5-Year Bachelor of Arts International Affairs and Master of International Affairs

The Bush School of Government and Public Service offers a five-year combination degree program in which undergraduate students majoring in International Affairs (INTA) can apply to and enter the Master of International Affairs (MIA) program at the start of their senior year at Texas A&M University. This selective and accelerated program allows students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and a Master of International Affairs graduate degree in only five years. Coupling the breadth of an interdisciplinary BA degree with the focus and career preparation of an MA professional degree, this intensive 5-year program provides unparalleled value to students pursuing careers in international affairs and public service.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply to the combination MIA-INTA degree program, students must:

• be classified as a U3 majoring in International Affairs, and
• have a 3.5 GPA or above by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the combination program (if admitted), and
• work with their undergrad advisor to map out courses the student must complete prior to entry into the combination program (if admitted), and
• have approximately 66-78 credit hours completed by the time they apply to the combination program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for INTA major, college, and Texas A&M), and
• have approximately 102 credit hours completed before entry into the combination program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for INTA major, college, and Texas A&M), and
• complete their study abroad prior to the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the combination program, and
• be in good academic standing with their undergrad department, and
• not be expected to graduate during the academic year in which they are applying, and
• understand that failure to satisfy ALL of these requirements will result in the combination admission (if offered) being revoked.

Advising

It is imperative for students interested in the combination MIA work with their undergrad INTA advisor as soon as possible to ensure the student is on track to complete all necessary courses (including study abroad) prior to applying for the program. 

¹

Must make a grade of C or better.

²

Students completing a Bachelor of Arts in the Bush School are required to complete 14 hours of a foreign language through the intermediate level. Students in International Affairs are required to complete an additional 6 hours of a foreign language through the advanced level. If you choose to enroll in a language you have studied prior to enrollment without receiving university credit, you must first take a placement test. See the Foreign Language paragraph.

³

Must make a grade of B or better.

⁴

Course that could double count as BA International Affairs and Masters in International Affairs.

⁵

The course will be used to track student's completion of the International Experience Requirement.

⁶

Select courses from an approved list on the INTA website in consultation with an advisor. Courses numbered 485 or 489 that contain significant international content can be taken in any department to meet part of the track or area requirement. Students must obtain International Affairs advisor approval before taking the 485 or 489 course.

⁷

Select any 100-499 course not used elsewhere.

⁸

Select 6 hours from one concentration. International Social processes: BUSH 635 and INTA 484; International Development and Economic Policy: BUSH 635 and INTA 418; International Politics, Security and Diplomacy: INTA 605 and 3 hours from INTA 601-607, INTA 609-613, INTA 617-623.

⁹

Select from INTA 400-499.

¹⁰

Select 12 hours from one Concentration Area from the list below.

¹¹

Course that will only count towards the graduate level program.

Graduation requirements include 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. The required 6 hours may be met by courses satisfying other areas of a degree program.  See your academic advisor for further information.

Foreign Language

Students entering International Affairs take a placement exam to determine the level of and number of required foreign language courses. Exam results may fulfill a maximum of 14 semester credit hours.

• Students placed in 101 will take 101, 102, 201 and 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
• Students placed in 102 will take 102, 201 and 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
• Students placed in 201 will take 201 and 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
• Students placed in 202 will take 202 and 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
• Students placing out of 101, 102, 201 and 202 will take 6 semester credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.

International Experience Requirements

The International Experience must generate at least 3 hours of Texas A&M University credit. Departmental approval is required before travel. Any international experience that does not meet these criteria will not count toward the degree.

• Must be at least one long semester or one 10-week summer approved experience.
• Must be taken after completion of 100- and 200-level language requirement and INTA 211.
• Must be completed before student is eligible to enroll in INTA 481, INTA 491, INTA 497.
• Must be an immersion experience in the foreign culture and language, which can be satisfied by:
  • An internship at a company, government agency or non-profit operation involving significant use of the foreign language. Three hours of INTA 484 elective credit can be given.
  • Courses taken at a foreign university. Courses may count for Texas A&M University credit with approval of the advisor of the relevant department. These courses cannot apply to the International Studies core. One course must be taken in the foreign language at the 300- or 400-level.
  • Selected Texas A&M University Study Abroad programs which involve intensive cultural and language immersion.
  • A combination of the above to equal the requirement of a long semester or a 10-week summer-approved experience.
• Must be taken outside of the student’s country of origin.
• Must be taken in one foreign country that matches with the foreign language and the area study requirement unless approved by the department head before travel.

Other courses may qualify for the college, university requirements categories. Students should consult the approved list of courses available in the International Affairs Degree Program Office. The list incorporates University Core Curriculum requirements. No course can be counted in more than one category, except as allowed in the International and Cultural Diversity and Cultural Discourse Graduation requirement.