Master of Global Studies Program
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The Master of Global Studies (MGS) degree is designed to meet the growing societal and occupational needs in a highly competitive and yet increasingly interdependent world for students trained in international affairs and administration. The main mission of the MGS program is to produce well rounded and educated persons who understand and appreciate the diversity and complexity of international affairs, who understand the role of global citizenship, and who can bring imaginative and creative problem-solving skills to problems faced by the global community.
The MGS is designed to equip students with analytical skills in areas such as, policy analysis, administration/management, foreign languages, communication, quantitative analysis, and problem-solving that allow them to pursue careers in both public and private sector institutions in an international environment. The MGS also prepares students to continue their education at the doctoral level in international relations, political science or other related fields.
The MGS program plays an important role in contributing toward Missouri State University's statewide mission in public affairs.
Please note that students now have TWO options for earning a Master's in Global Studies. The traditional approach is outlined first below. Second, is the new option for the accelerated program.
IMPORTANT
CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT!
2008
ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF CHINESE POLITICAL STUDIES
AT MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
(please click above for information)
MGS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
I. Required Core Courses-
PLS 705 Seminar in Comparative Politics 3 hrs
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PLS 713 Seminar in. Foreign Policy Decision-Making 3 hrs
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PLS 715 Comparative Public Administration 3 hrs
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PLS 721 International Political Economy 3 hrs
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PLS 732 International Relations in Theory & Practice 3 hrs
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PLS 737 Seminar in International Organization & Administration 3 hrs
Total 18 hrs
II. Cognate Fields
Cognate Fields. The MGS candidate, in consultation with the Program Director and with approval of the department head, may choose one of the following four cognate fields: 15-18 hrs
a. International Relations/Comparative Politics. PLS 635, 644, 645, 646, 648, 560, 641, 642, 757, 771, 780, 781, 797; HST 543, 556, 559, 560, 561, 571, 588, 640, 660; ECO 520; GRY 507, 597
b. Public Administration: PLS 673, 755, 759, 762, 763, 780, 781, 797; MGT 647, 664, 665; FGB 584; PLN 605, 650, 670, 671, 672
c. International Economics and Business: PLS 780, 781, 797; ECO 565, 605, 610; ACC 505; FGB 500; RIL 539; MGT 647, 661; MKT 674
d. National Security: PLS 717, 719, 772, 773, 782; CRM 640 and 645 (students who have completed PLS 717, 719; CRM 640 and 645 will be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security and Defense from the College of Humanities and Public Affairs)
Within each cognate field, a student is required to take courses that are related to each other and reflect the student’s strength and interest. Depending on the research option selected, students will take five or six courses in their chosen cognate field.
III. Research Options
A student will be
required to complete 3-6 hours of one of the following
two options:
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Non-Thesis Option. Complete required core courses (18 hours), 21 hours in chosen cognate field (see below), including PLS 780.
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Thesis Option. Complete required core courses (18 hours), 15 hours in chosen cognate field, and 6 hours of PLS 799. The thesis option is open only to students who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.75.
IV. Comprehensive
Examination
Upon completion of course work, students with a
GPA of less than 3.75 will be required to pass a written
comprehensive examination that covers the core MGS courses.
All students will require to complete an exit interview
with the program upon graduation (before or after graduation
depending on student preference).
V. Foreign Language Requirement
Equivalent of two years of courses in any modern language offered either at Missouri State University or at another institution of higher learning. A student’s language proficiency will be determined by both written and oral examinations in his/her chosen foreign language. In some cases, foreign students may substitute their native language, if it is not English, for the language requirement if it is related to their cognate field.
VI. Quantitative Methods Requirement: 0-3 hoursStudents without any statistical background will be required to take course work in their area. Proficiency in quantitative methods must be demonstrated either by passing a Diagnostic Test in quantitative methods or by having completed PLS 676 (Quantitative Methods of Political Science and Public Policy) or ECO 508 (Intermediate Econometrics) or an equivalent course approved by the Program Director.
VII. Internships
Students are encouraged
to enroll in PLS 681 (an internship). In the past, students
have secured positions in internships in locations ranging
from the local government in Springfield to Japan.
Students may receive three hours of credit for the internship
and it may be counted in the "cognate field" portion of
the program requirements.
Entrance Requirements:
All students applying for admission to the MGS program must submit recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Precise application instructions are provided in the section entitled "Applying to the MGS program" below. Please follow those instructions or it may take additional time to process your application.
Normally, applicants with a 3.00 GPA or above in their undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and a combined GRE score of not less than 900 on the verbal and quantitative sections will be admitted to the MGS program in good standing. A minimum score of 900 is required on the combined verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE, with a minimum of 475 on either the verbal or quantitative section and a score of not less than 425 on the other. All students applying for admission must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) before being admitted into the program.
We are sorry, but GMAT, LSAT, MCAP and other exams cannot substitute for the GRE
Three strong letters from professors at the undergraduate level and/or persons well acquainted with the applicant’s education and abilities. These letters are to be submitted to the Director of the MGS program.
Applicants with a GPA between 2.75 and 2.909 and/or a score of less than 900 on the GRE may be admitted to the program on a provisional basis. A personal interview may be requested.
Foreign students applying for admission to the MGS program who do not have an undergraduate degree from an American university must have completed the equivalent of an undergraduate degree at an accredited university. They must also demonstrate graduate-level proficiency in English by either having achieved a score of 550 on the paper-based, or a comparable score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, or by other equivalent means.
For more information, please see "Applying to the MGS program" below.
Prerequisite Courses:
The MGS program does not require any specific prerequisite courses. However, an applicant may be advised or required to take undergraduate prerequisite courses in areas pertinent to the MGS program. For example, an applicant with little or no statistical training will be required to take an undergraduate course in statistics, or a student who has little knowledge of global affairs may be advised to take an undergraduate course in international and/or comparative politics before enrolling in the respective graduate seminars in these two fields.
International Exchange Program Opportunities:
The MGS program has established an exchange program with the Graduate Institute of Political Science at National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. NSYSU has been named by the Ministry of Education as one of Taiwan's seven major research-intensive universities. With a population of over two million, Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan. NSYSU's Political Science Program only has exchange programs with a small number of other universities--including the two best universities in China (Peking University and Fudan University). MGS students may spend a semester studying international relations and/or Chinese at NSYSU (all graduate classes are taught in English) and receive credit for those classes. In addition to the exchange program with NSYSU, there are other exchange program opportunities. For more information, contact the program director, Dr. Kernen
Study Abroad Opportunities:
The MGS program encourages students to participate in study abroad trips. Past study tours have included China and various European countries (including Russia). For more information, contact the program director.
Asia Travel Scholarships:
Student research grants (up to US $2,000) are available to students who wish to conduct research in East Asia. To learn more about the program, please see the following link:
To learn more about Missouri State University's numerous China programs, please click here.
Student Academic-Related Activities:
Graduate students enrolled in the MGS program have participated in numerous international conferences, study-abroad tours, exchange programs overseas, internships and a wide variety of other academic-related events. Such activities play a critical role in helping students learn about the global community (and help make them more competitive job candidates after graduation). To view some images of students engaged in various academic-related activities, please click here.
Graduate Assistantships:
All students applying for a graduate assistantship must
have their GRE scores (verbal and quantitative) on file
at the time of application. All graduate assistants in
Political Science are required to take 9 hours of course
work. The Department typically awards up to ten
graduate assistantships per year to students in the MGS
program and the MPA program. A stipend and a waiver of tuition accompany
the assistantship.
Applying to the MGS Program
Individuals interested in applying to the MGS program may obtain an application from the Graduate College, Missouri State University, 901 S. National, Springfield, MO 65897 (417-836-5335), Carrington Hall, Room 306. Downloadable forms and an on-line application form are provided at the Graduate College website at:http://graduate.missouristate.edu/admissions.htm Please note that international students must also follow all directions as outlined on the Graduate College website at http://graduate.missouristate.edu/international.htm
In addition to completing the relevant forms and submitting documents to the Graduate College, please send letters of recommendation and applications for a graduate assistantships directly to the MGS program director. These forms are available below in downloadable versions.
We welcome applications for admission to the program. However, please note that if an applicant does not follow the instructions, an application might be delayed. So, please carefully follow all instructions.
Application
for Graduate Assistantship
Recommendation Letter Form
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International Affairs Career Resources
and Internship Information
NEW!
ACCELERATED MASTER OF GLOBAL STUDIES (MGS) OPTION
Eligible Missouri State University majors in Global Studies, Political Science, and other relevant disciplines may apply for preliminary acceptance into the Master of Global Studies program after admission requirements for the accelerated master’s option have been satisfied. If accepted, both the undergraduate and graduate requirements for dual-listed courses (6xx) must have been fulfilled to be counted for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. This option gives exceptional undergraduate students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in ten semesters and a summer. Contact the Department of Political Science for further information and guidelines.
Before enrolling in a course to be counted as both undergraduate and graduate credit and to count the course toward the master’s degree, an undergraduate student must be accepted into the accelerated program and receive prior approval from the graduate program advisor, department head of the undergraduate program, and the dean of the Graduate College. Acceptance into the program and all approvals must be completed prior to the end of the Change of Schedule Period for the course(s). See the Graduate College for further information.
Admission Process for the Accelerated MGS Option:
Immediately prior to or during the junior year, the prospective student should discuss the possibility of participating in the Accelerated Master’s Degree program with their undergraduate advisor, Director of the MGS Program and Department Head of the Political Science Department. If the student’s academic record and potential are judged strong, the Director recommends the student to the proposed Accelerated MGS program for approval by the Department Head. Undergraduate students who enter the Accelerated Master’s Degree program should have a sponsor, i.e., a MGS faculty member who will serve as a mentor to the student throughout the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Students admitted into the Accelerated Master’s Degree program will not be fully admitted into the Graduate College until completion of their undergraduate degree and fulfillment of all other requirements for admission to the Graduate College (such as the Graduate Record Examination). Students should be awarded the bachelor’s degree upon completion of a minimum of 125 hours of and undergraduate course work and degree-specific requirements.
Admission Requirements for the Accelerated MGS Option:
1. Global Studies, political science and other undergraduate majors must have at least junior standing and a minimum of 60 credit hours.
2. Applicants must have a minimum 3.50 GPA in the major curriculum and a 3.00 overall GPA.
3. Students in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program must maintain a 3.50 GPA in their major and maintain a 3.00 overall GPA to remain in the program.
4. Transfer students will be allowed into the Accelerated Masters Degree Program. Transfer students must have
a minimum of 30 graded hours of course work at Missouri State University before they can be accepted into the program.
5. A maximum of 12 credits of accumulated graduate hours may be applied toward completion of their undergraduate degree requirements. The following courses will be allowed as electives in the MGS program if they have been completed as graduate courses (only courses regularly offered are listed; when courses on demand are offered, a student may petition to count them as electives towards the accelerated program); the four courses counting towards the accelerated program must have four different codes, including at least one PLS code:
Course Counts towards (in MGS program)
ECO 565 International Economics, 3 hours, S Counts towards International Economics & Business
FGB 584 International Financial Management, 3 hours, S Counts towards International Economics & Business
GRY 507 Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa, 3 hours, S Counts towards International Relations/Comparative Politics
HST 565 English Constitution, Courts and Common Law, 3 hours, F Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 635 American Foreign Policy, 3 hours, F Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 644 Governments and Politics of the Middle East, 3 hours, FO Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 645 Asian Politics, 3 hours, S Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 647 The Politics of the European Union, 3 hours, SE Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 648 Governments and Politics of Latin America, 3 hours, F Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 650 Modern African Politics, 3 hours, FO Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 663 Modern Political Theory, 3 hours, SO Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 665 Contemporary Political Ideologies, 3 hours, SE, Counts towards IR/Comparative Politics
PLS 676 Quantitative Methods of Political Science and Public Policy, 3 hours, F/S Counts towards Quantitative Methods requirement
PLS 782 Internship/Practicum in International Field, 3 hours Counts towards any cognate field
For additional information about the MGS program and your options, please contact the program director, Dr. Kernen, at (417) 836-6957, or via email at beatkernen@missouristate.edu