International Affairs (MAIA)
91ÁÔÆæ offers a 36-credit-hour Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) degree designed to provide an advanced understanding of the international systems along with a focus on the multiple facets of global security issues such as terrorism, strategic security policy, the examination of economic elements of security, and the theories which define the field of international affairs.
The degree provides students the research and analytical skills to help them to advance in their profession or begin to explore a career in international affairs.
All program instruction for the MAIA program is delivered online.
MAIA Program Quick Facts
- Online program, no campus visit required
- Asynchronous online classes
- Program length 36 credit hours
- Open to enrollment any semester
- Courses offered within a two-year rotation
- GRE not required with minimum GPA
- Individuals with backgrounds in any major may apply
Program Application Deadline
All application materials are to be received prior to the deadline. If program capacity is met prior to established admission deadlines, we will stop accepting applications for admission and cancel remaining incomplete applicants. Completing your application earlier is better.
Fall Deadline
Spring Deadline
Summer Deadline
How to Apply to 91ÁÔÆæ's MAIA Program
MAIA Program Curriculum
The MAIA consists of 36 credit hours, which can be completed in two years if the student enrolls full-time (9 credit hours per semester). The required courses and elective courses are offered within a two-year rotation. However, the majority of students in the program are enrolled part-time and generally take three and a half years to complete the requirements for their degree.
The programs offers a concentration in Security Studies or Regional Studies. Check with MAIA program coordinator for courses applicable to your area of concentration for a total of 9 credit hours.
Required Foundational Courses (21 credit hours)
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This seminar will provide an introduction to the theories of international relations. This course will serve as one of your foundational courses on which the rest of the program will be built. It will introduce students to the major theoretical areas including an overview of the role of theory, realism, liberalism, constructivism, the democratic peace, deterrence, cooperation, and domestic sources of international relations.
Hours:
3
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This is one of the core seminars in the M.A. in International Affairs program. The course focuses on the theories, analytical approaches, historical evolution, and issues of international political economy (IPE). Economic theories of international trade and finance tell us that there are numerous benefits to be had from international economic exchange. Such exchange, however, creates 'winners and losers' internationally and domestically. Those actors that are hurt seek redress through political channels. Thus, we also need to use political theory to understand and explain the patterns of global economic activity that we observe.
Hours:
3
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The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the methods used by scholars of international affairs to study political events. This course will teach the student to properly frame a research question and create an effective research design to carry out original research.
Hours:
3
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Foreign policy is a historically based, dynamic process with many individual actors, global causes and overlapping concepts. We will study the Presidency and Congress, the State Department and Intelligence Community, the Economic Bureaucracy. Public Opinion and the Media, and issues such as the theoretical bases of policy-making and the tension between national security and democracy. This course explores how each of these operates and contributes to the making of U.S. foreign policy.
Hours:
3
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This course is designed to introduce students to the main concepts, topics, and theoretical perspectives in comparative politics-one of the major sub-disciplines of political science. It provides the basis for subsequent coursework and research in comparative politics. The course also reviews major topics within comparative politics, such as elections and political parties, regime types, democratization, and political participation.
Hours:
3
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Although the absence of any overarching political authority characterizes world politics as anarchical, states and other international actors have coordinated their actions over the centuries. This course focuses on such cooperative efforts. It assesses different theories of international relations and discusses why states succeed or fail at creating institutions and rules for global governance and what effects those institutions and rules have. The course examines how international organizations attempt to accomplish cooperation. The major emphasis will be on the experience of the United Nations system. Yet it also takes a closer look at regional and specialized agencies and analyzes a broad range of issue-areas with which these organizations try to deal: collective security, economics, environment, social welfare, and human rights.
Hours:
3
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This course is designed as an examination of both traditional and non-traditional security concerns. The course will highlight the importance of context and the development of decision-making skills by those that craft foreign policy and military missions. All elements of security will be examined: military security, environmental security and resource security. The graduate portion of this course will expand discussions beyond traditional national borders to examine regional and global trends in security studies. The graduate student will be expected to synthesize the activities of their particular state within both regional and international security structures.
Hours:
3
International Affairs Capstone (6 credit hours)
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This course is designed a capstone experience for the international affairs masters degree. The course will require the student to adopt an in-depth focus regarding their particular regional or policy focus in the field of International Affairs.
Hours:
6
Tentative Course Schedule
Any schedule of courses must be understood to be tentative, in that university authorities reserve the right to cancel courses because of inadequate enrollment, the need to staff other necessary functions, etc. On a semester-to-semester basis, the best way to ensure that the course you want to take will not be canceled is by pre-registering for it.
Fall 2024
- POLS 7011 Theory of International Relations
- POLS 7012 Theory of International Political Economy
- POLS 7014 Foreign Policy Process
- POLS 7244 International Political Violence
- POLS 7100 Theories of Comparative Politics
Spring 2025
- POLS 7013 Research Methods for IA
- POLS 7015 International Affairs Capstone
- POLS 7011 Theory of International Relations
- POLS 7105 Global Governance
- POLS 7241 Politics of China
Summer 2025
- POLS 7201 Int'l Security Issues
- POLS 7240 Special Topics - Post Communist Central and E Europe
Fall 2025
- POLS 7011 Theory of IR
- POLS 7012 Theory of IPE
- POLS 7014 Foreign Policy Process
- POLS 7244 International Political Violence
- POLS 7100 Theories of Comparative
Spring 2026
- POLS 7013 Research Methods for IA
- POLS 7015 International Affairs Capstone
- POLS 7105 Global Governance
- 7240/7241 MAIA Elective*
Summer 2026
- POLS 7201 Int'l Security Issues
- 7240/7241 MAIA Elective*
Fall 2026*
*When new course information is available, it will be updated here.About Our Graduate Assistantship
The MAIA program offers one graduate assistantship annually that serve either as teaching assistants, research assistants or service assistants. Graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver and are paid a stipend.
Graduate Assistant Information Graduate Assistant Application
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