Penn State undergraduate students majoring in Political Science or International Politics can earn a master’s degree in International Affairs with only one additional year of study through the integrated undergraduate-graduate (IUG) degree program offered by the School of International Affairs (SIA).
Overview
Political Science and International Politics students who enter the IUG program have the opportunity to pursue both an undergraduate and graduate degree (Master of International Affairs) simultaneously. This five-year program includes many overlapping credit requirements (for example, the language requirement for internationally focused Political Science students). Select students may be eligible for a tuition waiver and paid research position during their fifth year.
Admission Requirements
- Students must be currently enrolled in the Political Science or International Politics program at Penn State
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 in undergraduate course work and a GPA of at least 3.5 in all major-related coursework
- Approval from the department
Application Materials
- Graduate School application with $65 non-refundable application fee
- One letter of recommendation from a Political Science faculty member
- Personal statement (a 1-2 page essay describing the applicant’s academic goals and career plans)
- Plan of study (completed with the applicant’s academic adviser)
- Official GRE or SAT scores
About the School of International Affairs
The Penn State School of International Affairs offers a 42-credit interdisciplinary master’s program drawing extensively upon the intellectual resources of faculty across several academic units of Penn State. With an 8-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, SIA students receive personal attention from the school’s expert faculty, which consists of former diplomats, retired government officials and renowned scholars.
In their first year, SIA students complete the program’s core curriculum, which provides a solid academic grounding in the institutions, traditions and mechanisms of international exchange. Upon the completion of the core curriculum, students work with the faculty advisers to craft their own curriculum by choosing among elective courses offered by SIA and other internationally ranked graduate programs at Penn State. Students then complete a capstone experience in the form of an internship or a master’s paper.
For more information on the School of International Affairs, visit https://www.sia.psu.edu/admissions.
For more information on the IUG program or to begin the application process, please inquire with our department in 202 Pond Lab or email admissions@sia.psu.edu.