»MA in International Studies Program Handbook

The information within this handbook is accurate as of the time of publication. Students are responsible for informing themselves of and satisfactorily meeting all requirements pertinent to their relationship with the University. Students and others who use this handbook should be aware that the information changes from time to time at the sole discretion of Chapman University and that these changes may alter information contained in this handbook. More current and complete information may be obtained in the appropriate department, school, or administrative offices. The University reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to make any changes to all rules, policies, procedures, and any other information that pertains to students or to the institution including but not limited to, admission, registration, tuition and fees, attendance, curriculum requirements, conduct, academic standing, candidacy, and graduation. This handbook does not constitute a contract or terms or conditions of a contract between the student and Chapman University.

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The Graduate Catalog is considered the official representation of program requirements for all graduate programs at Chapman University. One should enroll for courses by comparing the required courses listed on the Graduate Catalog page of their program with the offerings for the semester.

Make sure you select the correct catalog from the drop-down menu.

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Chapman University has two food pantries to support students experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity is defined by many as: the inability to have two meals a day and have access to healthy food. Chapman food pantries provide an assortment of healthy meal options to facilitate student success at Chapman.

Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Counseling

The Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Therapy is offering free counseling to all Chapman graduate students. These services include those suffering from anxiety, depression, relationship issues, family problems, and other mental health issues. To access care, call the Center's mainline (714–997–6746), press "1" for intake line, and follow the instructions.

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The Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University is a unifying presence on the Chapman campus that provides personalized services and relevant collections in support of the curricular, creative, and scholarly needs of students, faculty, staff, and community. Whether you are seeking sources for a final paper, want to take advantage of article databases, or need to format your thesis, librarians and library staff are available to guide you.

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Wilkinson College Graduate Career Resources

Chapman University and the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Career Resources offer comprehensive personalized career services for graduate students and alumni. Wilkinson's Graduate Programs Coordinator and Career Advisor are available for one-on-one advising appointments and can provide you with program-specific career support.

Thesis Proposal

• MA International Studies Thesis Proposal
• MA International Studies Thesis Proposal Submission Form

Thesis Committee Form - Due within first 4 weeks of thesis defense term

• Thesis Committee Form & Instructions
• Thesis Committee Approval Submission Form

Other Files

• MA International Studies Thesis Cover Page Logo

Victoria Carty, Wilkinson College, Department of Sociology
Research Interests: Transnational social movements, immigration, public sociology

Minju Kwon, Wilkinson College, Department of Political Science
Research Interests: State and non-state actors’ compliance with international law, International human rights, humanitarian law

Angela Lederach, Wilkinson College, Department of Peace and Justice Studies 
Research Interests: social movements, nonviolence, peacebuilding, environmental justice, food sovereignty, youth, migration/displacement

Andrea Molle, Wilkinson College, Department of Political Science
Research Interests: East Asia, Europe, religious extremism, warfare, and strategic studies

Crystal Murphy, Wilkinson College, Department of Political Science
Research Interests: Economy, post-conflict development, NGOs, sustainability, Middle East, and East Africa

Students generally take three courses (9 units) in each the fall and spring semesters. Students typically finish in two years, spreading 36 units of coursework over four semesters.

All graduate students must prepare and defend, under the direction of a core faculty member, a thesis project of distinction in order to complete their degree. Additionally, students must complete 240 hours of internship experience, and demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language.

This sample timeline is based on a typical student who matriculates in the Fall semester and maintains full-time status.

Year 1 – First Semester (Fall)

• Enroll in IS 505: Research Design, which includes an overview of research techniques and methodologies in the field of International Studies. Other courses can be any combination of required and elective coursework.
• Plan on how you will be demonstrating your foreign language competency.
• Connect with Wilkinson College’s Graduate Program Coordinator and/or Career Resources on Internship possibilities.

Year 1 – Second Semester (Spring)

• Compare the course offerings with your program requirements, enrolling in any combination of required courses.
• By the middle of the second semester, begin to consider who might serve as your thesis director. Confirm your thesis director and enroll in the thesis course starting the second year.
• Starting in the spring term and going into summer, complete your internship.

Year 2 – Third Semester (Fall)

• Continue taking required coursework and enroll in the first 3 units of IS 698: Thesis with the thesis director.
• In consultation with the thesis director, complete the thesis proposal and draft the thesis. The thesis director may provide a reading list to guide the student during the drafting of the thesis.
• By the end of the third semester, the student should have completed (or have a plan to complete) the foreign language requirement and internship requirement.

Year 2 – Fourth Semester (Spring)

• Enroll in remaining coursework and the final 3 required units of IS 698: Thesis with your thesis director to finalize drafting and revision.
• In consultation with the thesis director, determine the thesis committee, defense date, and complete the MA Thesis Committee Approval Form.
• Apply to Graduate.
• Complete the thesis, including the thesis defense.
• Submit the thesis to Leatherby Libraries.

Year 3 & Beyond

Sometimes, students take less than the average course load and spread remaining classes and/or thesis over multiple years. Students should talk with the Graduate Programs Coordinator or Program Director about these plans. Students have seven years from their admitted term to complete their program.

Current requirements for the MA program, as well as all courses offered, are included in the Graduate Catalog; this information is not duplicated here in this handbook. The student’s individual Program Evaluation in the Learning Management System is designed to help the student understand degree requirements and track progress toward the degree.

Log into the Leaning Management System at StudentCenter.chapman.edu.

Students are also permitted to enroll in graduate-level courses in other colleges/departments at Chapman University that have a significant international focus with the approval of the Program Director.

Examples include:

• ENG 543 - Written War/Writing War
• HIST 529 - War and Society Elective Course
• POSC 500 - US Presidents at War

Additionally, up to six credits of travel courses may also be accepted for academic credit with prior approval from the Program Director. More information on travel courses is available online at the Center for Global Education’s page for faculty-led travel courses.

All students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to having completed two courses in the language at the 300 level, or, by satisfactory results from a program-approved language proficiency exam. If a student has not yet achieved proficiency in a foreign language, they should make arrangements to improve their language skills as soon as possible upon entering the program. To gain language proficiency students may enroll in intensive language classes as part of their internships, enroll in or audit university language classes, and/or use online tutoring programs.

Students may document their proficiency in a foreign language in one of the following ways:

• Provide official transcripts to document that the student successfully completed two or more university foreign language courses at the 300-level or above
• Provide official transcripts to document that a student completed a high school and/or university degree in a foreign language
• Complete a program-approved language proficiency exam

The MAIS program recommends the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) reading and writing assessment. Any other exams must be approved by the program director.

• Students looking to take an ACTFL assessment need only go to ACTFL’s Individual Site, enter Chapman University as the institution name, and go through the online ordering and payment process.
• The program will reimburse the cost of an approved proficiency exam the first time a student takes it. Once the student has paid for the exam, please complete the MAIS Reimbursement Request form to initiate reimbursement.
• If a student needs to take the ACTFL or another assessment more than once, they will be responsible for the fee of the retest.
• It may take up to 8 weeks to receive assessment results, so students are encouraged to take the test in semester 3 at the latest.

Students should submit their language proficiency documentation to the Graduate Programs Coordinator, who will work with the Program Director and the Office of the Registrar to complete the requirement on the student’s program evaluation.

All students are expected to perform an international or domestic internship between their first and second year of study. These internships give students exposure to life and work in an international field context, while providing them an introduction into the sector to which they aspire. For example, students who hope to pursue a career in the NGO arena will participate in an internship with an NGO.

The intention of the internship requirement is for students to expand their global know-how and enhance professional skills through a 240-hour internship experience. Students choose from a variety of international options the summer after their first year. Students may work with non-governmental organizations in Africa to help alleviate poverty, explore trade issues in eastern Asia, promote gender equality in Latin America, investigate human rights issues in Europe, or assist in developing policy briefs for the U.S. State Department. These internships and the interdisciplinary focus of the International Studies program, which links global theory and practice, prepare graduates for a wide range of international careers in non-profit humanitarian and development work, diplomacy, education, and business.

Internship Criteria

The internship should incorporate a substantial international focus and serve to enhance student global knowledge, professional skills, and experience in working multicultural environments. Students may undertake an internship outside of the United States or complete an internship with the U.S. if the work has a primary international focus.

Students need to complete a total of 240 hours in their internship. These hours are generally completed over a single six-week period of full-time work between the student’s first and second year in the program. In some cases, students may choose to complete their 240 internship hours over a longer period of time, so they are able to conduct research and experience the global location they are working in. The internship can either be volunteer or paid. Students do not register the internship for course credit, as it is already part of their degree requirements. However, there are cases where registration may be required. Students should contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator and Program Director if they are unsure as to whether they should register for their internship.

Identifying an Internship

Students should consider their personal academic and professional goals in identifying potential internship sites. Students may also wish to combine work on an internship with data collection for their thesis. It is important to start this process early, as internships with well-known international and U.S. government institutions are highly competitive and have very early deadlines. Students may also contact organizations without established internship programs to see if an internship is possible. Examples of recent MAIS student internship sites include ActionAid, Red Cross, United Nations, and the U.S. Department of State.

A few websites that list opportunities for internships include devex, idealist, and reliefweb. Additionally, students are encouraged to check on-campus resources such as the Center for Global Education and Wilkinson College’s own Manager of Career Development.

Internship Approval and Funding

The internship must be approved by the program director. After completion of their internship students should request a letter from their internship supervisor confirming the dates and total number of hours worked. They should submit that letter to the Graduate Programs Coordinator, who will work with the Program Director and the Office of the Registrar to complete the requirement on the student’s program evaluation.

The MAIS program will reimburse each student for travel-related expenses incurred during their internship up to $2,000 with submission of a MAIS Reimbursement Request Form.

If students have questions about the administrative details of an internship, they should contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator and Program Director.

All candidates for an MA degree in International Studies at Chapman University must successfully write and orally defend a master’s thesis or thesis project to complete the program. The thesis demonstrates a student’s ability to create original scholarship that integrates both primary and secondary sources. The thesis is an original piece of scholarship, based primary source and data research, that examines aspects within the larger intersections of International Studies.

By the end of their first year in the program, the student will select and work closely with a core faculty member who will act as their thesis director and committee chair. This faculty member must approve the topic that the student submits in a formal proposal. 

Once the student enters the final year in the program, they are ready to begin the formal process of writing the MA thesis. Coursework related to this research and writing sequence (IS 698) must be taken over the span of two semesters. During the research and writing sequence, the student will construct and defend an argument that is supported by primary sources and data, and reflects the relevant secondary literature on their topic. They will also select a thesis committee (composed of three faculty members, including the thesis director) for approval by the program. By the end of the final semester, the student will be expected to orally defend their thesis in front of the thesis committee. Students enrolled in the program part-time or students who choose to skip a semester must complete all program requirements within seven years from when they first enrolled in the program. The thesis and defense must be completed successfully for degree conferral.

Identifying a Thesis Director & Enrolling in IS 698: Thesis

Once you’ve identified the broad subject area you are interested in exploring, you should think about who might serve as an appropriate thesis director.

There are several ways to go about considering a potential thesis director. One strategy is to consider professors in whose courses you have been or are enrolled. A second strategy is to look at our core faculty and their research interests to see whose expertise your project relates to at least loosely. That said, you need not have taken a class with the faculty member, and many faculty work in more than one area. If you’d like additional guidance, you can talk with the Program Director to brainstorm about who a suitable thesis director might be.

Students should contact faculty who may become their advisor at the end of second semester or early summer to make sure of their availability and fit.

Erolling in IS 698: Thesis

Once agreeing to serve as thesis director, the student and faculty member should reach out to the Graduate Programs Coordinator to enroll in IS 698: Thesis.

Each student receives their own unique section of IS 698: Thesis to enroll in. These sections are created specifically for each student only after approval by the Thesis Director.

The role of the thesis proposal is to provide a clear, specific idea of your project that will serve as a guide to the student, thesis director, and committee so they know what to expect from your project. A proposal should be general, but also should provide specific elements that go beyond a simple statement of the project. The proposal serves as the foundation of your project and will support the subsequent writing throughout the thesis drafting and revision process.

Typically, students complete the Thesis Proposal first four weeks of their first semester of IS 698: Thesis. All graduate students must have a thesis proposal approved by the thesis director prior to enrolling in their final thesis course.

The proposal should include the following components:

1. Hypothesis to be tested or research question to be addressed, background and rationale of the study, including:

1. General background of the subject area
2. Specific background for the topic of investigation
3. Definitions of all key terms
4. The hypothesis or research questions to be addressed

 2. Significance of the research

 3. Methodology

1. Identify and justify the choice of general approach and specific research method
2. Subjects (if applicable; describe them and your rationale for their selection)
3. Methods
4. Limitations

 4. Annotated bibliography with a minimum of 10 peer-reviewed sources

Once completed and approved by the thesis director, the student should submit the thesis proposal to the MAIS Thesis Proposal Submission Form. Within two weeks of receiving the thesis proposal, the student will be notified via their CU email address that the thesis proposal is approved or indicate what revisions are needed before resubmitting.

All graduate students must have a thesis proposal approved by the thesis director and Program Director prior to enrolling in their final thesis course.

With approval, students should contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator regarding enrollment in their final section of IS 698: Thesis.

Thesis Requirements & Formatting

Questions about the thesis guidelines should be addressed to the Program Director. Questions about an individual thesis should be addressed to the thesis director.

Thesis Requirements

• Enrollment in IS 698: Thesis. During the semester in which the student intends to complete and defend the thesis (usually the last semester of study), the student must enroll in IS 698: Thesis with their individual thesis director.
• Students who have completed all required units of IS 698 must be enrolled in thesis continuation, IS 698A/B. Students are required to be enrolled in order to defend, submit their thesis to the library, and have their degree conferred.

Additionally, the thesis must:

• Have a substantial international focus and incorporate theoretical perspectives and insights. The thesis should be analytical, rather than purely descriptive.
• Be a minimum of 50 pages, not including endnotes and bibliography.
• Include a minimum of 20 academic sources of peer-reviewed journal articles and/or books.
• Students may also include data from NGO, government, and other reputable sources, but these will not substitute for academic sources.
• Be double-spaced with one-inch margins and incorporate the MAIS thesis logo for the title pages
• Use MLA, APA, or ASA as the style correctly and consistently.
• Be approved in advance by Chapman’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) if the thesis is to invoice any fieldwork involving human subjects.

Thesis Formatting

Short Link: https://libguides.chapman.edu/dissertations

The thesis formatting guidelines are available at Leatherby Libraries as the MA/MS Thesis Checklist. Adherence to the library’s formatting guidelines is mandatory. However, some guidelines are optional. Students should check with their thesis director and/or the library’s Dissertations and Theses Librarian with any specific questions about formatting.

Please remember to use the MA in International Studies program logo on the title page of your thesis.

After enrollment in IS 698 Thesis during the term the student plans to defend the thesis, the thesis committee form must be submitted to the online submission form within the first three to four weeks of the semester during which the student is enrolled in thesis.

In consultation with the thesis director and/or Program Director, the student should request two additional faculty members to serve on their thesis committee. The committee will consist of the thesis director, the second reader, and the third reader.

Part-time faculty are not eligible to serve on thesis committees. A faculty member at another institution or a specialist in a relevant field may be considered in special circumstances; this requires additional approval.

The thesis committee approval form must be submitted via the online submission portal within the first four weeks of the semester they intend on defending their thesis. The student should request two additional faculty members to serve on their thesis committee. All three committee members must sign the form agreeing to serve on the thesis committee.

The Thesis Committee Approval Form requires a date and time for a thesis defense. That planning should be a part of the committee’s forming discussions. The student and thesis director should build a timeline based on the term’s deadlines for thesis defenses and library submissions. The scheduled date and time may be tentatively set, and any changes should be communicated to the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

Any changes to an approved thesis committee must be approved by the thesis director, Program Director, and Graduate Programs Coordinator. In the event that the student or a committee member anticipates a temporary absence during the time the work on the thesis, arrangements must be made to either adjust the thesis timeline and possibly progress toward degree completion or designate an appropriate substitute.

In the event a student does not register for the thesis course or fails to maintain an active status in the program within one semester or term after official approval of a thesis committee, the committee is considered dissolved, and a new committee must be secured and approved.

Changes to the Thesis Project

Any substantive changes to an approved thesis proposal should be approved by the thesis director and then submitted in writing to the Program Director and Graduate Programs Coordinator. If you are unsure of whether the changes you are making are substantive, contact the Program Director or Graduate Programs Coordinator.

These expectations and responsibilities are offered as general guidance to the role of thesis director, student, and reader. Please note individual faculty and programs may have varied approaches in advising students.

Student

Good mentoring practice entails responsibilities not only of the thesis director but also of the student. When a student enters a master’s program, that student commits time and energy necessary for a thesis or thesis project that makes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge. It is the responsibility of the student to conform to University and program requirements and procedures. Although it is the duty of the director to be reasonably available for consultation, the primary responsibility for keeping in touch rests with the student. The student’s responsibilities include the following:

• Become familiar with and adhere to the rules, policies, and procedures in place in the graduate program and the University as outlined in available resources such as graduate student handbooks, web resources (Canvas), catalog, and other University policies.
• Know and follow the rules and policies of the University, including all deadlines regarding registration, leaves of absence, limitations on time, thesis submission, and graduation.
• Select and plan an original scholarly or creative project that can be successfully completed within the expected time frame for the degree program.
• Prepare a work plan and timetable in consultation with the director as a basis for your remaining time in the program, including any proposed reading or other preparation.
• Learn and adhere to responsible standards for your field and University standards.
• Meet with the director when requested and report regularly on progress.
• Keep the director informed on any significant changes that may affect your progress.
• Establish a thesis committee, in consultation with the director, early in the thesis semester.
• Schedule the thesis defense after coordinating with all committee members.
• Keep the thesis committee readers informed of the progress of the thesis and circulate a final or near-to-final draft no fewer than two weeks prior to the thesis defense. In consultation with the thesis director, earlier drafts may also be shared with readers.
• Submit the thesis to the library.

Within the context of the role as thesis director, a faculty member’s primary task is to guide and inspire students to reach their scholarly and/or creative potential. At the same time, each director must try to ensure that each student is following the rules and policies of the University. Students registering for graduate thesis credits pursue a project under the direction of a thesis or project director. The director should promote conditions conducive to a student’s research, intellectual, and creative growth and provide appropriate guidance on the process and the standards expected. The director (who is instructor of record for thesis credits) should meet with the student a minimum of five times, inclusive of the thesis defense. Additionally, the thesis director’s responsibilities include the following:

• Establish a meeting pattern or regular conversations to mentor the student and meet the University’s credit requirement. Meetings might include but need not be confined to discussion of the thesis process and guidelines, assigned readings, planned research or writing, challenges the student faces, feedback on drafted pages, and the student's career plans.
• Guide the student in planning a thesis project that can be successfully completed within the expected timeframe for the program.
• Help the student establish a realistic timetable and work plan for completion of various phases of research, writing, revising, and defending.
• Provide advice and feedback, including a realistic timeframe for receiving feedback. Feedback should be professional and constructive and provide concrete guidance for improvement.
• Ensure that students have an understanding of relevant theories and methodological and technical skills necessary for completing the project, including standards and ethical practices for your field.
• Establish with the student a thesis committee early on in the thesis semester.
• Make arrangements to ensure continuity of student supervision during a leave or an extended period of absence.
• Help maintain a learning environment that is safe, equitable, and free from harassment and discrimination.
• Remain attuned to academic needs and concerns that may arise for international students, students from underrepresented groups, students with disabilities, and students with family responsibilities.
• Communicate in a timely manner if the student’s academic performance is not meeting expectations. Provide an outline and timeline for what actions need to be taken in order to meet expectations. While dealing with inadequate academic performance can be difficult, it is in no one’s best interests to prolong a program of study if success is unlikely.
• Complete or sign necessary forms, including the library’s formatting checklist, which should be done at the end of the defense.
• Serve as an advocate for the student in navigating University policies and work with the Graduate Programs Coordinator in supporting student success.

Students sometimes experience personal difficulties. These can include family difficulties, problems in personal relationships, cultural adjustments, financial pressures, medical issues, and problems associated with employment. The importance of these various problems should not be under-emphasized. Thesis directors should not act in a counseling capacity with their students, nor should they intrude into the personal lives of their students with unwanted advice. However, directors should try to ensure that their relationships with students are such that students will be comfortable telling their director when they are having significant personal difficulties so that timetables can be rearranged, and referrals made to appropriate campus resources.

Reader

The thesis director often recommends a specific colleague to serve as the second and/or third reader based on the topic or prior working relationship with that colleague; however, it remains the student’s ultimate responsibility to approach the second and third readers. Readers should consult with the thesis director to ensure common understanding of project length, criteria for assessment, and other conditions and assumptions informing the project.

The responsibilities of the second and third readers include:

• Read and comment on a final or near-to-final draft of the thesis.
• Participate actively in the students’ thesis defense.
• Advise the thesis director concerning assignment of final grade for project, if input is requested by the director.
• Participate in program assessment, when requested.

With approval from the thesis director, a completed or near-to-completed draft of the thesis must be submitted to all members of the committee at least two weeks prior the defense, unless all committee members negotiate a different time frame. Faculty on multiple committees may need additional time to prepare for closely scheduled defenses.

The thesis defense provides an opportunity for an in-depth discussion of the thesis, the research and craft decision-making that went into the thesis, and how the thesis relates to the contemporary literatures in which it is situated.

The student must be prepared to speak for most of the duration of the defense, demonstrating their expertise on their topic.

The thesis director and committee members are expected to prepare no fewer than three questions related to the work (the questions will not be given to the student in advance of the defense), plus a written commentary or marginal notes about the work that the candidate can retain. One of the primary purposes of the defense is to provide students with detailed feedback on the thesis.

If the defense is successful, each committee member must sign the thesis approval page. The thesis director must also work with the student to complete the Thesis Submission Checklist for library submission. Upon the successful conclusion of the defense, the student will have the opportunity to make any changes to the thesis based on the committee’s suggestions before submitting for archival purposes. If the student fails to successfully defend their thesis, the committee chair will coordinate with the Program Director and Graduate Programs Coordinator to establish a timeline for resubmitting.

As time allows, the student may make changes to the defended thesis based on the committee’s suggestions. Some committees might require changes after the defense before approving the final thesis.

If the thesis director, committee members and/or student determine that the thesis is not yet ready for the defense, the student can enroll in a one-unit continuous enrollment class and defend the thesis during another semester. For more information, see What If I Need More Time in the FAQ.

Throughout the thesis process, it is imperative to keep in mind important University deadlines.

Deadlines related to thesis defense and degree conferral can be found each term on the Associate Vice President for Graduate Education’s website: /academics/graduate-education/current-students/index.asp

Deadline 1: Thesis Defense

Deadline 2: Library Submission

It is recommended that you submit well ahead of this deadline to allow for library processing times (approximately 2-5 business days) and in case any corrections need to be made to your manuscript. Please note that this deadline is for completing all requirements in the correct format and not just for the initial submission to the library.

As per Graduate Catalog policy, students must successfully submit their thesis projects to the library in order to complete the degree requirements.

When university deadlines are not met, degree conferral can be delayed.

After a successful thesis defense, the student is responsible for working with the thesis director to complete the thesis submission checklist as well as collecting committee approval signatures on the signature page that is included in the thesis for final submission to Leatherby Libraries.

Students are required for degree conferral to successfully submit the thesis to Chapman University Digital Commonsand ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

You may find the instructions for submission, the required checklist, and the Deadlines for Completion of Library Requirements on the Library’s web page for thesis submission guidelines

https://libguides.chapman.edu/dissertations

The Dissertations and Theses Librarian supports all graduate students in the submission of their theses to Leatherby Libraries. You may contact the librarian in-person at Leatherby Libraries or via email with questions or for help.

The Honor Society for International Studies, Sigma Iota Rho, was first established in 1984 and now claims over 100 chapters on campuses across the nation. The Chapman University chapter, Delta Mu, was established primarily to honor those students who have excelled academically and 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.

A student must:

• Be a Master's candidate for International Studies who has completed at least one semester of graduate 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.
• Achieve and maintain GPA of 3.3
• Pay national dues of $45

Benefits of Sigma Iota Rho 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 lifelong relationships, personal growth, development and realization of the leadership potential, and opportunities to deepen one's understanding of international affairs.

For more information about the honor society, students can contact the MAIS Program Director or visit the national website.

In line with Chapman University's commitment to the scholarly and creative activities of its graduate students, Scholarly/Creative Activity Grants and Conference Travel Grants are offered on a competitive basis to all current graduate students. Graduate Student Scholarly/Creative Activity Grants are intended to provide support for a variety of clearly defined scholarly or creative projects. Graduate Student Conference Travel Grants are intended to provide support for graduate students to travel to academic conferences.

Scholarly/Creative Activity Grants require a proposal, budget, and a letter of support from the faculty mentoring the project. There is no limit on the number of scholarly/creative projects Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences will fund as long as the awards do not exceed the $750 yearly cap per student. However, given multiple strong proposals, priority will be given to applicants who have received the least funding within the current fiscal year.

Students planning to present at a conference should complete the Conference Travel Grant Application. The deadline for submitting conference travel grant applications is rolling; applications can be submitted at any time prior to the conference. However, funds are limited so students are encouraged to apply as early as possible and can apply before booking travel.

To apply for a Scholarly/Creative Activity Grant or Conference Travel Grant, or for more information about the Graduate Student Grant program, the expenditure of grant funds, and the submission of reimbursement requests, please contact the Wilkinson College Graduate Programs Coordinator.

Program Funding Opportunities

Students are strongly encouraged to apply to present their research at national and international conferences such as those held by the International Studies Association, Latin American Studies Association, and the African Studies Association. If a student has their paper accepted at a conference, they can apply for up to $1,500 in MAIS program funds to help cover costs of conference attendance and/or fieldwork conducted for the MA thesis.

All currently enrolled graduate students in the International Studies program at Chapman University are eligible for consideration to work as paid Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs). GRAs are graduate student employment positions where graduate students are engaged in academic and research endeavors designed, to the extent possible, to further the graduate student’s graduate career and development as a researcher, scholar, teacher, and professional.

Graduate students who are interested in working as a GRA should contact a faculty member they are interested in working with to find out if the faculty member plans to hire a GRA. GRA positions are dependent on budget, and a limited number are available each semester.

Additional Employment Opportunities

Additional Graduate Assistant and student work opportunities are posted online through the student employment office website. Positions are typically posted a couple weeks before the start of each semester but may become available at other times.

Use the Program Evaluation in the Student Center to track your progress through the program and plan your courses. Review your Program Evaluation on a regular basis to ensure your courses are counting as they should, and if anything looks out of the ordinary, contact the Program Director and Graduate Programs Coordinator.

Prior to the semester in which you will complete your degree requirements and defend the thesis, submit an Application for Degree Conferral in the Student Center.

The Program Director is the official advisors for graduate students. All other members of the graduate core faculty can provide additional mentoring on intellectual and professional pursuits. The thesis director also provides individualized guidance.

The set of requirements you need to fulfill is determined by the Graduate Catalog of the year you enrolled. Your Program Evaluation will indicate the appropriate catalog year. Current and past graduate catalogs can be accessed online.

Students may request to move their catalog year forward by emailing aps@chapman.edu with the desired catalog year. Please note that changing catalog years updates all requirements.

The Student Center blocks registration when a class has reached its enrollment limit, when prerequisites have not been met, when a business hold is in place, or when enrollment requires faculty approval (e.g., thesis writing courses). Enrollment limits and prerequisites may be waived in specific situations if the professor feels it is warranted. In these cases, you need to secure the professor’s consent to enroll, and contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator. Business holds need to be resolved with the Student Business Services Office.

Current undergraduate students admitted into an integrated program must use the Undergraduate Request to Register for Graduate Course Form. One form should be completed for each graduate class the student is seeking to enroll in. The Graduate Programs Coordinator may sign on behalf of the instructor and department chair. The completed forms are then submitted to the office of the register during the student’s registration appointment. The form cannot be submitted earlier than the student’s registration appointment.

Once the semester begins, the Student Center blocks enrollment in all courses that have reached their enrollment caps, even if seats are subsequently freed up. To add a course that has been closed, you will need to secure the professor’s consent to enroll and contact the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

Individual Study courses are voluntary agreements between individual faculty members and individual students, in which students complete a course of study and assignment. The course of study and assignments for a three-unit Individual Study is comparable to that required for a regular three-unit course.

Because Individual Studies are intensive activities, faculty members regard them as a significant commitment. Faculty members are not obligated to supervise Individual Studies, and they typically do so with students who have completed a class or other educational/research activity under their supervision.

Only members of the International Studies core faculty can supervise an International Studies Individual Study.

If you wish to do an Individual Study course, you should contact that faculty member directly to discuss the possibility. Once you and a faculty member have agreed on a course, you will need to fill out the Individual Study and Research Form. Also required will be a course description and course learning outcomes developed between the student and faculty member. These documents are submitted to the Office of the Registrar. The Department Course Subject is IS, the course number 599.

Substitutions are allowed only when there is a compelling reason why the required course cannot be taken or why the substituted course would be of greater benefit to the student. Substituted courses should be comparable in rigor and content to the required course. To request consideration of a substitution of one course for another, please contact the Program Director.

According to university policy, incompletes can be given only if extenuating circumstances prevent a student from completing a small portion of the assigned coursework. Please see the Academic Policy for Grades/GPA/Incompletes in the Graduate Catalog for more information.

A student can take a one-semester leave without making a formal request. The student should inform the Program Director and the Graduate Programs Coordinator.

If you need to interrupt progress toward your degree for more than one semester, a leave of absence may be granted. Leaves of absence can be granted for one year, with a possible renewal of one additional year. To apply for a leave of absence, the student must fill out and submit a Graduate Petition form, as well as a written statement spelling out the reasons for the leave and bearing the signatures of the Program Director and an Associate Dean of Wilkinson College (which the Graduate Programs Coordinator can assist with). If interrupting enrollment before the end of the academic term, the student must also follow the steps to withdraw from your courses. A leave of absence cannot be approved retroactively.

If a student leaves the university in good academic standing or on academic probation and is absent no more than four consecutive regular semesters (excluding interterm and summer sessions), the student will not need to reapply and may enroll for classes at Chapman, and retain the right to elect either degree requirements in effect for that student at the time of leaving Chapman or the degree requirements in effect at the time of re-entrance.

If a student leaves the university in good standing and is gone more than four consecutive semesters, the student will not need to reapply, may re-enroll for classes at Chapman, and will be assigned the catalog requirements in effect at the time the student returns to Chapman. Students may request to return to their original catalog, and that request will be reviewed and decided upon by the Department or School; decision by the departments or School is final.

Any graduate student who has broken enrollment for a period of more than one semester (interterm and summer sessions do not constitute a semester) without receiving an approved Leave of Absence is required to request re-enrollment through the Department. The student is held to the degree requirements in effect at the time of return unless approved for the original catalog year requirements by the Program Director or Associate Dean.

Note that graduate students must complete their degree requirements within seven years of first matriculating. Leaves of absence do not suspend or extend this seven-year clock.

For more information about interrupting enrollment, see the Interrupted Enrollment guidelines.

In some cases, transfer credit may be awarded. To receive transfer credit, you must provide transcripts to the Registrar’s Office prior to re-enrollment. Please note unsatisfactory performance may nullify re- enrollment.

Students who need extra time to finish their theses may continue working on their thesis by enrolling in IS 698A or IS 698B for 1 credit for each additional semester of thesis work. The continuous enrollment course allows students to remain in active status and retain access to university resources. Students must be enrolled in order to defend the thesis and have their degree conferred. Whether active or inactive, however, no student may take longer than seven years from the time of first enrollment to complete all the requirements for their degree.

Prior to the semester in which you will complete your degree requirements and defend the thesis, submit an Application for Degree Conferral in the Student Center.

As per university policy, students must successfully submit their thesis projects to the library in order to complete the degree requirements and participate in commencement ceremonies.

If you have applied for your degree and will not be able to complete some aspect of your program (e.g., coursework, thesis), you need to send an email to conferral@chapman.edu and request that your graduation date be moved to your anticipated term of completion.

The schedule of commencement ceremonies and events schedule is available online on the graduation home page.

Once you submit your Application for Degree Conferral (via the Student Center), you will be added to an email notification list that will advise you of the deadlines for walking in the graduation ceremony and the process for buying robes and hoods. If you have any questions, please visit the commencement website or contact the commencement team at (714) 997-6740 or commencement@chapman.edu.

2025: General copy edits for clarity. Addition of online thesis committee approval form. Removal of Professor Rios-Contreras from the core faculty.

2024: General copy edits for clarity. Removal of Drs. Badrinarayana, Manson, Martin, and Sfeir from the core faculty.