The Master of International Affairs degree is a 48 credit (16 course) non-thesis program that includes a core curriculum of six courses, a summer internship or intensive language and cultural study, and a six-course specialization in two selected areas of concentration. Because of the professional nature of the program, the curriculum is taught by a multi-disciplinary faculty who combine a mix of scholarly and professional international experience. The core curriculum includes seminars in leadership, international politics, the global economy, research methods, and American foreign policy. One of the six core courses must be a capstone. The capstone course requires a student group under the supervision of a faculty member to work on a research task received from a real-world client. Capstone research culminates in a major written report to the client. The Bush School Department of International Affairs equips students having a disposition toward leadership and public service with the vital skills and knowledge critical for successful careers whether in government or nongovernmental organizations.
