The dual African and African Diaspora Studies M.A./International Relations Ph.D. pathway allows qualified graduate students to pursue both degrees at the same time.
Admission Requirements
To be accepted into this pathway, students must submit an application for the M.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies/Ph.D. in International Relations by January 15 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.
To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:
1. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in undergraduate work.
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in any prior graduate work.
3. Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.
4. International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 90 on the IBT TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or 232 on the computer-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required.
Applicants must follow the admission procedures for both programs (see the appropriate sections in this graduate catalog). Only applications to begin studies in the fall semester will be considered. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application, and students must indicate their intention to apply for this combined degree pathway.
Each applicant must complete an online graduate application form and arrange to send transcripts of all prior college (undergraduate and graduate) work and official reports of the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) and TOEFL (if applicable) to FIU's Office of Graduate Admissions.
Each applicant should also submit a separate statement of purpose, along with copies of the above material. The letter of application should include a statement expressing the applicant's academic and professional objectives. Applicants must include writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support their applications. Applicants must request three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the various aspects of the student's academic ability. The letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Director of the African and African Diaspora Studies Graduate Program. AADS will photocopy the recommendation letters once they are all in and send them to the International Relations Graduate Program Director.
The application file must be complete before the African and African Diaspora Studies/International Relations Graduate Program Committees will consider the applicant for admission. We encourage applicants to send their application material sooner.
Required Credits
Students must fulfill the requirements for both programs. The 30 credits for the M.A. in AADS earned by students will count toward the 75 credits required for the Ph.D. in INR.
Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English according to the nature of their thesis or research paper/proposal and professional interests. The AADS Graduate Program Director will ask a university faculty member fluent in the language of interest to the student, to evaluate the student's fluency by asking her/him to summarize or synthesize the content of a text of between 10 to 20 pages, published in that language, in no more than one page. That exercise will have to take place at the university during a limited period of time. The text will be given to the student at the beginning of the exercise. The chosen text will have some connection to the student's research interest. Once a student has demonstrated proficiency for the M.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies, that proficiency will be recognized by the International Relations Ph.D. program. Therefore, proficiency in a foreign language will not be part of the candidacy exam. Credit hours earned in meeting the language requirement will not count towards the 30 credit hours required for the M.A. degree.
Students should apply for graduation with the M.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies as soon as they have completed all requirements for the degree – including the exit requirements, as specified for the M.A. in African and African Diaspora Studies. Ordinarily, students will complete these requirements and earn their M.A. before advancing to candidacy for the Ph.D. in International Relations. The research paper/proposal option is the only option available for students enrolled in this dual M.A./Ph.D. pathway.
Masters of Arts in African and African Diaspora Studies Requirements
This 30-credit, one year, three-semester program occurring over the Fall, Spring and Summer includes 9 credits of core AADS courses, 6 credits of core International Relations courses, and 15 credits of electives. There is also a Foreign Language Requirement.
M.A. in AADS Core Courses: (9 credits)
AFA 5005 African and African Diaspora Studies Theory (3 credits)
AFA 5855 Research Methods in African and African Diaspora Studies (3 credits)
AFA 6920 African and African Diaspora Studies Graduate Colloquium (3 credits —1 credit over three semesters)
Combined M.A. in AADS/PhD in International Relations Core Courses: (6 credits)
INR 5609 Contemporary Dynamics of International Relations (3 credits)
INR 6706 Political Economy of International Relations (3 credits)
M.A in AADS Elective (15 credits)
15 credits of elective courses with an AADS focus may be from outside the International Relations Department and within the Green School and/or the College of Arts & Sciences. Students wishing to take courses outside of the Green School and the college of Arts & Sciences must seek prior approval.
M.A. in AADS Research Proposal or Paper Option
To graduate from the M.A. in AADS, students enrolled in this combined M.A.PhD pathway must elect to complete either a research proposal or research paper for their exit option. Those who elect to write a research proposal must take AFA 6911 Research PaperProposal Writing in African and African Diaspora Studies.
Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations (75 credits)
The following courses in addition to all 30 M.A. credits:
INR 5615 Research Design in International Relations 3
INR 6604 International Relations Theory I 3
INR 6608 Contemporary International Relations Theory 3
Second methods course from the following list (or another methods course approved by the Graduate Program Director):
INR 5616 Qualitative and Interpretive Methods in International Relations
POS 5706 Graduate Seminar in Political Science Research Methods
ECO 7424 Econometric Methods I
ANG 6480 Ethnohistorical Research Methods
ANG 6497 Qualitative Research Methods
GIS 5935 Topics in GIS
PAD 7705 Applied Quantitative Analysis I
PAD 7707 Applied Quantitative Analysis II
PAD 7703C Empirical Methods in Public Administration
Gateway courses (6 credits)
Two out of INR 5017 Approaches to Area Studies, INR 6338 Strategic Studies, and either INR 5409 International Law I or INR 5507 International Organizations.
Major and Minor Fields: (9 credits)
Major field of study 6
Minor field of study 3
Comprehensive Examinations (6 credits)
Once students have achieved 60 credits of course work, they must sit for written examinations on the core sequence of their fields as per the Ph.D. in INR section of the catalog.
Dissertation: (15 credits)
See the university catalog for relevant sections of the Ph.D. Program in International Relations for details.