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 | Eligibility | Curriculum | INTS Required | MIA Required | Admissions | Advising
Description
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 Studies 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 Studies, 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 MIA-INTS degree program, students must:
- be classified as a U3 majoring in International Studies within the Politics & Diplomacy track, and
- have a 3.5 GPA or above by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
- work with their undergrad advisor to map out courses the student must complete prior to entry int the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
- have approximately 66-78 credit hours completed by the time they apply to the 3+2 program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for INTS major, college, and Texas A&M), and
- have approximately 102 credit hours completed before entry into the 3+2 program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for 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 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 (if offered) being revoked.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the 3+2 INTS/MIA degree consists of 150 total credit hours: 102 credit hours of undergrad courses and 48 credit hours of MPSA courses. A maximum of 18 credit hours from The Bush School’s MIA courses can double count toward the student’s bachelor’s degree. This means students must complete approximately 102 credit hours (of the required 120 credit hours) and a study abroad experience for their bachelor’s degree requirements prior to the fall semester of their fourth year when they begin the 2-year MIA program. To help 3+2 INTS/MIA students in the course planning process, we’ve created a 5-YEAR INTA/MIA Course Planner students can use with the help of their undergrad advisor.
Five-year students will be enrolled in Bush School graduate school courses with an undergraduate classification (U4) during their fourth year and will be re-classified as a degree-seeking master’s students (G&) prior to the start of the fall semester of year five.
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.
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies Course Requirements
Students admitted to the 3+2 INTS/MIA program must complete 102 credit hours and study abroad for their bachelor’s degree requirements prior to enrollment in the MIA in the fall of their fourth year when classified as a U4. Students complete the rest of their bachelor’s degree course requirements by double counting 18 credit hours of MIA courses toward their bachelor’s degree. Twelve credit hours double count toward the INTS International Politics & Diplomacy track. Six credit hours double count as INTS core courses.
Students must also fulfill their foreign language requirement of two years of the same foreign language in High School or complete a two-year semester sequence (8 additional credit hours) of the same foreign language for university credit prior to enrollment in the MIA in the fall of their fourth year.
COURSES TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO FOURTH YEAR (102 Credit Hours + Study Abroad)
MIA Course Requirements
In the fall of the student’s fourth year when classified as a senior (U4), admitted 3+2 students will enter the MIA program within the National Security & Diplomacy or the International Development & Economic Policy track. They will complete approximately 48 credit hours; 18 hours of which will double count toward both degrees.
COURSES TO COMPLETE AFTER ENTRY to 3+2 Degree (48 Credit Hours)
MIA Electives must be used to complete two required concentrations; one of which has to be within your chosen MIA track.
NOTE: INTS 400-level courses will be limited to the fourth year only. Students typically take INTS 481 in the fall of their fourth year to complete their senior thesis. The second 400-level INTS required course is taken care of by a Bush School INTA elective.
Admissions
International Studies 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 INTS 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:
- Contact Daniella Stratta at intsadvising@tamu.edu or 979.845.2124.
For questions about the MIA curriculum or courses:
- Contact Peg Hosea at plhosea@tamu.edu or 979.458-2276.
For questions about Admission and preparation for the 3+2:
- Contact the Bush School Graduate Admissions Office at bushschooladmissions@tamu.edu or 979.862.3476.
