MA in International Relations (INTL) at Fort Leavenworth
The master of arts (MA) in international relations at Fort Leavenworth enables students to analyze the complexities and processes involved in world politics and international affairs. Coursework provides exposure to the key subfields of the discipline and relevant issues such as globalization, human rights, humanitarian action, and economic development. The program is ideal for students seeking work with a governmental agency, an intergovernmental organization, a nongovernmental organization, or a multinational corporation. This program is also recommended to students planning to pursue a PhD, or an academic career at another institution.
Upon completion of the program, students should:
- Have a working knowledge of several subfields of the discipline.
- Have strong research skills.
- Be able to critically analyze international events and issues.
- Be able to apply theories of international relations to the practice of international affairs.
- Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
- Have the necessary education and develop the requisite skills to seek employment relevant to the field.
The 36 credit hours required for the master of arts (MA) degree must include the following courses for a major in international relations at Fort Leavenworth:
- INTL 5000 Introduction to International Relations
- INTL 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives
- Two courses (6 credit hours) from Comparative Politics Cluster
- Four courses (12 credit hours) from International Politics Cluster
- Three INTL Elective Courses (CGSC transfer credit)
- INTL 6000 International Relations: Theory and Practice
Comparative Politics Cluster (2 total courses)
- INTL 5600 Area Studies (CGSC Electives Transfer Credit)
(Note: Because of the CGSC transfer credit for INTL 5600, students pick one of the following courses (if the student does not take the CGSC electives for INTL 5600, he/she must pick two courses.
- INTL 5050 Comparative Politics
- INTL 5570 Comparitive Foreign Policy
- INTL 5580 Politics of Development
- INTL 5645 Asian Area Studies
International Politics Cluster (4 total courses)
- INTL 5860 Issues in International Politics (CGSC Transfer Credit)
(Note: Because of the CGSC transfer credit for INTL 5860, students pick three of the following courses.
- INTL 5400 International Political Economy
- INTL 5510 Theories of International Relations
- INTL 5540 International Organizations
- INTL 5560 U.S. Foreign Policy
- INTL 5800 Globalization
International Relations Elective Courses (3 courses)
This is transfer credit from the CGSC
INTL 5000 Introduction to International Relations (3)
Students are introduced to the discipline of international relations through an overview of international security, foreign policy, international organizations, international law, and international political economy. Students examine the basic structure, processes, and issues relating to international affairs.
INTL 5050 Comparative Politics (3)
Students explore how we use comparison to theorize about politics and to identify both what holds across cultures and nations and what is idiosyncratic requiring area studies expertise. Topics may include democratization, state and nation building, stability and decay of institutions, systems of representation, parliamentary versus presidential governance, political development, and ideology.
INTL 5100 Research Methods and Perspectives (3)
Students are introduced to skills, methodological issues, and bibliographic resources, which enhance their ability to evaluate critically and to conduct research in the field of international relations.
INTL 5400 International Political Economy (3)
Students explore, historically and conceptually, the interplay of economics and politics at the global level. They examine such phenomena as: the clash of the market and state, the north-south conflict, and the worldwide impact of technological change, transnational corporations, and the competition for accumulation.
INTL 5510 Theories of International Relations (3)
Students consider the growing literature on international relations theory, classical and modern, including realism, liberalism, feminism, behavioralism, globalism, and Marxist and imperialist theories, and the people who have elaborated these ideas and the context in which they did so. Students methodologically critique and compare theories, as well as gain an appreciation for the relevance of theory for international relations.
INTL 5540 International Organizations (3)
Various approaches to international organizations are explored, and the contribution of these organizations to peace and economic and social progress is examined. Current issues facing the United Nations and its associated agencies are discussed within this context.
INTL 5560 U.S. Foreign Policy (3)
Students examine the issues, agents, and models surrounding the American foreign policy decision-making process and the issues facing the United States in contemporary international relations.
INTL 5570 Comparative Foreign Policy (3)
This course compares how various governments develop the strategies that guide their actions in international affairs. This course employs an institutional and cross-national approach to demonstrate how foreign policy is formulated and influenced by domestic and international considerations. Course may be repeated if content differs.
INTL 5580 Politics of Development (3)
The student examines problems of social, economic, and political development in Third World nations. Course content focuses on problems of nation building in the postcolonial era and the role of the developing nations in world politics.
INTL 5645 Asian Area Studies (3)
This course examines politics in Asia, examining them in the context of its historical development, culture and economics. Typical subjects that the course includes: neo-colonial tension between modernization and tradition, challenges of economic development, authoritarian and democratic tendencies, ethnic tensions, etc.
INTL 5800 Globalization (3)
Globalization is the intensification of economic, political, social, and cultural relations across international borders. The course will focus on the uneven process of globalization and its effects in terms of cross-national intensity, geographical scope, and national and local depth. Further, the course will explore the factors which have led to globalization in the context of the debate about the real content of the globalization process and the degree of change they invoke in the international system. In addition the course will focus on several key international issues that are currently shaping the global political and economic environment.
INTL 6000 International Relations: Theory and Practice (Integrated Studies) (3)
Various contemporary theories of international relations are examined. The relationship of theory to the practice of international relations is considered. This course presents an overview for students who are completing a major in international relations. Prerequisite: completion of all other required courses in this major.
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