INTLRL:PHD - Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations

Admissions Requirements for the PhD in International Relations

To be considered for admission to the PhD program, all applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited institution of higher education, or have received a bachelor’s degree before they matriculate in the program.

Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.2, or its equivalent, a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for all combined graduate work, and acceptable Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 90 on the iBT TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language) or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

Applications will be reviewed only in the spring term for fall admission. Students who wish to be considered for graduate assistantships must submit an application by January 15 for admission in the following fall semester.

Other Curricular Offering: MA in African and African Diaspora Studies and PhD in International Relations Joint Degree Pathway

The combined MA in African and African Diaspora Studies/PhD in International Relations joint degree pathway allows qualified graduate students to pursue both degrees at the same time.

Required Credits

Students must fulfill the requirements for both programs. The 30 credits for the MA in African and African Diaspora Studies earned by students will count toward the 75 credits required for the PhD in International Relations.

Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English according to the nature of their thesis or research paper/proposal and professional interests. The Director of African and African Diaspora Studies Graduate Programs will ask a university faculty member fluent in the language of interest to the student to evaluate the student's fluency by asking her/him to summarize or synthesize the content of a text of between 10 to 20 pages, published in that language, in no more than one page. That exercise will have to take place at the university during a limited period of time. The text will be given to the student at the beginning of the exercise. The chosen text will have some connection to the student's research interest. Once a student has demonstrated proficiency for the MA in African and African Diaspora Studies, that proficiency will be recognized by the PhD in International Relations program. Therefore, proficiency in a foreign language will not be part of the candidacy exam. Credit hours earned in meeting the language requirement will not count towards the 30 credit hours required for the MA degree.

Students should apply for graduation with the MA in African and African Diaspora Studies as soon as they have completed all requirements for the degree – including the exit requirements. Ordinarily, students will complete these requirements and earn their MA before advancing to candidacy in the PhD in International Relations program. The research paper/proposal option is the only option available for students enrolled in this combined MA/PhD joint degree pathway.

MA in African and African Diaspora Studies Requirements

This 30-credit, one year, three semester program occurring over the Fall, Spring, and Summer includes 9 credits of core African and African Diaspora Studies courses, which includes 3 credits for the directed research paper exit option, 6 credits of core International Relations courses, and 15 credits of electives. There is also a Foreign Language Requirement.

MA in African and African Diaspora Studies Core Courses: 9 credits

-- course: 3 credits                 
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits; 1 semester of graduate colloquium

Combined MA in African and African Diaspora Studies/PhD in International Relations Core Courses: 6 credits

-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits

MA in African and African Diaspora Studies in Electives: 15 credits

15 credits of elective courses with an African and African Diaspora Studies focus may be from outside the International Relations Department and within the Green School and/or the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education. Students wishing to take courses outside of the Green School must seek prior approval.

MA in African and African Diaspora Studies Research Proposal or Paper Option

To graduate from the MA in African and African Diaspora Studies, students enrolled in this combined MA/PhD joint degree pathway must elect to complete either a research proposal or research paper for their exit option. Those who elect to write a research proposal must take course.  

PhD in International Relations: 75 credits

In addition to the 30 credits required by the MA degree, students must complete the following courses:

-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits

Major and Minor Fields: 12 credits

-- Major field of study: 9 credits
-- Minor field of study: 3 credits 

Electives: 6 credits

Refer to specific information about elective courses indicated in the program section of the catalog.

Comprehensive Examinations

Once students have achieved 60 credits of course work, they must sit for written examinations on the core sequence of their fields indicated in the program section of the catalog.

Dissertation: 15 credits

See the program section of the catalog for details.

Admissions Requirements for the Master of Arts (MA) in African and African Diaspora Studies and PhD in International Relations Joint Degree Pathway

To be accepted into this joint degree pathway, students must simultaneously submit applications for the MA in African and African Diaspora Studies and the PhD in International Relations by January 15 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.

To be considered for admission, students must meet the following requirements:

(1) Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 in undergraduate work.

(2) Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 in any prior graduate work.

(3) Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.

(4) International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 90 on the iBT TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required.

Applicants must follow the admission procedures for both programs (see the appropriate sections in this graduate catalog). Only applications to begin studies in the fall semester will be considered.  This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application, and students must indicate their intention to apply for this combined joint degree pathway.

Each applicant must complete an online graduate application form and arrange to send transcripts of all prior college (undergraduate and graduate) work and official reports of the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) and TOEFL (if applicable) to FIU's Office of Graduate Admissions.

Each applicant should also submit a separate statement of purpose, along with copies of the above material. The letter of application should include a statement expressing the applicant's academic and professional objectives. Applicants must include writing samples and other relevant professional work that may support their applications. Applicants must request three letters of recommendation from university professors who are able to comment on the various aspects of the student's academic ability. The letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the Director of the African and African Diaspora Studies Graduate Programs who will photocopy the recommendation letters once they are all in and send them to the International Relations Graduate Program Director.

The application file must be complete before the African and African Diaspora Studies/International Relations Graduate Program Committees will consider the applicant for admission.

Other Curricular Offering: MA in Asian Studies and PhD in International Relations Joint Degree Pathway

Students must fulfill the requirements for both the MA in Asian Studies and PhD in International Relations programs, and up to 33 credits may count for both degrees. To graduate, students must complete the requirements of the PhD in International Relations, including the required 75 hours.

In addition to the requirements for the two degrees, during the first two years of enrollment in this joint degree pathway, students will enroll in the following course which fulfills the MA in Asian Studies methods requirement:

-- course

The following International Relations courses will also be taken by MA in Asian Studies students during the first two years of the program and will count toward the MA degree:

-- course
-- course

Master of Arts in Asian Studies: 30 credit hours for both the Thesis and Non-Thesis Master's Essay Options

Core Courses: 24 credits

-- 9 credits of ASN 5000- or 6000-level courses approved by the director
-- 9 credits pertaining to world affairs  
-- 6 credits in Asian area studies

MA in Asian Studies offers two exit options, Thesis or Non-Thesis Master's Essay

Thesis Exit Option: 6 credits

-- course

Non-Thesis Exit Option: 6 credits

-- course: 3 credits (Master’s Essay can be taken multiple times. Some students may be encouraged to develop their research projects by taking this course.)
-- one additional course: 3 credits

PhD in International Relations: 75 credit hours

Core Courses: 15 credits

-- course
--course
--course
--course

Second methods course from the following list (or another methods course approved by the Graduate Program Director):

-- INR XXXX Qualitative and Interpretive Methods in International Relations
-- course
-- course
-- course
-- course
-- course
-- course
-- course
-- course

Gateway courses: 9 credits

There are four major field of study: (1) Global Political Economy and Development, (2) Comparative Area Studies, (3) Foreign Policy and Security Studies, and (4) Global  Governance, International Law and International Ethics. Student must take one gateway course for three of these fields. Gateway courses for each field are:

(1) course
(2) course
(3) course
(4) course or course

Major and Minor Fields: 15 credits

-- 9 credits in major field of study
-- 6 credits in minor field of study

Electives: 15 credits

-- Additional elective coursework

Comprehensive Exams: 6 credits

Once students have achieved 60 credits, they must sit for written examination on the core sequence of their fields.

Dissertation: 15 credits

-- course

Admissions Requirements for the MA in Asian Studies and PhD in International Relations Joint Degree Pathway

The combined MA in Asian Studies/PhD in International Relations joint degree pathway allows qualified graduate students to pursue both degrees simultaneously. To be accepted into this joint degree pathway, students must submit an application for the MA in Asian Studies/PhD in International Relations by January 15 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies. Applicants must meet the admission eligibility requirements and follow the admission procedures for both programs.

The PhD in Internal Relations requires a minimum of 75 credits at the graduate level. Undergraduate courses taken to satisfy prerequisites for graduate courses will not count toward the 75 credit requirement. Students earning a Master of Arts (MA) degree may transfer up to a maximum of 36 credits toward the PhD program. The Graduate Advisory committee may approve the transfer of a maximum of 12 graduate credits earned in a non-degree seeking student at FIU.

Doctoral students who have satisfied all other requirements for the MA degree apart from the exit requirement (i.e., all coursework and the foreign language competency) are eligible to receive an MA degree en route to the PhD degree. Passing the doctoral comprehensive examinations serves as equivalent to the MA comprehensive examination. Doctoral students who have satisfied their requirements should consult with the Graduate Program Director about the necessary paperwork and procedures to receive the MA degree in the course of their PhD studies.

Other Curricular Offering: MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and PhD in International Relations Joint Degree Pathway

The combined MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies/PhD in International Relations joint degree pathway allows qualified students to pursue graduate degrees in both areas simultaneously rather than sequentially. Students must fulfill the requirements for both programs, and up to 30 credits completed as part of the MA in Latin American and Caribbran Studies will be counted toward the 75 credits required for the PhD in International Relations.

MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies Degree Requirements: 30 credits

During their first two years of enrollment in the MA/PhD joint degree pathway, students must complete 30 credits for an MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies with depth or focus courses in International Relations.

MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies Core Courses: 9 credits

During their first two years of enrollment in this joint degree pathway, students take three core courses as follows:

-- course: 3 credits (first year, fall semester)
-- course: 3 credits (first year, spring semester)
-- course: 3 credits

MA in in Latin America and Caribbean Studies Focus Courses: 12 to 15 credits

Students will take a minimum of 12 to 15 credits within the Department of Politics and International Relations with a Latin American and/or Caribbean focus.

MA in in Latin America and Caribbean Studies Breadth Courses: 3 credits

Student may take courses from other areas.

MA in in Latin America and Caribbean Studies Exit Option for Joint Degree Pathway: 3 to 6 credits

Students select one of the following options:

-- course: 6 credits (Students complete a thesis paper supervised by three committee members. All members of the committee must have FIU Graduate Faculty status.)

or

-- course: 3 credits (Supervised internship leading to a major research paper in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.)

or

-- course: 3 credits (Students complete one directed research paper of about 35 -40 pages.)

MA in in Latin America and Caribbean Studies Language Requirement

Each student is required to demonstrate proficiency in either Spanish or Portuguese, or in another language such as French or Haitian Creole when justified by research interests. Proficiency is demonstrated by scoring an advanced level on the ACTFL exam for Spanish, Portuguese, or French administered by FIU’s Department of Modern Languages. Other tests of proficiency may be accepted upon approval of the graduate advisor.

Application for Graduation from MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies

Students should apply for graduation as soon as they have completed all requirements for the MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies degree – including the exit requirements. Ordinarily, the MA will be conferred before the student advances to candidacy in the PhD in International Relations.

PhD in International Relations Degree Requirements

Students will begin study towards the PhD in International Relations immediately following their satisfactory completion of the MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies requirements. A minimum of 45 credits beyond the 30 credits required for the MA degree will be necessary to satisfy the requirements of the PhD in International Relations program.

Program Requirements

Core Courses: 15 credits

-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits

12 Major Field credits in either:

(1) Global Institutions and Issues,

(2) Comparative Area Studies,

(3) Foreign Policy and Security Studies, or

(4) International Law.

With advisor approval, these 12 credits may include some or all of the coursework (except course) taken in satisfaction of the requirements for the MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies degree.

9 Minor Field credits in either:

(1) A second field from the above major field list, or

(2) A field offered within another PhD program at FIU (with approval of the Graduate Program Director), or

(3) A petition field (with approval of the Graduate Program Director).

With advisor approval, these 9 credits may include some or all of the coursework (except course) taken in satisfaction of the requirements for the MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies degree.

Elective Credits

Elective credits necessary to bring total credits earned beyond the MA in Latin America and Caribbean Studies degree to a minimum of 24.

Dissertation

15 credits of dissertation research.

Comprehensive Exams

After completing 60 credits of course work (or in the semester in which they expect to do so), students may take their written comprehensive examinations on the core sequence and in both of their fields. Students must sit for these examinations within 6 months of completing the minimum 60 credits of coursework unless granted an extension by the International Relations Graduate Program Director.

Dissertation

Within 3 months of passing the comprehensive examinations, students should publicly present a dissertation proposal that is acceptable to a committee of at least four qualified scholars. Three members of the committee, including the dissertation supervisor, must be graduate faculty members of the Department of Politics and International Relations. One must be from outside the department, but inside FIU. Other members must be approved by the International Relations Graduate Program Director. To complete program requirements, PhD degree candidates must enroll for a minimum of 15 dissertation credits and maintain enrollment for 3 credits every semester until the degree is awarded.

Admissions Requirements for MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and PhD in International Relations Joint Degree Pathway 

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission.

(1) Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (or equivalent);

(2) Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the last two years of undergraduate course work and/or a GPA of 3.5 on any previous graduate work;

(3) Verbal and Quantitative Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores;

(4) International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English and who have not obtained a degree from an English-speaking academic institution are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 90 on the internet-based TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-based version) or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

Although admissions decisions typically are made in the spring, decisions for students who have not yet received their bachelor’s degree will be conditional, pending confirmation of the bachelor's degree. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. All applications are subject to review by the members of the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies admissions committees.

Admissions Procedures

To be accepted into this joint degree pathway, students must submit an application to the PhD in International Relations program with a sub-plan for the MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application. The application must be submitted by January 15 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.

The following documents must be submitted s part of the on-line application and will be reviewed by the Admissions Committees from both units:

(1) Online application and application fee;

(2) Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework;

(3) Official GRE scores;

(4) Official TOEFL scores, if applicable;

(5) A statement of research interests, including reasons for seeking the MA/PhD joint degree pathway, future career goals, and a summary of scholarly preparation for this pathway;

(6) Three letters of reference from academic sources or others able to judge academic abilities and potential; and

(7) A curriculum vitae.

Other Curricular Offering: Combined Master of Arts in Religious Studies and PhD in International Relations Accelerated Degree Pathway

The combined MA in Religious Studies/PhD in International Relations joint degree pathway allows qualified graduate students to pursue both degrees simultaneously. Students must fulfill the requirements for both programs, and up to 36 credits completed as part of the MA in Religious Studies will be counted toward the 75 credits required for the PhD in International Relations.

MA in Religious Studies Degree Requirements: 36 credits

-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits

Electives approved by the Graduate Program Director: 12 credits

-- course: 6 credits (or 6 additional hours of elective credits)
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits

Students who choose the thesis exit option must include at least one Politics and International Relations faculty member, though the majority must be from Religious Studies.

PhD in International Relations Degree Requirements

Students will begin study towards the PhD in International Relations immediately following their satisfactory completion of MA in Religious Studies requirements. A minimum of 39 credits beyond the MA in Religious Studies degree will be necessary to satisfy the requirements of the PhD in International Relations program.

Degree Requirements beyond the MA in Religious Studies are the following:

Core Courses: 9 credits

-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits
-- course: 3 credits

12 Major Field credits in either:

(1) Global Institutions and Issues,

(2) Comparative Area Studies,

(3) Foreign Policy and Security Studies, or

(4) International Law.

With advisor approval, these may include 3 credits taken in satisfaction of the requirements for the MA in Religious Studies.

9 Minor Field credits in either:

(1) A second field from the above major field list, or

(2) A field offered within another PhD program at FIU (with approval of the Graduate Program Director), or

(3) A petition field (with approval of the Graduate Program Director).

With advisor approval, these may include 3 credits taken in satisfaction of the requirements for the MA in Religious Studies.

Elective Credits

Elective credits necessary to bring total credits earned beyond the MA in Religious Studies to a minimum of 24.

Dissertation Credits

15 credits of dissertation research.

Comprehensive Exams

After completing 60 credits of course work (or in the semester in which they expect to do so), students may take their written comprehensive examinations on the core sequence and in both of their fields. Students must sit for these examinations within 6 months of completing the minimum 60 credits of coursework unless granted an extension by the International Relations Graduate Program Director. Before advancing to candidacy, students must also demonstrate an ability to use a foreign language other than English for scholarly purposes.

Dissertation

Within 3 months of passing the comprehensive examinations, students should publicly present a dissertation proposal that is acceptable to a committee of at least four qualified scholars. Three members of the committee, including the dissertation supervisor, must be graduate faculty members of the Department of Politics and International Relations. One must be from outside the department, but inside FIU. Other members must be approved by the International Relations Graduate Program Director. To complete program requirements, PhD degree candidates must enroll for a minimum of 15 dissertation credits and maintain enrollment for 3 credits every semester until the degree is awarded.

Admissions Requirements for the Combined MA in Religious Studies and PhD in International Relations Accelerated Degree Pathway

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission.

(1) Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (or equivalent);

(2) Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the last two years of undergraduate work and/or a GPA of 3.5 on any previous graduate work;

(3) Official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores;

(4) Minimum 156 GRE verbal score or a minimum 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for the last two years of undergraduate work.

(5) International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English and who have not obtained a degree from an English-speaking academic institution are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 90 on the internet-based TOEFL (equivalent to 575 on the paper-based version) or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

Although admissions decisions typically are made in the spring, decisions for students who have not yet received their bachelor’s degree will be conditional, pending confirmation of the bachelor's degree. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. All applications are subject to review by the members of the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Department of Religious Studies.

Admissions Procedures

To be accepted into this joint degree pathway, students must submit an application to the PhD in International Relations program with a sub-plan for the MA in Religious Studies. This designation will appear in the menu of programs in the graduate application. The application must be submitted by January 15 in the year in which they wish to begin their studies.

The following documents must be submitted as part of the on-line application and will be reviewed by the Admissions Committees from both units:

(1) Online application and application fee;

(2) Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework;

(3) Official GRE scores;

(4) Official TOEFL scores, if applicable;

(5) A statement of research interests, including reasons for seeking the MA/PhD joint degree pathway, future career goals, and a summary of scholarly preparation for this pathway;

(6) Three letters of reference from academic sources or others able to judge academic abilities and potential; and

(7) A curriculum vitae.

There are no majors associated with this program.