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MA in International Studies

»Master of Arts in International Studies

In today’s global environment, expertise in international affairs is essential to understanding the contemporary world. The Master of Arts in International Studies is a two-year, full-time, interdisciplinary course of study designed to train students seeking global careers with the U.S. Foreign Service, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the United Nations (UN), or businesses. Students have the option of choosing an emphasis in Latin America or Political Economy and Sustainable Development.

This is a cohort degree program. Students must complete 45 credits of academic work, demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to having completed two courses in the language at the 300 level, complete a 240 hour international internship, and successfully complete a master's thesis.

Internships:
All students complete an international internship between their first and second years of study. These internships immerse students in culture and real-world work overseas, providing them with language and professional skills in the field to which they aspire. For example, past students who hoped to pursue a career in the NGO arena participated in international internships with Global Vision International, the Foundation for Sustainable Development and others.

Admission to the Program and Prerequisites:

Students are accepted into the M.A. in International Studies program on a rolling admissions basis. To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the following:
Application to the Master of Arts in International Studies program
Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions attended
A graduate admission test may not be required if your bachelor's degree cumulative GPA is 3.0 or above. If your GPA is between 2.5 and 2.99, you may be considered for admission by submitting a satisfactory test score.
Two letters of recommendation, including one from an academic source, which describes your professional and academic abilities
A 1,000-word essay addressing your background and interest in the field of international studies

If you would like to set up a visit to Chapman University to meet the director of the M.A. International Studies Program or sit in on a class, please contact Allison Tritch at tritch@chapman.edu.

Financing Your Education:

Chapman is an exceptional education value. Explore Chapman's generous fellowships, scholarship and loan programs to help you get started today. Please contact a financial aid advisor regarding the financial aid opportunities available to you.

Fellowships are available though the Master of Arts inInternational Studies Program on a need and merit basis.

Financial Aid Office: 714.997.6741, finaid@chapman.edu, Financial Aid Website

Program Brochure

Course Study
Internships
Director
Faculty
Sigma Iota Rho

This is a cohort degree program. Students must complete 45 credits of academic work, demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to having completed two courses in the language at the 300 level, complete a 240 hour international internship, and successfully complete a master's thesis.

Click here for the requirements for the Master of Arts in International Studies Degree

All students complete an international internship between their first and second years of study. These internships immerse students in culture and work overseas, providing them with language and professional skills in the field to which they aspire. For example, students who hope to pursue a career in the NGO arena will participate in an international internship with an NGO.

	Rory Burke '11 Global Starz Japan, China, Australia, England, Ireland I worked as On-Site Trip Director for Global Starz, which is a travel sports program that brings American student-athletes overseas. During my internship I was lucky enough to travel all over the world including Japan, China, Australia, England, and Ireland throughout the summer of 2010. I had a tremendous time meeting new people and experiencing new cultures while I was abroad for my internship.
	Derrick Carter '11 U.S Department of Commerce International Trade Administration ¨C Foreign Commercial Service - Brussels, Belgium - Embassy of the United States My experience was an excellent professional development experience. I had an opportunity to strengthen my relationship management skills, learn diplomacy strategies, and understand the dynamic international environment. Furthermore, the cultural environment of working in an international governmental organization is one you cannot receive by working domestically or Washington D.C. The opportunity to stay on with the international arm of the Department of Commerce is quite limited after the internship, because most positions are classified under the Foreign Service Officer program, which is announced every two years.
	Juliana Moreno '11 U.S. Department of State Geneva, Switzerland My summer internship as part of the Masters in International Studies program opened the door to a series of chapters in my life. I was privileged to visit Geneva, Switzerland on two occasions. The first time was part of a fifteen week internship during the summer of 2009. I worked for both the Diplomatic Security Office and the Public Affairs Office at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The second was for a Women’s Leadership conference in December 2009. This visit was sponsored by the Masters of Arts in International Studies program, Wilkinson's College, the Dean of Students and the Chancellor. Resulting from those experiences, I was given the opportunity to work for the U.S. Department of State Los Angeles Field Office as Program Assistant, I have been working there for over a year now, and I will become part of the civil service upon graduation. I have had an incredible journey thus far, and I do not expect any less for the future. The experiences were truly eye-opening. It is this kind of motivation that gives me and others the incentive to pursuit success. This lesson will continue to guide me throughout my life and work.
	Emily Novick '11 Global Vision International San Francisco de Tortuguero, Costa Rica I went to San Francisco de Tortuguero, Costa Rica with one of the other members of the program, Danielle Velasquez. While there we were working on Educational and Community Development projects within the village. At the local school, since Danielle and I are fluent Spanish speakers, we taught the children, ages 5-13 basic subjects like Math in Spanish and for those who desired to learn we would teach private English lessons. One of the other things we started was the planning of an arts and crafts area at the school. We also worked to beautify the school a bit because education in that region of the country is not stressed and it was difficult getting the children to come. We would also spend time on Friday nights with the adults in the community participating in intercambios, or dialogue in English and Spanish so that all of us could better our skills!
	Ashley Romero '11 Foundation for Sustainable Development/ Educaser La Plata, Argentina I did my internship with Educaser under the supervision of The Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) teaching children about environmental issues and how to lead sustainable lives. Participating in an internship in a foreign country and with underprivileged kids was one of the best experiences of my life. I learned so much about myself and Argentine culture. It was a completely different kind of education, one that can never be found inside the classroom. I am very thankful that the MAIS program makes the internship a requirement because it was a great excuse to go abroad while gaining valuable experience.
	Roxanna Sanchez '11 Seva Mandir: Rural Development Rajastian, India Through my internship in India ''Seva Mandir,'' I had the opportunity to become deeply committed towards improving the lives of poor women and the female child in rural villages of Udaipur, Rajasthan. I trained and educated women in regards to women's empowerment as a tremendous resource for social change and a prerequisite in the broader fight against global poverty, development and gender equity. Training and Education taught women in Udaipur about their own rights and how the most profound changes arise when we work not only with the most disempowered, but with the people and structures around them that can assist them with their struggle for a life with dignity. At the end of the day, we all strive for a world in which a person's rights, responsibilities, opportunities and dignity are determined not by their status as male or female, but as a human being.
	Dilshan Somaweera '11 U.S. Department of State (Bureau of International Organization Affairs) Washington D.C. "My MAIS coursework, in particular Dr. Kanavou's class, had more than adequately prepared me for the duties that I was asked to assume" Through my internship I was made aware of the complexities of multilateral diplomacy, and the incredible degree of coordination that is required to develop comprehensive solutions for global issues. As an intern in the office of UN Political Affairs (UNP) within the Bureau of International Organization Affairs (IO) I did the following: Drafted memoranda for the US Secretary of State apprising her of the upcoming business to be conducted in the UN Security Council; updated, drafted, coordinated and secured approval for "annotated agenda papers" for the 65th UN General Assembly; wrote briefing papers for the bureau's Assistant Secretary; and coordinated remarks to be delivered in the UN Security Council by the US Permanent Representative or other senior officials.

Watch interviews of MAIS students discussing their internships abroad.

Rory Burke '11
Global Starz
Japan, China, Australia, England, Ireland
I worked as On-Site Trip Director for Global Starz, which is a travel sports program that brings American student-athletes overseas. During my internship I was lucky enough to travel all over the world including Japan, China, Australia, England, and Ireland throughout the summer of 2010. I had a tremendous time meeting new people and experiencing new cultures while I was abroad for my internship.

Dr. Victoria Carty – Assistant Professor of Sociology

Victoria Carty's research focuses on transnational social movements in the United States, Mexico and Panama and role of the internet in social mobilization. Her research has explored cross-border union organizing and anti-sweatshop movements in Latin America. Dr. Carty has written several journal articles and book chapters on this topic. Most recently, she published a book titled, Wired and Mobilizing: Social Movements, New Technology, and Electoral Politics(Routledge Press). She is also very interested in public sociology, specifically issues of immigration and homelessness in Orange County.

Roosevelt Hall, Chapman University, One University Dr., Orange, CA 92866
714.744.2137
carty@chapman.edu

MAIS Core Faculty Members

The M.A. in International Studies faculty is drawn from a variety of countries andseveral academic disciplines including political science, sociology, languages and law. In addition to their scholarly training they bring experience gained from working in the United Nations, UN-affiliated nongovernmental organizations, journalism, and social activist organizations.

	Deepa Badrinarayana, L.L.M., S.J.D. Associate Professor of Law Professor Badrinarayana's areas of expertise include environmental law, public health law, international trade, and corporate social responsibility. She has served as a consultant with the United Nations Global Compact and on India-World Bank environmental projects.
	Mauricio Benitez, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Benitez specializes in comparative politics, with emphasis on public policy, territorial politics, political parties, and research methods. He has carried out extensive fieldwork in Mexico interviewing key political figures.
	Victoria Carty, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Carty focuses on transnational social movements and role of the internet in social mobilization. Her research has explored cross-border union organizing and anti-sweatshop movements in Latin America.
	Lynn Horton, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Horton's research has emphasized social movements, environmentalism, and women's rights in Central America. She has worked for NGOs in Washington D.C. and Latin America on issues of human rights and sustainable development.
	Nubar Hovsepian, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Hovsepian's research has explored Middle East politics, globalization, and democratization. His extensive professional experience includes journalism and service with the United Nations Conference on the Question of Palestine
	Angeliki Kanavou, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Kanavou's areas of interest include peace and conflict, negotiations, security studies, and international relations theory. She has recently conducted fieldwork in Cambodia exploring the legacies of genocide.
	Laura R. Loustau, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Spanish Dr. Loustau's expertise includes Latin American literatures written in the United States as well as U.S. Latino/a literatures. Her research explores notions of border, de(re)territorialization, nomadism, and transculturation.
	Crystal Murphy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Murphy's research focuses on conflict and post-conflict development, political economy and sustainability topics, and promotes qualitative methods for policy oriented scholarship. She has recently worked in the Sudan exploring micro-credit programs in post-war societies.
	Raymond Sfeir Ph.D. Professor of Economics and Management Science Dr. Sfeir's areas of expertise include microeconomics, applied econometrics, statistics, and forecasting. His research explores operations research, capital asset pricing, and manufacturing sector performance.
	Pilar Valenzuela, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Spanish Dr. Valenzuela's research focuses on Latin America, indigenous languages, and intercultural bilingual education. With funding from the National Science Foundation, she has documented endangered indigenous languages in the Amazon.
	Donald Will, Ph.D. Professor of Political Science Dr. Will's research emphasis includes peace and conflict, comparative politics, and southern Africa. He has worked as a non-governmental observer at the United Nations and conducted courses and fieldwork in South Africa.
	Tekle Woldemikael Ph.D. Professor of Sociology Dr. Woldemikael's areas of expertise include immigrants and refugees, racial identity, ethnicity and nationalism, language and public policy. His recent research has focused on the formation of Eritrean nationalist movements and religion.

Adjunct Faculty

Dr. Ariane Dalla Dea
dea@chapman.edu
Office: RO 201

Mr. Matthew Sant
sant@chapman.edu
Office: RO 102

Mr. James Watson
jawatson@chapman.edu
Office: RO 102

Sigma Iota Rho: The Honor Society for International Studies, Delta Mu Chapter

The Honor Society for International Studies, Sigma Iota Rho was first established in 1984 and now claims over 100 chapters on campuses across thenation. The Chapman University chapter, Delta Mu, was established primarily as a means to honor those students who have excelled academically and have shown extracurricular achievement. The purpose of the Society is to promote and reward scholarship and service among students of International Studies, and to foster integrity and creative performance in the understanding of world affairs. Download Application.

Benefits of Membership:
- Opportunity to attend conferences at the United Nations, World Bank and more
- Opportunity to receive research and travel grant funding
- Access to professional networks
- Certificate attesting membership status Sigma Iota Rho lapel pin
- Copy of the latest issue of the nationally distributed Journal of International Relations, with an opportunity for contribution to the journal as an author or an editor
- Free chapter subscription to the Internationalist magazine
- Graduation regalia: honor cord (included) or stole (discounted purchase)
- Along with the tangible list of benefits surely come such things as life-long relationships, personal growth, development and realization of the leadership potential, opportunities to deepen one's understanding of international affairs, and have fun!
- More Details
Membership Requirements:
- You must be a:
  - Master's candidate for International Studies who has completed at least one semester of graduate level work or
  - An undergraduate with junior or senior standing who has completed at least twenty-one (21) units of coursework in anthropology, economics, foreign languages, history, peace studies, political science, or related disciplines,including two courses at the 300 or 400 level.
- You must achieve and maintain GPA of 3.3
- Pay national dues of $45.00
Questions: Contact Allison Tritch at tritch@chapman.edu or (714) 997-6752.

Contact Us

Victoria Carty, Ph.D.
Director, M.A. in International Studies
(714) 744-2137
carty@chapman.edu

Allison Tritch
Administrative Assistant for M.A. in International Studies
(714) 997-6752
tritch@chapman.edu
mais@chapman.edu

For additional admission information, please contact:
Office of Graduate Admission
888-CU-APPLY / (714) 997-6711
gradadmit@chapman.edu
www.chapman.edu/gradadmission

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Adjunct Faculty

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