Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master of Arts in International Relations
Reach your goals, faster. The Maxwell School is pleased to offer accelerated options for talented and motivated Maxwell students to earn a master of arts in international relations with just one additional year of study past a B.A., inclusive of a career-building internship.
By overlapping your coursework between a bachelor’s and a master’s you will:
- Save money. Up to 12 credit hours can be applied to both an undergraduate and graduate degree. Students will be considered for additional merit scholarships upon completion of their bachelor’s degree.
- Save time and create opportunities. Students in the accelerated program are able to finish in 12 months inclusive of the required internship. The program normally takes 16 months to complete. Graduates enter the workforce faster or pursue additional opportunities such as completing a second internship or Certificate of Advanced Study.
Program Overview
Syracuse University undergraduate students whose home college is Arts & Sciences/Maxwell and who have a declared major in one of the following areas can apply to the accelerated program once they have completed 75 credit hours towards their bachelor’s degree—typically in the spring semester of their junior year.
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Citizenship & Civic Engagement (B.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Geography (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- International Relations (B.A. or B.S.)
- Policy Studies (B.A.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
If admitted, students will complete a summer internship between their junior and senior year, then be eligible to apply up to 12 credits from their senior year to both the B.A. and the M.A. in international relations. Students are officially admitted to the master's program upon completion of the bachelor's.
Please see the Course Catalog for a complete list of academic offerings and their requirements.
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Requirements
All regular requirements for the student’s undergraduate major along with the minimum 120 credit hours necessary to meet College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell requirements must be satisfied.
The M.A. in international relations degree requires 40 credits, as outlined on the M.A. in international relations curriculum page. However, up to four courses (12 credit hours) can be counted towards both the bachelor’s and the M.A.I.R. degrees. Please consult the Syracuse University Course Catalog for complete program requirements and offerings.
Any 500-, 600- or 700-level PAI course is eligible for dual credit.
Sample Plan of Study
Below is a sample plan of study that allows a student to complete the B.A. and M.A. in international relations degrees in five years. The plan assumes that a student will complete 12 credit hours that will count towards both the bachelor’s and M.A. in international relations degrees during their fourth year. Which courses are taken in year five depends on which courses are selected during year four.
The sample plan of study below lays out one potential path, others are possible. Students who arrive at Syracuse University with substantial AP credit may be able to complete both degrees in four years.
Year Four
Students take four PAI courses at the 500-, 600-, or 700-level that would count for both degrees.
Summer Between Years Four and Five
Students fulfill the M.A. in international relations program’s internship requirement by taking a 3-credit internship in Washington, D.C., or one of the Maxwell School’s global partner sites.
Year Five Fall and Spring
During the fall and spring semesters, students take 24 graduate credit hours including courses that satisfy competency requirements of the M.A. in international relations. Students also participate the M.A. in international relations degree’s 1-credit capstone experience. Students may opt to do one of these during their semester in Washington, D.C. Students are eligible to graduate at the end of the spring semester of year five.
Accelerated B.A./M.A. in International Relations Application Checklist and Deadlines
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the accelerated B.A./M.A. in international relations is March 1 of the year prior to completion of a bachelor’s (typically your junior year). For example, students who intend to complete the B.A. degree requirements in spring 2025 should apply by March 1, 2024.
Application Criteria
Student applications that show evidence of sufficient preparation in writing skills and quantitative analysis will have a greater chance of being admitted to the program. The preferred way to demonstrate this competence is by completing a “writing intensive” course and a course that requires quantitative analysis with a grade of B or better prior to applying. Examples of such courses include, but are not limited to, MAX 123, MAX 132 and MAX 201.
Application Materials
- Completed https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions/graduate/apply/ graduate application
- Personal statement
- Résumé (preferred) or CV
- Three letters of recommendation: at least two from current or former professors; at least one from someone in your Maxwell academic department (e.g., an advisor, professor or program director)
- Transcripts from any coursework taken outside of Syracuse University: Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with the application; however, if admitted, official transcripts will be required in order to enroll.
- Not required: application fee, GRE, TOEFL
Financial Aid
Students are considered for merit-based financial aid upon completion of their undergraduate program. Support may come in the form of:
- Scholarships
- Federal and state loans and grants
- Part-time employment
To be considered for merit-based financial assistance from Syracuse University, simply check the appropriate box on your application for admission.
