UC Berkeley Journalism - Program - International and Area Studies

Dual Degree in International and Area Studies

The MA degree in International and Area Studies is a two-year Masters program available to students who have already matriculated in one of UC Berkeley's professional or academic graduate programs. It is an interdisciplinary program designed to complement other graduate degree work by providing the fundamentals of contemporary international issues and/or detailed knowledge on particular world regions or countries. Students tailor the content of their programs within a defined framework to suit their interests. Specific course work is chosen in strict consultation with a faculty advisor.

Eligibility

Any student currently enrolled in a professional degree or Ph.D. program at UC Berkeley is eligible to apply. Students must have at least one year remaining in their current degree program and be able to demonstrate proficiency in a modern foreign language equivalent to the completion of four semesters of college-level instruction.

Courses

Students may organize their course work around either a topical or an area concentration.

A topic-oriented program concentrates on selected aspects of current international affairs. Course work might combine studies in economics, political science, and contemporary history and could focus on international, transnational, or global issues such as trade, investment, security, communications, environment, multi-culturalism, or migration.

An area-oriented program would focus either on a major country or region of the world and could have a strong historical or cultural dimension. An area focused program might call for work in regional history, anthropology, geography, and sociology.

All students must demonstrate a strong grounding in economics and politics. Students who have not completed equivalent course work prior to entering the program must take two intermediate-level economics courses, such as Econ 100A and B, and at least one graduate-level course in political science such as Theories of Development and Political Change; The Nation-Building Process; Comparative Political Economy; or International Political Economy. Note that these are suggested courses. Please consult the faculty advisor for other possible courses.

Minimum Requirements for the Degree

(1) A minimum of 24 units of course work, independent of courses undertaken for the professional or Ph.D. degree is required. At least twelve of the minimum 24 units must be graduate-level course work. All courses must be outside the professional school or department in which the student is registered.

(2) Demonstrated proficiency in a modern foreign language relevant to the focus of program of study equivalent to the completion of four college-level semesters of basic language study. None of the courses taken to fulfill this requirement count toward the degree. A maximum of four units of advanced language courses, if relevant to the focus of the student's program, may count toward the degree.

(3) A written thesis or oral comprehensive exam based on the program of courses.

How to apply

Applications are to be submitted by graduate students during the spring semester of their first year of study at one of UCB's professional schools or Ph.D. programs. Students in degree programs requiring more than two years may apply in the spring semester of their second to last year of work.

The complete IAS MA application includes:

Application form
Statement of Purpose
Two letters of recommendation from Berkeley faculty
Graduate Petition for Change of Major or Degree Goal (from Graduate Division Office, 302 Sproul)
Supplementary Documents (see below)
UC Berkeley transcripts including the fall semester preceding the application deadline
A current resume or curriculum vitae

Applicants must also request copies of the following documents to be forwarded from the graduate or professional program in which they are currently enrolled.

Transcripts (from all schools attended after high school)
Forms A, B, F, G/W
GRE/GMAT/LSAT scores

Complete applications should be brought or sent to the IAS Teaching Program Office, 101 Stephens Hall. Applications are due in the Spring term for Fall admissions and may be downloaded on the IAS Web site. Please contact the department for exact application deadlines and for office hours.

For more information, please contact:
International and Area Studies Teaching Program

101 Stephens Hall #2306
Berkeley, CA 94720-2306
510-642-4466
iasma@berkeley.edu