Boston University, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies

 

The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University (BU) offers a wide range of program choices, small classes, inspiring faculty, and generous financial aid. The school’s graduate programs attract students from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds.

“The Pardee School is an exceptional place for students to follow their passions in cultivating a multidisciplinary career path in international affairs,” says Dean Adil Najam.

A recent curriculum redesign retains and strengthens popular options that allow students to combine their studies in international relations with communication, religion, development, and environmental affairs. To further expand students’ options for advancing their educational and career goals, the redesigned curriculum also includes options for specializing in areas such as diplomacy, international public health policy, and security studies. The newly redesigned master’s degrees include the following:

• The two-year Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) program prepares students for a wide variety of careers in international relations and offers five functional specializations: Diplomacy; International Communication; Global Economic Affairs; Security Studies; and Religion and International Affairs.
• The one-and-a-half year MA in Global Policy (MAGP) provides a rigorous grounding in core skills of global policy and offers three functional specializations: Environmental Policy; Development Policy; and International Public Health Policy.
• The one-year Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) is designed for mid-career professionals who already have relevant experience. It aims to provide international relations professionals with the analytical skills and knowledge they need to enhance their professional careers and their impact on policy-related matters. Students design an interdisciplinary program suited to their individual needs and interests.

The programs build on a set of core skills and knowledge in global affairs, negotiation and diplomacy, economics and statistics, and policy analysis. Within their chosen degree program, students may pursue a functional specialization to develop an in-depth, policy-relevant understanding in the context of a rigorous academic environment.

To complement their training in a chosen field, students may pursue a certificate in African Studies or Asian Studies.

The Pardee School also continues to offer an MA in Latin American Studies and two dual degrees: MA in International Relations and Juris Doctor (MA/JD); and MA in International Relations and MBA (MA/MBA). In addition to redesigned graduate programs, the Pardee School recently introduced a five-year BA in International Relations/MA in International Affairs (BA/MAIA) program that supports the academic and career goals of undergraduate students by allowing them to graduate with a rigorous professional MA in International Affairs with only one additional year of coursework.

“Our redesigned graduate programs have retained and strengthened our popular options for professional degrees that bring together international relations with communication, religion, development and environmental affairs, while adding new options to now also be able to leave with specializations in areas such as diplomacy, health, and security studies,” says Najam.

Master’s Degrees offered: See Program Directory

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