M.A. Core Requirements Non-economics core: To ensure a balanced, comprehensive background in international relations, all candidates must pass examinations in at least two out of four core subjects: Evolution of the International System, Theories of International Relations, American Foreign Policy Since World War II and Comparative National Systems. Core courses are offered for those who desire special preparation. Students should make every effort to complete the core requirements over their first two semesters and should have completed these requirements by the beginning of their fourth semester. However, students who concentrate in International Relations must complete the Theories of International Relations core exam no later than the end of their second semester. Some programs may require that students pass one or more core exams as a prerequisite to certain courses. In Washington, core exams are given four times a year, immediately prior to and at the end of the fall and spring semesters (that is, September, December, January and May). For all of the core courses except Theories of International Relations, there are two somewhat different syllabi based on the course offerings in the fall semester and the spring semester. These syllabi are on the SAIS Web site under Academic Affairs and indicate the different emphasis in each course/syllabus. Students should prepare for either the fall or spring versions of these exams using the appropriate syllabus. Exams based on each syllabus will be offered each time the core exam is offered. In recent years, SAIS Summer Programs has offered the core courses Theories of International Relations and American Foreign Policy Since World War II. Admitted SAIS students may enroll in any summer program course including core courses. Core courses taken during the summer session will both fulfill a core requirement and count toward one of the 16 courses required for graduation. Core exams will receive a letter grade, and the exams will be graded as rigorously as a final exam in a core course. Students have the option of retaking the exam once if they are not satisfied with their initial grade, presumably after having audited the core course in a later semester. The higher of the two grades will appear on their transcript but will not be included in the calculation of their grade point average. Students may choose to take the core course for credit after taking the core exam once or twice. Students must register for the core course for credit if they have not passed a particular core requirement by the beginning of their final semester at SAIS. Students will be approved to take this as a fifth course if other courses are required for graduation. Once a student registers for a core course for credit, any record of taking the related core exam will be removed from the transcript. Students may not take the core exam following the taking of the core course in order to raise the grade. Students may prepare independently for the core exams with the aid of the syllabus. If they feel insufficiently prepared in any areas, students may enroll in the appropriate core courses either for credit or as auditors. If they take the courses for credit, they must fulfill all of the specific course requirements set by the instructors. Credits for core courses are counted among the 16 courses required for the degree. Please click here for more information, as well as copies of sample examinations.
M.A. Concentration Requirements All candidates must concentrate their studies in two programs, one of which must be International Economics. The other program may be a program in the International Relations field (General International Relations; Global Theory and History; International Law; Conflict Management; Strategic Studies; International Policy, which was formerly EEST) or International Development, or one of the regional programs (Africa; American Foreign Policy; Asia/China; Asia/Japan; Asia/Korea; Asia/Southeast Asia; Asia/South Asia; Europe; Middle East; Russian and Eurasian Studies; or Western Hemisphere/ Latin America or Western Hemisphere/Canada). A student usually takes six courses to meet a concentration requirement. Programs that are part of a broader field may have distribution requirements in other programs within the field. Students must consult with the director of their chosen second program or with their adviser in order to plan an appropriate course of study. Please visit the individual program Web sites for listings of M.A. Requirements.
Language Requirements Before graduation, M.A. candidates must pass a written and oral examination to show proficiency in one of the following modern foreign languages: Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Russian, Korean, or Italian. Those that are not native speakers of English must pass the written and oral English proficiency exam. Regional studies programs may require a proficiency exam in a language specific to that region.
Total Course Requirements M.A. candidates must complete 16 non-language courses.
M.A. Oral Examinations • M.A. oral examinations. All candidates must pass a comprehensive oral examination in their two programs of concentration. Students may not take M.A. orals until they have passed core examinations, fulfilled certain program requirements and received credit for 16 courses. Final grades for incomplete courses from the previous semester must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of classes preceding graduation. Grades for the final semester must be submitted one week prior to commencement. Students who fail one of the two sections of the oral exam may retake that section of the exam after one month. Failure in both sections requires a wait of at least three months before the orals can be retaken. Students may request substitution of a written exam for an oral re-evaluation.
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