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Master of Science in Global Affairs
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  Graduate School–Newark 2010–2012 Programs, Faculty, and Courses Global Affairs 478 Master of Science in Global Affairs  

Master of Science in Global Affairs


The Division of Global Affairs (DGA) offers a master of science (M.S.) degree in global affairs--a multidisciplinary field concerned with theoretically informed, problem-oriented approaches to transnational issues and their interaction with local issues. 

 

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

 

Forty (40) credits are required for the M.S. degree in global affairs. All students must complete:

  • six core courses with grades of B (3.0) or higher, (18 credits)
  • two semesters of the Colloquium on Global Change and Governance with grades of Pass, (4 credits)
  • two methodology courses, (6 credits)
  • additional credits, which may be acquired from the optional courses listed below, any DGA offered courses, internships, independent study courses, or the master's thesis, (12 credits)
  • language requirement, (no credit)

Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in all nonlanguage courses taken at Rutgers University, in order to acquire the M.S. If a student's academic performance falls below the expected standard, the Graduate School–Newark may refuse the student the right of future registration and terminate studies. Students with an insufficiently high grade-point average may submit an appeal to the DGA director.

 

Course Requirements

 

Core Courses (18 credits)

 

Students must complete six core courses with grades of B (3.0) or higher in each in order to remain in the program. Students who do not receive a grade of B or higher in some core course must either retake it or take another core course from within one of the nine topic areas.

 

All core requirements must be completed at Rutgers Newark. Transfer credits may not be used in fulfillment of core requirements.

 

All five of the below courses must be taken:

26:478:537  Global Governance

26:478:541  Global Political Economy

26:478:572  Evolution of the Global System

26:220:518  International Economics I (All students must have passed Fundamental Economics prior to taking International Economics.)

26:478:573  Culture and Globalization

 

One of the remaining four courses must be taken:

26:478:584  International Law

26:478:538  Global Environmental Issues

26:553:601  Theory of International Business

26:478:585  Social Movements and Globalization

 

Course numbers may change effective academic year 2011. Please consult the DGA website for updated details.

 

Colloquium on Global Change and Governance  (4 credits)

 

Students must complete two semesters of the colloquium. Each 2-credit sequence (26:478:570, 571, 573, 574) consists of a series of seminars on a topic or geographical area of current significance. The colloquium is graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Grades are provided by the professor organizing the colloquium.

 

Students are encouraged to attend--on a noncredit, nonregistered basis--as many Colloquia on Global Change and Governance as possible, but only 4 credits may be counted toward the M.S. degree.

 

Methodology Requirement (6 credits)

 

Students must complete two 3-credit methodology courses: one 3-credit qualitative and one 3-credit quantitative. 

 

For a list of DGA courses that fall within the methodology requirement, please consult the DGA website or consult the DGA deputy director.   

 

Specializations

 

M.S. students may choose a specialization in one of the following areas:

 Business

 Conflict

 Economics

 Environmental Studies

 Genocide

 Global Finance

 Globalization

 Globalization and Regionalization

 Indigenous People and Culture

 Information and Communications Technology

 Institutions of Diplomacy

 Media and Propaganda

 Migration, Immigration and Integration

 Nationalism

 Political Violence

 Sustainable Development

 Social Movements

 Transnational Crime

 Conflict and Security 

 

Coursework taken toward the specialization may fulfill other degree requirements.

 

Language Requirement


All M.S. students must demonstrate, at any time during their course of study at Rutgers-

Newark, reading knowledge of at least one modern language other than English. Reading

knowledge involves comprehension of global affairs issues. Students can demonstrate

reading knowledge: 

  • by completing four semesters of a language at Rutgers University or other approved and accredited institutions;
  • by passing reading-knowledge examinations at Rutgers University (administered by the DGA or the Rutgers-New Brunswick Language Institute); or
  • by demonstrating that they are native speakers of a foreign language.

Language course credits do not count toward the requirements necessary for an M.S.


Internship 


26:478:601, 602  Internship or Research Seminar


Internships are not required as part of the DGA program; however, upon prior approval from the deputy director of global programs, students may complete an internship for 3 or 6 credits with an approved international organization, NGO, government agency, transnational corporation, media organization, or other institution active in some aspect of global affairs. Internships generally entail one day of work per week for the duration of the semester.


To participate in the Division of Global Affairs internship program, M.S. students must meet the following criteria:

  • have a cumulative GPA of 3.25
  • have completed 18 credits, including a minimum of 12 credits of core course requirements
Students are responsible for finding their own positions. The DGA does not place students, but will assist students with the process.

Internships may count for 3 credits per semester, with a maximum of 6 internship credits being counted towards a degree in global affairs.

Students are encouraged to seek out internships of particular interest to them and/or to consult with the Career Development Center, Rutgers University, Hill Hall 309-B, Newark, NJ 07102-1801 (973 353-5312).

 

Independent Study

 

All M.S. students may take up to 9 credits of independent study courses explicitly dealing with topics related to global affairs--a multidisciplinary field concerned with theoretically informed, problem-oriented approaches to transnational issues and their interaction with local issues (26:478:697, 698, 699).

 

In order to embark upon an independent study, students must:

  •  acquire a DGA Application for Individual Study (available at the DGA);
  •  receive the approval of their DGA faculty adviser;
  •  find a DGA faculty member willing to supervise the research and grade the paper or project;
  •  submit the Application for Individual Study to the DGA graduate program director for approval;
  • register for the course; and
  • complete the paper or project and submit it to the DGA faculty member supervising the independent study course for a letter grade.

Master's Thesis

 

M.S. students may write a master's thesis in the course of two semesters for 6 credits (26:478:695, 696). Students considering doctoral studies are urged to complete a thesis.

 

Students choose the topic of their thesis in consultation with their faculty adviser. Theses must focus on some aspect of global affairs--a multidisciplinary field concerned with theoretically informed, problem-oriented approaches to transnational issues and their interaction with local issues.

 

Theses should be about 100 pages in length (double-spaced; notes, footnotes, and bibliography are extra); they must be written in standard English, adhere to proper academic form, and be free of typographical errors. The final draft of the thesis must be prepared in strict accordance with the instructions given in the pamphlet Thesis and Dissertation Form, available at the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School–Newark, Conklin Hall, Room 241. A full-scale project--such as, for example, the production of a software program or a video--may, if approved by the student's adviser and the DGA graduate program director, serve in lieu of a paper.

 

The student's DGA faculty adviser and one other DGA core faculty member examine and grade the thesis. Both must sign and date the cover page of the thesis. After a thesis has been accepted as satisfactory, one original copy must be filed with the DGA.

 
For additional information, contact RU-info at 732-445-info (4636) or colonel.henry@rutgers.edu.
Comments and corrections to: Campus Information Services.

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