M.S. Program in International Studies, 30 Credits

CCSU was designated by the State of Connecticut as a Center for Excellence in International Education in 1986. Since then the University has developed a wide variety of programs and initiatives supporting this aspect of its mission. Development of the Master of Science in International and Area Studies resulted from the institution’s established commitment to global awareness. The courses that comprise the M.S. program core are designed to deepen and extend one’s knowledge of present and past world affairs, facilitate social and cultural understanding, and improve knowledge of and communication in multinational affairs.

Each individual program for the Master of Science in International and Area Studies (30 credits) is designed by students in consultation with their faculty advisors to ensure that personal career goals and research interests are accommodated. Students who prefer to develop a program related to a country or world area not represented among CCSU’s Area Studies programs, may receive consideration within the program’s scope. For their areal or topical specialization, students select courses from a variety of disciplines, including modern languages, history, geography, political science, economics, anthropology, religion, communication and others, provided at the University.

To ensure adequate preparation for a career or further study in international affairs, language competency related to the area of specialization is required. Mid-level reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills may be demonstrated by examination or through appropriate course work.

Initially, on acceptance to the program, students are assigned to the International and Area Studies Curriculum Director for advice.  As soon as possible, students will be assigned to an advisor appropriate to their regional or thematic specialization.  This advisor will normally serve as the faculty member supervising the advisee’s research course and thesis, special project or comprehensive examination.

 

Program Overview

A multidisciplinary program leading to the Master of Science in International and Area Studies is offered through the International and Area Studies Committee for students who wish either to study a specific area of the world, such as Africa, East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Western Europe, or Eastern Europe, or to develop a program with a global, theoretical, or conceptual perspective. 

Program Rationale:

The Master’s of Science in the International Studies program educates students in several key areas of the world: Middle East, Africa, Asia, Western Europe and European Union, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Students are grounded in theories of internationalization, history of diverse countries and regions, cross-cultural communication, and cosmologies of various international cultures and are provided programmatic, analytical, and practical skills to address international issues. The program prepares generalists to work in governmental and non-governmental organizations within and outside of the United States to address issues related to the global human experience.

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students in this program will:

• produce a capstone project on internationalism, based on primary research conceptualized and conducted, as guided by the Graduate Studies guidelines

• demonstrate ability to communicate at the intermediate level in the language of the region of their specializations

• be able to write a well-researched, clearly theorized, and analytical papers that explain issues concerning internationalism; and

• understand, through hands-on experience or comprehensive course work, the history, culture, social, political and economic structure of the region in which they specialize.
  

 

Program Requirements

 

30 credits in International Studies

Common Core (15 credits) 

IS 570	Modern World Issues
IS 571	International Diversity and Integration
COMM 543	Intercultural Communication
GEOG 544	The Geography of World Economic Development
LING 515	An Introduction to Sociolinguistics
PS 501	Advanced Studies in International Law

 

Specialization (9 credits)

Approved courses in one of the following areas of study: African Studies, East Asian Studies, European Union/West European Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle Eastern Studies or Slavic/East European Studies; or approved courses to constitute a cohesive specialization with a global, theoretical or conceptual perspective.

Note: No more than 6 credit hours at the 400 level, as approved by the graduate advisor, may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study.

Research and Capstone Requirements (6 credits)

Plan A: IS 598 Research in International Studies and IS 599 Thesis in International Studies        

or

Plan C: IS 598 Research in International Studies and IS 595 Special Project in International Studies

 

(see Thesis Proposal Guidelines)

Language Requirement

The International Studies program requires that all students have a level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of a single modern language— preferably in their area of geographical specialization— equal to the completion of the 226 level.

Graduate Admission Policy:

In addition to the regular Graduate School admission requirements, students applying for a Master of Science degree in International Studies must submit a current resume and a statement of purpose (see below)  that addresses one's past experiences and career goals. The applicant should also specify the world region in which they choose to concentrate. Each application must be sent electronically or by mail to the International Studies Director, Dr. David A. Kideckel, kideckel@mail.ccsu.edu.

Applicants applying for the fall semester are required to have submitted all required materials by May 1; applicants for the spring semester by November 1. 

 
Applicant Statement of Purpose

The Applicant's statement of purpose should address his or her career goals as well as his or her reasons for choosing a specific regional specialty in a narrative of no more than four double-spaced, typed pages. As part of that narrative, the applicant should be certain to address the following questions:

1.  How have your educational experiences in international and area studies/or other fields prepared you for this program?

2.  How do your previous work experiences relate to your planned study?

3.  On which region of the world do you intend to focus?

4.  How do you plan to use/apply international and area studies in your professional career?

5.  What motivated you to pursue this field?