Master of Arts in International Studies

Graduate Students in class with Professor Mark Raymond.

Master of Arts in International Studies

The University of Oklahoma's international studies graduate program provides a rigorous foundation in international politics, foreign policy and policy analysis. Our small, dynamic student cohorts, experienced faculty and innovative courses will give you the knowledge required for a career in diplomacy and Foreign Service, nonprofits and NGOs, think tanks, research institutes or academia.

Why MAIS at OU?

Study in small, seminar-style courses with a wide range of expert faculty members
Acquire the tools to engage a globally integrated environment
Prepare for a career in the realm of diplomacy and Foreign Service, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, think-tanks, research institutes, academia, and more
Gain a strong foundation in international politics, foreign policy, and policy analysis
Concentrate your coursework in global economics, global security, law and institutions, or area studies
Benefit from our collaborative “cohort model,” whereby students admitted the same year take many classes together; engage in group activities, projects, and assignments; and participate in the Global Policy Workshop during final semester

Admissions

Student Experience

Scholarships and DEI Opportunities

Accelerated BA/MA in International Studies

Joint JD/MA in International Studies

Alumni Testimonials

Jonathan Fitzgerald '21

Foreign Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of State

"MAIS at OU taught me the value of empathy in diplomacy. In my office, we regularly meet with stakeholders and interlocutors who do not have a positive perception of the United States, or do not share our viewpoints on various issues or policies. Knowing and understanding the other's point of view is critical to ensuring any engagements are productive. Additionally, when having to craft public messaging for specific audiences, knowing their backgrounds and sensitivities is vital."

Ore-Oluwa Runsewe '21

Program Specialist, Rockefeller Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, West Virginia University

"My cohort was a melting pot of different backgrounds and nationalities, usually sharing their perspectives on international studies. They allowed me, an international student from Nigeria, to adapt quickly. Most of us have remained friends after the program. I also need to mention the professors who showed us how to expand our worldview to recognize the nuances in international studies and their relevance and links to policymaking in the United States. The knowledge I gained from those nuances has served me well in my current role."

Tasden Ingram '20

Analyst, Analytic Services (ANSER)

"One of the major benefits during my time at OU was the faculty. Their professionalism, experience with government and international organizations, research backgrounds, and willingness to speak with me about my ambitions had a significant impact on where I am today. As a young adult or recent graduate, entering the workforce no matter the job or company is intimidating. I received continuous support from the faculty at MAIS which encouraged me to pursue a career in government that's often unfamiliar to college students."

Julia Harth '20

Graduate teaching associate and doctoral student in Arts Administration, Education and Policy, Ohio State University

"One of the aspects I value most about the MAIS program was the support I received to pursue opportunities that excited me, even when they didn’t follow a traditional path. With the help of my advisor, Katie Watkins, I was able to incorporate programs in Israel, Mexico, and Spain, classes across campus, and multiple internships at art museums into my plan of study. The flexibility and encouragement to engage in interdisciplinary learning experiences was formative in terms of my perspectives, scholarship and professional trajectory."

Contact Us

Samer Shehata, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies
Colin Mackey and Patricia Molina de Mackey Associate Professor in Middle East Studies

Phone: 405-325-1341
Email: shehata@ou.edu

Katie Watkins
Assistant Director of Academic Advising for Graduate Students

Phone: 405-325-2337
Email: mais@ou.edu

Make an Advising Appointment

General Requirements

This MA degree requires 36 hours and offers concentrations in Global Security, Law and Institutions, Global Economics, or Area Studies.
MAIS students enroll in a Global Policy Workshop for the culminating experience in the program, where students work together on a project of global policy significance. Students may also propose to write a traditional MA thesis as their culminating project.
It is strongly encouraged that students accepted into the program have had a significant international experience in the form of study, work ,or residence abroad before commencing the degree program. Students without such prior experience will be encouraged to undertake some study or work abroad of limited duration, as approved by their advisory committees, before completing the degree.
No more than 25 percent (nine credit hours) of the minimum 36 credit hours required for this master's degree may be transferred from other institutions, subject to the normal rules and procedures of the OU Graduate College.

Core Curriculum

IAS 5703: International Studies Colloquium

This class is intended for first-year MA students in the International Studies program. The purpose of the class is to introduce students to the broad, multi-disciplinary field of International Studies; give students practice in analytical writing, reading, and public speaking; and to familiarize students with IAS faculty members and their areas of expertise. The course will contain two components: The first component will consist of class meetings where students read broadly in the field of International Studies to gain an appreciation of the topics, debates, and challenges within the field, as well as how different global actors interact to address such challenges in world affairs. The second component will entail a class project, wherein students will be assigned to analyze a current ongoing problem in the field of International Studies and required to collectively develop a response to it.

IAS 5503: Theory and Practice of International Politics

This course examines the nature and operation of the international system. It does so primarily, though not exclusively, by emphasizing (1) the importance of rules, norms, institutions and practices in shaping the fundamental patterns of the social world; and (2) the role of human agency both in perpetuating and changing these building blocks of the international system. The first part of the course introduces major theoretical approaches to the study of International Relations (IR). The second part of the course provides students the opportunity to apply these theoretical tools to the study of the institutions and practices that structure international politics in several crucial issue-areas: diplomacy, international law, global governance, great power politics, and war. The course therefore seeks to provide students with the analytical tools to apply their understanding of these phenomena to the professional worlds of diplomacy and international affairs.

IAS 5713: Policy Analysis and Writing

This course aims to prepare students for a policy-oriented career in two ways. First, it will provide students with an organic understanding of the entire policy value chain, ranging from policy making to policy implementation and from policy diffusion to policy evaluation, and how various associated feedback loops shape the policy trajectories. Second, to build on a robust understanding of the policy cycle and its ecosystem, it will afford students an opportunity to develop skills to evaluate and engage in various forms of policy analysis. Students will be asked to conduct four forms policy analysis: a policy memo, a policy brief, a policy-focused Op-Ed, and a policy evaluation report.

IAS 5003: US Foreign Relations

This course aims to familiarize students with the foreign relations of the United States covering the history of US foreign relations, how the US creates and conducts its foreign policy, and contemporary US foreign policy challenges. The goal of the class is to acquaint students with the unique role played by the US on the world stage both throughout history and in contemporary world affairs. The course draws materials from a wide variety of disciplines and focuses on understanding major trends in US foreign relations, connecting history to contemporary events, and developing critical thinking and writing skills.

IAS 5723: Global Policy Workshop or MA Thesis

This course serves as a culminating, capstone experience for the MA in International Studies degree program. It is intended to provide students the opportunity to integrate the knowledge and skills they have gained in the course of their program of study, and to apply them in a practical and/or experiential manner to significant contemporary global policy issues. The applied component of the course will typically involve either an extended simulation exercise, or a project for a real-world client organization.

For those students wanting to write an MA Thesis, students must write a proposal that outlines their topic, details their justification for wanting to write a thesis, and lists the 3 faculty who have agreed to serve on the committee (including a chairperson). This proposal must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee for approval, no later than April 15 the year before the student intends to graduate.

Distributions/Concentrations

(21 hours)
Courses listed are not exhaustive of courses that may fulfill a distribution.

Global Economics: 3 hours
IAS 5523 Global Political Economy
IAS 5273 Survey of International Economics
IAS 5323 Political Economy of Development
ECON 5613 International Economics

Global Security: 3 hours
IAS 5043 Global Security
IAS 5223 European Security
PSC 5553 International Security
PSC 5653 Low Intensity Conflict

Law and Institutions: 3 hours
IAS 5013 International Law
IAS 5213 Politics of the EU
IAS 5940 Law and Globalization
IAS 5940 Global Governance

Area Studies: 6 hours
IAS 5453 Politics and Policy of the Middle East
IAS5133 Chinese Politics
IAS 5213 Politics of the EU
IAS 5353 Latin American International Relations
IAS 5940: Global Environment
IAS 5940: Politics of Language

Electives: 6 hours as approved by Graduate Liaison

Master of Arts in International Studies