance committee and direct the student's program of study. The guidance committee must be formed before the student takes the qualifying examination.

Course Requirements

Among their 14 courses, each doctoral student is required to take a set of seven core courses and to complete an additional specialization of at least three courses. Students who have completed graduate classes elsewhere may petition to count up to 24 units of their graduate work completed elsewhere toward their course requirements.

Every doctoral student's proposed course work should be approved by his or her advisory committee during the screening and advisement meeting, which occurs before completing 24 units. Progress at meeting the course requirements will be reviewed during the oral portion of the qualifying examination and the requirements completed before the student may register for IR 794 Doctoral Dissertation.

Core Requirements

Every doctoral student will complete a seven-course core requirement. The core classes consist of: IR 500 International Relations Theory and IR 513 Social Science and Historical Research Methods and three domain courses selected from among IR 521 Introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis, IR 541 Politics of the World Economy, IR 509 Culture, Gender and Global Society, and IR 502 Conflict and Cooperation; and two courses chosen from among IR 501 International Relations Theory: Advanced, IR 515 Advanced Research Methods, IR 514 Multivariate Analysis for International Studies, or another approved methodology course taken within or outside the School of International Relations.

Core Examination

A student must pass a core examination which consists of a written and oral examination on the material from the seven required core courses.

The core examination covers material from the seven required core courses. The core examination is administered twice each year, generally in September or early October and in late April. Normally, this examination should be taken after the student has completed eight to 10 courses in the program. Generally, this will mean that the student begins the examinations at the end of the fourth semester of class work and not later than the end of the fifth semester of class work. The student must obtain permission to take the examination 60 days before the date of the examination. The written and oral portions of this part of the examination must be completed within 60 days.

Specialization Requirements

Every doctoral student also is required to complete a three-course specialization beyond the core requirements. A fourth course is recommended, but not required. Students are encouraged to develop their specialization in consultation with their screening or guidance committees.

The faculty also has designed and preapproved specializations in international political economy, foreign policy analysis, international politics and security, and culture, gender and global society. A list of established specializations and their related courses is available from the graduate advisor.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first is a substantive paper which is to be reviewed and approved by the student's guidance committee. The second part of the examination is a dissertation proposal.

Substantive Paper

To prepare for an academic or research career, students are required to produce a substantive paper or alternative project as part of the qualifying examination. A substantive paper is more than a term paper, although, as at the master's level, a student may submit new work or a revised version of a research paper along with a copy of the original paper for which they received a B+ or better in one IR class. Before the student proceeds to the dissertation, the student's committee must judge the paper or project to be satisfactory. Normally, this occurs at the same time that the dissertation committee approves the dissertation proposal, but if the student completes the substantive paper or project before taking the oral portion of the core course examination, the guidance committee may approve it at that time.

An original and revised version of a paper or thesis used to satisfy a thesis or a substantive paper requirement at the master's level at USC or any other institution may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

Dissertation Proposal

As part of the qualifying examination procedure each student is required to complete a dissertation proposal. A student may not register for IR 794 Doctoral Dissertation until his or her committee meets with the student and determines that all course and specialization requirements have been satisfied and approves the student's dissertation proposal and substantive paper. Upon successful completion of all parts of the qualifying examination the student is admitted to doctoral candidacy.

Students should seek advice on proposal preparation early in the program.

Dissertation

After passing the qualifying examination, the student selects a three-person dissertation committee. One member of the dissertation committee must be from outside International Relations but from a department at USC which offers a Ph.D. degree. Upon successful completion of all qualifying examination requirements the student should concentrate on writing a dissertation.

The Ph.D. candidate must defend the dissertation before the dissertation committee prior to approval for final typing. The defense is made on the basis of an approved, preliminary copy of the dissertation. If the defense is satisfactory, the committee signs the approval for final typing. If additional work is required, the forms are signed at a later date. The recommendation of final acceptance must be unanimous.

Consult the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue regarding time limitations for completion of the degree and other Graduate School requirements.

All graduate students considering an academic career should have research, teaching and advisement experiences as part of their program of study.

Doctor of Philosophy in Political Economy and Public Policy

The School of International Relations, the Department of Economics and the Department of Political Science jointly offer a program of study leading to the Ph.D. degree. Applicants must apply to the Graduate School and meet the admission requirements of all three departments. Required courses include both core requirements and area requirements. Core requirements include courses in economic theory and history of economic theory; history of political thought; scope, methodology and research methods; and political economy and public policy. Area requirements include courses drawn from one of the following three areas of concentration: comparative and developmental political economy; politics, economics, and the policy process; and international political economy.

For a detailed description of this program, see the Political Economy and Public Policy section of this catalogue.

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