Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS)
OFFICE: Building 4, Level 1, Robinson Building Complex
Professors
Courses
The Master of Pacific International Affairs (MPIA)
Requirements for Admission
Students interested in pursuing the MPIA degree program at UCSDs
Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS)
must have earned a B.A., or its equivalent, with training comparable
to that provided by the University of California. A minimum scholastic
average of 3.0 or better is required for course work completed in upper-division
or prior graduate study. Undergraduate preparation that includes one
or more of the following is strongly encouraged: the social sciences
(specifically economics and political science) and history; and quantitative
methods (such as calculus and statistics); foreign language and related
area studies courses. Students with an undergraduate background in the
sciences, engineering, or the arts are also encouraged to explore this
degree program. The admissions committee looks for students with previous
professional employment, a history of meaningful international experience,
and demonstrated leadership ability.
Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation from individuals
who can attest to their academic or professional competence and to the
depth of their interest in pursuing graduate training in international
affairs.
Applicants are required to submit the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores
(verbal, quantitative, and analytical). (Indicate code #R4836 for UCSD,
IR/PS department code #1901.) Scores from the Graduate Management Admission
Test (GMAT) may be substituted. (Indicate code #4927 for UCSD, Pacific
International Affairs.) A minimum score of 550 on the paper/pencil version
and a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based version of the Test
of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all international
applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate
education was conducted in a language other than English. Students who
score below 600 on the paper/pencil and 250 on the computer-based TOEFL
examination are strongly encouraged to enroll in an English as a second
language program before beginning graduate work.
Interviews are not required for admission to the MPIA program. Orientation
tours are available for all applicants who would like further information
about the degree programs. Tours assist applicants in becoming better
acquainted with IR/PSs graduate programs and in understanding
how these programs might relate to their long-term career goals. To
receive a tour schedule, applicants should contact the IR/PS Office
of Admissions at (858) 534-5914.
The MPIA is a two-year, full-time program. Part-time study is feasible
within the MPIA curriculum. The maximum course load for half-time study
is six units.
The MPIA Curriculum (96 units)
The MPIA curriculum (96 units) is made up of a set of core disciplinary
and skill-oriented courses (36 units), a regional specialization (8
units), the foreign language requirement (up to 24 units), a professional
Career Track (24 units), and unstructured electives.
Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum is designed to integrate diverse subject areas
such as international management, international relations, applied economics,
and comparative public policy. It comprises the following courses:
Globalization, the World System & the Pacific (IRCO 412)
Managerial Economics (IRCO 401)
Policy Making Processes (IRCO 400)
Quantitative Methods (IRCO 453 and IRCO 454)
International Politics & Security (IRCO 410)
International Economics (IRCO 403)
Finance (IRCO 421)
Accounting (IRCO 420)
Capstone Coursechoices include Managerial Decision Making (IRCO
460), Business and Government in the Global Economy (IRCO 461),
and Public Policy Workshop (IRCO 462)
The Regional Specialization
The regional specialization is made up of two designated courses on
the economy and political system of a students chosen country
or region. All students must complete a regional specialization, and
may choose from among the following five options: Latin America, Japan,
Korea, China, and Southeast Asia.
The Foreign Language Requirement
IR/PS considers foreign language competency an indispensable skill
for international relations professionals. All students are expected
to acquire the language skills necessary to work in the Pacific Rim.
The foreign language requirement is designed to ensure that students
achieve a level of competency to aid in their global interactions. At
the present time, students can fulfill the foreign language requirement
in Bahasa Indonesia, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin
Chinese, Spanish, or Vietnamese. Students may also satisfy the requirement
in other Pacific Rim languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malay,
Thai, Tagalog, and other Chinese dialects. Please contact the IR/PS
Language Program or the Office of Student Affairs for additional information.
The foreign language requirement may be satisfied in any one of three
ways: (a) native speaker ability; (b) completing six quarters (four
semesters) of college-level language instruction from an institution
comparable to UCSD, with a grade of B or better in the final
course; or (c) passing a special IR/PS-administered language exam, which
is the equivalent of the final exam administered in the sixth-quarter
course in the selected language. In order to enhance their understanding
of their chosen area of regional specialization, students are expected
to satisfy the foreign language requirement in a language that corresponds
to their chosen area of regional specialization. However, students who
demonstrate a strong interest in selecting a foreign language that does
not correspond to their chosen area of regional specialization may petition
to do so. Beyond the basic language requirement, IR/PS also offers the
option of certification of more advanced language proficiency for students
who choose to pursue this. Students pursuing advanced language skills
are strongly encouraged to undertake significant language study prior
to coming to IR/PS.
Students on the Country and Regional Studies track are subject to a
different foreign language requirement. These students must pass both
the speaking and reading proficiency examination in their selected language.
The writing proficiency examination is optional. The minimum required
level of proficiency is equivalent to a Foreign Service Institute (FSI)
Scale 2+ for Spanish, 2 for Portuguese, and 2- for most other languages.
The proficiency examination is given throughout the academic year.
Students not following the Country and Regional Studies track may take
the exam once free of charge in a language that IR/PS currently provides
instructional support. Those students on the Country and Regional Studies
track may take the exam twice free of charge, regardless of language
selection. Please consult with the IR/PS Language Program Office for
further information.
A variety of language courses are offered by UCSD. IR/PS offers four-unit
language courses for the international relations professionals in Brazilian
Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish at intermediate or
advanced levels. In addition, subject to student demand, courses in
Bahasa Indonesia, Korean, Vietnamese, or other Pacific Rim languages
may also be offered. Students with a lower level of language proficiency
are encouraged to take beginning language courses offered by the Chinese
Studies Program, the Japanese Studies Program, and the Departments of
Linguistics or Literature. Students who elect to study a Pacific Rim
language that IR/PS does not provide instructional support for must
secure their own resources for language learning. Course credit for
self-supported language learning may be given upon evaluation and approval
of the director of the Language Program. Prospective students are advised
to consult the IR/PS Language Program for the most up-to-date list of
languages in which instruction is offered.
Students are placed in foreign language courses based on prior preparation
and on the results of a placement test administered during the week
of orientation. Students who miss the placement exam should contact
the IR/PS Language Program office for instructions.
Career Tracks
Beyond the core curriculum, the regional specialization, and the foreign
language requirement, students are offered an array of Career Tracks
from which to choose. The Career Tracks provide an opportunity to focus
on a specialized professional career path and to work closely with other
students and faculty who share similar interests. A Career Track consists
of six courses (twenty-four units). Each track combines some designated
requirements and a range of relevant electives from which to choose.
All students must take a Career Track. A student whose interests do
not fall within the existing range of tracks may take the Self-Design
Track, and create a tailor-made package of courses in consultation with
their faculty adviser. Currently, IR/PS offers the following Career
Tracks:
International Management
International Politics
International Environmental Policy
Public Policy
International Economics
Development & Non-Profit Management
Country & Regional Studies
Self-Design (approval of faculty adviser and associate dean required)
Electives
Students may use remaining units to take electives across the range
of IR/PS courses in management, political science, economics, regional
studies, and language, as well as (with approval) courses offered elsewhere
on campus. The number of elective units available to a student will
vary, depending on factors such as prior language study. Prospective
students are advised to consult the IR/PS Office of Admissions for a
full list of elective courses currently offered.
Internships
Students are encouraged to participate in various internship programs
that are available in business and industry, federal and state government,
and through various foundations and institutions. The school has established
links to a number of programs with available internships.
Education Abroad Program
Students are encouraged to participate in the Education Abroad Programs
(EAP) in their second year of study. Though this will necessitate a
third year of study to meet MPIA requirements, the opportunity provides
unparalleled experience in the selected regional study area and language.
By petition, certain credits earned through EAP may be applied to the
MPIA degree requirements.
Career Development and Opportunities
The IR/PS Career Management Center (CMC) provides students with assistance
in professional career development. This assistance begins in the students
first quarter and continues through the interviewing process in the
final quarter.
Career services include individual advising appointments, workshops,
speaker forums, special events, and a library containing international
resources and employment opportunity listings. Specialized workshops
explore resume writing, cover letters, salary and benefits negotiation,
job-offer evaluation, interviewing skills (including videotaped mock
interviews), career goals, labor market trends, and effective job search
strategies.
The Ph.D. in Economics and International Affairs
Requirements for Admission
Students who seek admission to the program must have a B.A. Or the
equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University
of California. Preference will be given to students with prior academic
records of distinction and to those who have a background in one of
the fields of emphasis and/or geographical areas covered by the program.
GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) are required of all
applicants. (Indicate code #R4836 for UCSD, IR/PS department code #1901.)
A minimum score of 550 on the paper/pencil version and a minimum score
of 213 on the computer-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) is required of all international applicants whose native
language is not English and whose undergraduate education was conducted
in a language other than English. Students who score below 600 on the
paper/ pencil and 250 on the computer-based TOEFL examination are strongly
encouraged to enroll in an English-as-a-Second-Language Program (ESL)
before beginning doctoral work.
The Ph.D. Curriculum
Program of Study
The Ph.D. In economics and international affairs prepares students
for research careers in economics, with an emphasis on international
affairs and the Pacific region. The program combines the analytical
skills of economics with political economy, institutional analysis,
and region/empirical knowledge.
Program Advisory Committee
Each student is assigned a Program Advisory Committee of four economics
and IR/PS faculty, at least one must be from economics, one from IR/PS
and one outside member from another UCSD department. With this committee,
the student works out a plan of study that the committee must approve.
The student must make satisfactory progress in a coherent program of
course work and reading courses, which meet the approval of the Program
Advisory Committee.
Course Requirements
The Ph.D. curriculum in economics and international affairs is designed
to provide students with basic training in the techniques of modern
economics, as well as empirical and institutional knowledge of the Pacific
region. The first year will consist of the three sequences of microeconomics,
macroeconomics, and econometrics, taught in the Department of Economics.
The second year will consist of continuation of the three series plus
seven electives. Two of these electives will be an IR/PS sequence in
political economy. In subsequent years, courses will consist of the
regional sequence, an empirical project, and two third-year papers.
Regional Requirement
Students must take at least three courses, one of which may be a reading
course on policy processes and issues in the Pacific region. These courses
may consider the Pacific region as a whole, as a sub-region, or examine
individual countries. The courses may be in both IR/PS and, with prior
permission, related departments. Some students may choose to take more
than the minimum three courses to deepen their knowledge of a particular
country or area. Comprehensive examination on regional areas is not
required.
Language Requirement
Students are expected to achieve a level appropriate to the students
dissertation topic of reading proficiency in at least one foreign language.
Proficiency may be verified by examination or by certification by thesis
supervisor.
Comprehensive Examinations
Students must pass written comprehensive exams in microeconomics, macroeconomics,
and econometrics, which will be administered and graded by the economics
department.
Dissertation
Candidates must present a dissertation prospectus no later than March
of their third year in the doctoral program. They will be examined on
their prospectus by their dissertation committee and must complete a
dissertation, which makes a substantial and original contribution to
knowledge commensurate with the standards of the University of California
in order to receive the Ph.D. degree.
Oral Defense
Students will defend their dissertation at a final oral examination,
which will be open to the public.
Ph.D. Time Limit Policies
Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of five years. Total
university support cannot exceed six years. Total registered time at
UCSD cannot exceed seven years.
The Ph.D. In Political Science and International Affairs
Requirements for Admission
Students who seek admission to the program must have a B.A. Or the
equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University
of California. Preference will be given to students with prior academic
records of distinction and to those who have a background in one of
the fields of emphasis and/or geographical areas covered by the program.
GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) are required of all
applicants. (Indicate code #R4836 UCSD, IR/PS department code #1901.)
A minimum score of 550 on the paper/pencil version and 213 on the computer-based
version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required
of all international applicants whose native language is not English
and whose undergraduate education was conducted in a language other
than English. Students who score below 600 on the paper/pencil and 250
on the computer-based TOEFL examination are strongly encouraged to enroll
in an English-as-a-Second-Language Program (ESL) before beginning doctoral
work. UCSD Extension offers an excellent ESL program during summer as
well as the academic year. For further information, call (858) 534-3400.
The Ph.D. Curriculum
Program of Study
The Ph.D. In political science and international affairs prepares students
for research careers in political science, with an emphasis in either
international policy analysis or comparative policy analysis. The program
combines the analytical skills of political science with political economy,
institutional analysis, policy analysis (especially economic policy)
and regional training, with special attention to East Asia and/or Latin
America.
Course Requirements
The Ph.D. Curriculum in political science and international affairs
is designed to provide students with basic training in the techniques
of modern political science, as well as applications to specific policy
areas and countries or regions.
Seventeen courses are required prior to advancement to candidacy. There
is a common core sequence, consisting of comparative public policy,
two courses in comparative politics, two courses in international relations
and research design. Each student must declare a primary field of either
international policy analysis (IPA) or comparative policy analysis (CPA),
consisting of three specialized courses. There is also a regional focus
of five courses. Three additional courses must be taken from a set of
electives.
Regional Requirement
The regional focus consists of international relations of Asia Pacific
or international relations of the Americas (depending on which region
is the students primary region), three additional courses in the
students primary region, and one course in another region offered
by either lR/PS or the Department of Political Science are required.
By petition, students may count a region other than one of the IR/PS
offerings (currently China, East Asia, Japan, Latin America, or South-east
Asia) as their primary region.
Language Requirement
All students in the program are required to meet a high standard of
proficiency in a foreign language before being advanced to candidacy.
The language must be linked to the students region.
Seminar Papers
Each student must submit two seminar papers, one in each field. The
penultimate draft of each seminar paper must be completed prior to taking
the appropriate field exam, and the final draft must be completed by
the end of the quarter in which the exam is taken. Both papers must
demonstrate knowledge of the students regional focus, as well
as knowledge of relevant theory in the field. At least one of the papers
must also demonstrate knowledge of a substantive policy area, related
to the students primary focus field.
Comprehensive Examinations
Each student must pass two comprehensive examinations, one in international
relations and one in comparative politics. Each exam will be graded
by a joint committee consisting of three permanent faculty members,
with at least one from political science and at least one from IR/PS.
The primary field exam contains a focus field, which may be either
a substantive field of policy analysis (e.g. trade, environment, international
finance) or the students chosen primary region. Regardless of
focus field, that part of the exam will test the students knowledge
of theoretical literature and ability to apply it to a policy issue
of relevance to the region.
Dissertation
Candidates must present a dissertation prospectus to be examined by
their dissertation committee, and must complete a dissertation which
makes a substantial and original contribution to knowledge commensurate
with the standards of the University of California in order to receive
the Ph.D. Degree The dissertation committee shall consist of four faculty
members chosen from the Department of Political Science and IR/PS, with
at least one from each unit. A fifth member must be from outside the
department and IR/PS.
Oral Defense
Students will defend their dissertation at a final oral examination,
which will be open to the public.
Ph.D. Time Limit Policies
Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of the fourth year.
Total university support cannot exceed seven years. Total registered
time at UCSD cannot exceed eight years.
The Ph.D. In International Affairs
Pending final approval of the joint Ph.D. Degree programs in economics
and international affairs, and political science and international affairs,
no future admissions will be made to the Ph.D in International Affairs
Program.
International Career Associates Program
The International Career Associates Program (ICAP) is designed for
working professionals seeking additional exposure to the various areas
of international management, international relations, and comparative
public policy.
Participants in the program spend an academic year at IR/PS, usually
beginning in mid-September and ending in mid-June. Under the auspices
of the program, professionals have an opportunity to further internationalize
their knowledge and experience, as well as enhance their professional
development in areas such as finance, management, marketing, accounting,
quantitative methods, econometrics, long-range strategic planning, international
affairs, and comparative decision-making. The program of study is tailored
to individual interests under the guidance of the programs director
and faculty advisers. Program lengths of one or two quarters are also
available.
ICAP offers:
- An individualized one-year program leading to a Certificate of Study
- An optional five-week pre-academic summer program preceding the
academic year.
- An academic tutorial program
- Opportunities to interact with world- renowned Pacific Rim scholars
and policymakers
- Special seminars and lectures by academics and professionals
- ICAP-sponsored cultural events and field trips to local, state,
and national organizations and government offices
For further information, contact the International Career Associates
Program office at (858) 534-7420.
The Korea-Pacific Program
The Korea-Pacific Program was formed in September 1989 in recognition
of the growing importance of Korea in the world, of Korean-U.S. relationships,
and of the Korean model of social and economic development.
Directed by IR/PS Professor Stephan M. Haggard, the program promotes
the understanding of Korea in an international context and encourages
the study of Korea by offering courses on the countrys society,
economics, language, and policymaking. Research is supported on contemporary
Korean political economy. Outreach to the community is offered through
seminars, lectures, courses, and cultural events.
In comparison with other Korean studies programs in the United States,
the IR/PS Korea-Pacific Program is distinctive in several respects:
it concentrates on contemporary Korea, focuses on policy questions,
stresses the foundations of Korean economic growth, explores Koreas
international relations, and seeks to understand Korea in a broad regional
context.
The Korea-Pacific Program is supported by a strong Korean language
component.
The ASEAN-Pacific Project
The ASEAN-Pacific Project is one of several major regional and theme-based
nodes of activity within the Graduate School of International Relations
and Pacific Studies. Its mandate is to support students and to serve
as a catalyst for the development of Southeast Asia-related teaching
and research activities within the school. The director of the project
is Associate Professor Andrew MacIntyre.
The ASEAN-Pacific Project extends the success of the schools
original Vietnam-Pacific Project, with scope being broadened to embrace
the other countries of Southeast Asia.
The project is built upon private donations to the school, with this
resource being supplemented by resources obtained from external grant
agencies and the university. The project supports the activities of
students at IR/PS with an interest in Southeast Asia through fellowships
(for summer travel and internships) and visiting guests speakers.
The project also serves as a catalyst and facilitator for research
projects within the school relating to Southeast Asia. It seeks to promote
disciplinary-driven work on political and economic topics pertaining
to Southeast Asia, as distinct from more traditional area studies scholarship.
Examples of this include recent work on national political institutions
and policy-making, the dynamics of regional cooperation, food and agricultural
policies, and the relocation of the global magnetic disk-drive industry
to Southeast Asia. Other recent research-related initiatives include
a major international workshop for Ph.D. students in political science
working on Southeast Asia, and a workship for the U.S. Agency for International
Development on political conflict in Indonesia.
Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS)
|