Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs-MIA | 5-Year (3+2) Degree Program • The Bush School of Government & Public Service

The Bush School of Government & Public Service offers a 5-year (3+2) degree program in which undergraduate students majoring in International Studies (INTS) within the International Politics & Diplomacy track can apply to and enter The Bush School at the start of their senior year at Texas A&M University. This enables students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a Master of International Affairs (MIA) graduate degree in only five years.

Description

The Bush School of Government and Public Service offers a five-year combination degree program in which undergraduate students majoring in International Affairs (INTA) can apply to and enter the Master of International Affairs (MIA) program at the start of their senior year at Texas A&M University. This selective and accelerated program allows students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and a Master of International Affairs graduate degree in only five years. Coupling the breadth of an interdisciplinary BA degree with the focus and career preparation of an MA professional degree, this intensive 5-year program provides unparalleled value to students pursuing careers in international affairs and public service.

Students begin their studies at Texas A&M University in The Bush School taking classes toward their undergraduate degree. Throughout the course of the student’s first three years at Texas A&M, the student works with their undergraduate advisor to ensure they satisfy all eligibility requirements listed below prior to applying to the MIA in the fall of their junior year (when classified as a U3).

If admitted, students must ensure they fulfill the rest of the requirements below by the time they enter the MIA degree in the fall of their senior year at Texas A&M University (when classified as a U4). In the student’s fourth year, they take Bush School graduate level courses; 18 credit hours of which will double count toward their bachelor’s degree. In the student’s fifth year, they are reclassified as a G7 graduate student and take the remaining courses left to satisfy the requirements for the MIA degree.

After successful completion of both degrees, students receive both Texas A&M degrees, earning a B.A. in International Affairs and a Master of International Affairs at the end of their second year in The Bush School. Although, they earn both, students will only walk for their MIA graduation.

Students who choose not to finish the MIA degree after being admitted to the 3+2 program may exit the program at any time. Completed MIA courses will be applied to their bachelor’s degree in International Affairs, as appropriate. Failure to complete the MIA will in no way impede their ability to attain a bachelor’s degree when the requirements for that degree are completed.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply to the 3+2 B.A. INTA-MIA degree program, students must:

be classified as a U3 majoring in International Affairs within within one of the following focus areas, and
- International Social Processes
- International Development & Economic Policy, or
- International Politics, Security, & Diplomacy
have a 3.5 GPA or above by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the MIA portion of the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
work with their undergrad advisor to map out courses the student must complete prior to entry in the MIA portion of the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
have approximately 66-78 credit hours completed by the time they apply to the MIA portion of the 3+2 program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for INTA ~~INTS~~ major, college, and Texas A&M), and
have approximately 102 credit hours completed before entry into the MIA portion of the 3+2 program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for the B.A. INTA ~~INTS~~ major, college, and Texas A&M), and
complete their study abroad prior to the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the MIA portion of the 3+2 program, and
be in good academic standing with their undergrad department, and
not be expected to graduate during the academic year in which they are applying, and
understand that failure to satisfy ALL of these requirements will result in ~~3+2~~ admission to the MIA portion of the 3+2 degree (if offered) being revoked.

Curriculum

A B.A. degree at Texas A&M requires a student to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. In the 3+2 INTA/MIA degree, students complete a total of 150 total credit hours: 102 credit hours of B.A INTA degree requirements + 48 credit hours of MIA degree requirements. This means a maximum of 18 credit hours of MIA courses double count toward the student’s B.A. INTA degree.

Students majoring in International Affairs at Texas A&M who intend to apply to the MIA portion of the 3+2 INTA/MIA degree program must complete the 102 credit hours of their undergraduate degree requirements prior to the fall semester in which they intend to enroll in the MIA portion, if admitted. To help students in planning their undergraduate coursework in preparation for applying to the 3+2 program, we’ve created a 3+2 B.A. INTA/MIA Course Planner for them to use throughout their first three years of undergraduate study.

Click here to find and download the 3+2 MIA Course Planner for your undergrad major and catalog.

Admitted 3+2 students are required to compete the same 2-year, 48 credit-hour curriculum as other MIA students, starting in the fall of their senior year when classified as a U4. The MIA curriculum consists of six core courses (18 hours) at least two concentration areas of three courses each (18 hours), and four additional elective courses which can be used for a third concentration if desired (12 hours). Those without professional experience must complete a non-credit bearing internship or intensive language/cultural study in the summer between their fourth and fifth year (first and second year in the MIA). Additionally, native English speakers must pass an oral exam demonstrating proficiency in one foreign language to graduate. A capstone project for a “real world” client in the final semester concludes the learning experience.

Admissions

International Affairs majors who satisfy (or are expected to satisfy) all of the eligibility requirements listed above can apply to the 3+2 MIA program in the fall of their junior year when classified as a U3. Admission criteria for the 3+2 MIA program is the same as other MIA students. To apply, visit our 3+2 MIA Admissions page. If admitted, students begin the MIA degree in the fall of their fourth year.

Advising

It is imperative for students interested in the 3+2 MIA work with their undergrad advisor as soon as possible to ensure the student is on track to complete all necessary courses (including study abroad) prior to entry into the program, if admitted. The Bush School Graduate Admissions Office can help answer questions about the admissions process, but cannot help answer questions about undergrad degree or course requirements. The MIA department is available to help answer questions about the MIA curriculum or courses and will be the student’s point of contact if admitted into the 3+2 program.

For questions about undergrad courses or degree requirements in preparation for applying to the 3+2 program: