Accelerated Master's in International Affairs and Leadership

The Accelerated Master's Program in International Affairs and Leadership is designed to enable highly qualified undergraduate students in the following online and on-ground majors to earn both a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree and a Master of Arts in International Affairs and Leadership degree in five years:

  • BA in Political Science
  • BS in Political Science
  • BA in Global Studies

Students accepted into the Accelerated Master's program may apply up to 6 credits of 400-level coursework and 6 credits of 500-level coursework as “shared” courses, allowing the student to complete both degrees more quickly.

These degrees are designed to meet the needs of students pursuing careers in a variety of areas. Students completing the accelerated program are well-prepared for careers in government, diplomacy, international relations, international organizations, private companies engaging in international trade, or to pursue advanced degrees in political science or law.

Learn more about the International Affairs and Leadership MA

Grad programs overview

Eligibility

To be eligible for admission to the International Affairs and Leadership Accelerated Master's program, a student must:

  • be a declared, on-ground or online student in the Political Science BA or BS programs, or Global Studies BA program
  • have earned at least 75 hours toward the undergraduate degree at the time of application; 90 hours are needed to begin taking graduate courses
  • have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application (cumulative GPA earned at ASU, excluding transfer credits.)
  • be on track to graduate with the undergraduate degree within two semesters after being accepted into the program (one calendar year after the acceptance date)
  • complete an application packet and submit all materials by the application deadline.

Students who do not meet these criteria may still apply to the regular M.A. in International Affairs and Leadership here, pending graduation with a BA or BS degree.

Application Process

Application Deadlines:

  • October 15th (to begin taking graduate classes the following spring)
  • May 15th (to begin taking graduate classes the following fall)

Please contact Jenna Roelle at Jenna.Roelle@asu.edu or Ashley Wright at Ashley.A.Wright@asu.edu with any questions.

Applicants will be notified by email of their admission status within one month. Admitted students must submit the online Graduate College application and pay the application fee when instructed to do so.

Electronic application packet should be sent in one email to spgs@asu.edu and include four attached documents:

  1. Cover page. Please include:
    1. Name
    2. Specify BA/BS degree and major/minor
    3. Cumulative GPA
    4. POS courses taken and grades for each course (please include table or bullets for this information)
    5. Anticipated date of graduation with Bachelor’s degree
    6. Name, title, and email address of faculty recommender.
  2. Copy of unofficial transcript
  3. Personal statement (2-3 pages) describing why you are interested in the Accelerated Master's program.
  4. Writing sample (up to 5 pages) that demonstrates applicant’s analytical and writing skills

In addition: The letter of recommendation form should be sent to spgs@asu.edu from a faculty member in the School of Politics and Global Studies, the Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab, or another academic unit at ASU, by the application deadline. Recommender may also attach a separate letter, but it is not required. Please include applicant’s name and “Accelerated Master's LOR” in the subject line.