Boston University - Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
MA in International Relations & Master of Business Administration (IR/MBA)

Boston, USA

DURATION

2 up to 3 Years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Request application deadline

EARLIEST START DATE

Request earliest start date

TUITION FEES

USD 30,525 / per semester *

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

* 12-18 credits per semester

Key Summary

About : The MA in International Relations & Master of Business Administration (IR/MBA) program combines insights from global politics with essential business skills. It's designed for those aiming to understand the dynamics of international relations while gaining a strong background in business management. The course prepares students for challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.

Career Outcomes : Graduates can pursue various career paths such as international business consultant, diplomat, or policy advisor. Opportunities also exist in sectors like NGOs, government agencies, and multinational corporations. This program equips students with the knowledge to navigate complex global environments.

Introduction

The Master of Arts in International Relations & Master of Business Administration (IR/MBA) dual-degree program meets the needs of students seeking careers in administrative management (corporate or nonprofit), consulting, international banking, or finance. Students learn all the essential skills of business management through coursework in the Questrom School of Business and couple that with an understanding of international politics, economics, and security issues learned through coursework in the Pardee School. Students typically receive both degrees in two and a half years.

The IR MA & Master of Business Administration is a joint offering of the Pardee School of Global Studies and the Questrom School of Business. Candidates must submit applications to both Pardee and Questrom separately; only candidates who have admission to both programs can enroll in the dual degree program.

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Admissions

Curriculum

The MA in International Relations & Master of Business Administration requires a total of 80 credits divided among Pardee School IR core (12 credits), Pardee School IR electives (20 credits), Questrom School core (34 credits plus several 0 credit workshops), Questrom School electives (6 credits), and free electives (8 credits).

IR Core Courses (12 Credits)

The Pardee School IR Core ensures that students gain exposure to a range of important facets of international affairs. Students complete at least one course in three of the four core areas of study: Theory and Policy, Political Economy, Security Studies, and Regional Studies.

IR Electives (20 credits)

Students choose five elective courses (20 credits), selected from the graduate-level course offerings of the Pardee School. Students may also select their Pardee School electives from any of the courses included in the listings for any of the Pardee School core areas. Courses not included in these lists may be petitioned to count toward the student’s degree.

Up to 8 credits of Pardee School electives may be fulfilled with courses from the following limited list of Questrom School electives (3 credits each).

QST FE 827 International Financial Management
QST PL 834 Macroeconomics in the Global Environment

Students are encouraged to develop an informal regional or functional concentration with three to four of their electives. Doing so is not a requirement of the degree and a concentration will not appear on university transcripts, but choosing a concentration does help to give greater focus and definition to a student’s program of study.

MBA Core (34 credits)

Students fulfill the MBA core curriculum as defined by the Questrom School of Business. This curriculum consists of 34 credits plus several non-credit courses. Part-time students complete a slightly different MBA core, worth 40 credits.

Questrom School Electives (6 credits)

Students select 6 credits worth of coursework from the elective offerings of the Questrom School of Business. Students undertaking the program through QSM’s part-time MBA program do not take Questrom electives.

Free Electives (8 credits)

Students take sufficient elective coursework to bring their total credit count for the program up to at least 80 credits, typically 8 credits. Any courses that can be used to fulfill either Pardee or Questrom elective coursework can be used as free electives.