MA in International Affairs

Knowledge and understanding

• LOS 1: Employ critical thinking, analytical tools, and social science methods necessary to understand and analyze complex problems of international affairs in their historical, cultural and political dimensions, and acquire an in-depth knowledge of international relations theories and public policy scholarship.
• LOS 2: Understand and work with quantitative and qualitative data and apply social and political science research methods in academic and professional contexts; interact with the primary sources and experiences offered by the city of Rome.
• LOS 3: Write sophisticated, extensive, and original academic research papers and effectively present problems and independent research on international politics and economics in concise, engaging and lively presentations in diverse academic, professional and multicultural contexts. 

Analytical and research skills

• LOS 4: Mastery of the major theoretical literature and contemporary debates in the field of International Relations, including the methodologies and ontologies of major research programs, with an emphasis on the roles that governments, IGOs, IOs, and NGOs play in world politics and on the application of these frameworks to the events of global public policy in the twenty-first century.
• LOS 5: Ability to critically evaluate and assess research data – including formal reports of governments and non-state actors, scholarly research, and media sources across a range of issue areas, from arms control and security to economic policy – and to demonstrate awareness of the main ways that research can be collected and analyzed in the development of credible academic and policy positions.
• LOS 6: Ability to generate research, to collect and analyze data in cogent and compelling ways, and to present their findings clearly in the form of academic papers, memoranda, and reports, in line with their chosen career trajectory – i.e., either future academic work or as a practitioner of global public policy.

Professional and transferrable skills

• LOS 7: Training in how to continue to learn, to engage with new ideas and changing contexts; ability to engage in peer exchange discussion and collaborative work.
• LOS 8: Attainment of improved observational skills, greater sophistication in researching and presenting policy-briefs, capacity to work under pressure in a team on a policy relevant issue.
• LOS 9: Ability to identify problem-solving strategies for effective project management.
• LOS 10: Ability to engage sympathetically with diverse cultural contexts; ability to work independently.

Choose a path to earning your master's degree that best aligns with your goals: complete the program in just one year through the accelerated track or take a more flexible approach by finishing in three semesters of full-time study.

The M.A. program curriculum is designed to provide you with the courses, training, and skills necessary for either an academic, research-oriented career or a professional, policy-making one. The program begins with a Foundation Phase that lays the groundwork for advanced research and practice, followed by the Capstone Phase, during which you will complete your M.A. Thesis.

To complete the degree, you must earn a total of 36 credits, distributed according to the program's requirements. Additionally, you must maintain an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 for all courses taken at the university. You are allowed no more than two grades lower than C- in the core courses required for the degree.

Language Proficiency Requirement: MA students must demonstrate proficiency in a second language beyond English at the B2 (upper intermediate) level or higher in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

A. Core Curriculum (24 credits)

• Foundation Courses (6 Credits):
  • PL 610 Foundation I: International Relations (3 Credits)
  • PL 620 Foundation II: Comparative Politics (3 Credits)
• PL 630 International Political Economy (3 Credits)
• PL 640 Political Science Research Methodology (3 Credits)
• Four PL Graduate Seminars (12 Credits)

B. Additional Requirements (0 credit hours each) 

Cultural Events Modules (PL603-Fall semester, PL603-Spring Semester). A passing grade in two semesters of PL603 is required for admission to register for the M.A. Thesis.

C. Capstone requirements (12 credits)

• PL 710 Professional Development Course (1 Credit)
• PL 720 Practicum in International Affairs (2 Credits)
• PL 740 Internship or Research Assistantship (3 Credits)
• PL 780 Thesis Writing (6 Credits)

Note: Payment of all financial obligations to the University is required to be awarded the degree.

Learn more about the courses you'll take in the M.A. program.

Graduate Course Descriptions

Fall 2025 Preliminary Schedule

Stay on track with important dates for each semester.

View Calendar

JCU provides several options to support you in achieving your educational goals. All program applicants are automatically considered for our scholarships and grants. In addition, there are student loan options to help you pay for school, as well as veteran and military family benefits.

Graduate Financial Aid

As a graduate student, you will study and attend classes at JCU's Center for Graduate Studies, located in the historic Foresteria building. This site dates back to 1495, when it was initially built as the residence of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who later became Pope Paul III. In the early 19th century, the building was passed into the hands of the powerful Bourbon family. Since 1934, it has been part of the renowned Accademia dei Lincei, the world’s oldest academy dedicated to the study of the humanities and natural sciences. Among its distinguished members were intellectual giants such as Galileo Galilei, Enrico Fermi, and Vito Volterra.

Visit the Center for Graduate Studies

The M.A. program in International Affairs at John Cabot University was made possible by a generous donation from the Hon. Frank J. Guarini, Chairman Emeritus of the JCU Board of Trustees. Mr. Guarini has been an avid supporter of JCU since 1995, and his career in both public service and education has left a lasting impact on the university.

Mr. Guarini's generosity also helped to establish the Guarini Institute for Public Affairs, which offers enriching lectures, seminars, and networking events that can enhance your education and provides opportunities to connect with visiting political and business leaders.

Guarini Institute for Public Affairs

JCU's Center for Career Services is a valuable resource dedicated to helping you prepare for the workforce and find a career. From internships to networking events to career fairs, you'll find numerous opportunities to stand out and learn more about rewarding careers in politics and international affairs. Be sure to also take advantage of JOBIRI, our artificial intelligence job/career platform.

Center for Career Services

The MA program in International Affairs hosts, co-hosts, or organizes a series of research projects and summer institutes that you may participate in as part of your coursework. Program topics include Migration and Rights, China and Europe, Religion and Global Politics, and Global Peace and Security.

Participate in the Summer Institutes

JCU's Transatlantic Policy Dialogues is an ongoing policy workshop that aims to evaluate the evolving geopolitical challenges and opportunities facing Europe and the United States from a transatlantic perspective.

Transatlantic Policy Dialogues and Fellowship

The Foundation Year of your graduate education consists of:

• Two Foundation Courses (totaling 6 credit hours) in International Relations and Comparative Politics. These advanced survey courses are taught by core faculty members and are specifically designed to lay the academic groundwork for the M.A. program.
• One Political Science Research Methodology course (3 credit hours) and one International Political Economy course (3 credit hours).
• Four Graduate Seminars (totaling 12 credit hours). You will select from a variety of specialized, graduate-level electives.

In total, you will complete twenty-four credit hours of coursework for your degree. Additionally, you must fulfill a public lecture attendance requirement, which entails attending at least three scholarly lectures, workshops, or other approved events each semester. You may satisfy this requirement by participating in the M.A. program’s speaker series or by attending one of the numerous academic events held throughout Rome.

Students must also demonstrate proficiency (at the B2 level) in a second language other than English.

The summer term provides an excellent opportunity to take additional courses that count toward your degree. You can use this time to complete your practicum and professional development courses, pursue an internship, or conduct research for your thesis, including any necessary travel. JCU offers a range of summer programs that may also fulfill your practicum requirement.

During the capstone term, you will complete your M.A. Thesis (6 credit hours), the final requirement for your degree. Students typically form their thesis based on a research project completed during the Foundation year in one of their graduate research seminars or in elective courses.

You'll also complete your International Affairs Practicum (2 credit hours), Professional Development Course (1 credit hour), and your Research Assistantship or Professional Internship (3 credit hours total). If you are interested in an academic career, you are encouraged to pursue a research assistantship with one of JCU’s active research faculty.

If you are interested in a professional career in international affairs, you are encouraged to pursue a professional internship. The University currently has internship agreements with a range of international organizations and governmental entities in Rome. John Cabot students in international affairs have previously held internships with the US Embassy to Italy, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Food and Development Bank (IFAD), the Italian Institute of International Affairs (IAI), the Italian Carabinieri’s Center of Excellence, as well as major Human Rights organizations and law firms, Vatican institutes and Italian state ministries.

Learn more about John Cabot University’s Office of Career Services and the assistance it provides students with internship placement and post-graduate professional planning.

Graduate Seminars are research-intensive colloquia focused on specialized themes devised to stimulate original student research. They begin with the reading of a discrete body of scholarly sources and the examination of source material and proceed to the development of a focused research project, presentation, and paper by each seminar participant. Weekly seminar meetings are devoted to analyzing readings and presenting and discussing the results of individual research. 

Political Science Research Methodology, a course required of all MA students, provides a systematic understanding and critical appreciation of alternative approaches, methodologies, and paradigms of political science research. Students will learn techniques to interpret and analyze data. The tool-driven training will enable students to think through how they can use their knowledge and skills of advanced qualitative and quantitative methods in different contexts, apply them to a variety of problems, and, progressively, identify their own needs for research.

The Practicum in International Affairs provides a hands-on introduction to policy work in global affairs. Practicums feature participation by high-level practitioners with experience in areas like the United Nations, Foreign and Defense Ministries and international advocacy organizations. The course is designed to introduce students to the professional world of international affairs and engage with the networks of policymakers present in the city of Rome.

Proficiency in a Foreign Language: Given the international nature of policy-making as well as John Cabot’s traditional identity as a hub for intercultural relations, M.A. students must demonstrate proficiency in a second language beyond English at the B2 (upper intermediate) level or higher in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This component can be satisfied by passing a language exam administered by the John Cabot University Foreign Language Resource Center or by presenting a B2-level certificate from an approved language school or testing service (CILS, DELF/DALF, etc.). John Cabot offers multiple language resources through its library and Foreign Language Resource Center to help students work towards this requirement. JCU also regularly offers language instruction in Italian, French, and Spanish, and M.A. students may audit JCU language courses as schedules permit.

The program offers two options:

• You can complete the degree over the course of three semesters and turn in your thesis at the end of the third semester (in December).
• You can choose an accelerated one-year intensive format if you finish coursework during the first two semesters and complete your thesis and internship over the summer. In this case, you will have until September to submit the thesis. This intensive format is most advisable for those who enter the MA with a strong academic record and a substantial background in international affairs.

At the beginning of the program, you will choose and commit to one of the two timetables. Students who have legal status to live in Italy may opt for part-time study.

Over the summer, you may take additional coursework, internships, thesis research, supplementary language training, and other professional or educational activities, including the JCU-UNICRI Summer School on Migration and Human Rights, the Rome Summer Seminars on Religion and Global Politics, and the TOChina Summer School.

Sample Curriculum I: 3 Semesters (Fall-Spring-Fall)

Sample Curriculum II: Intensive one-year format (2 Semesters + Summer and Thesis writing) 

Please consult the Academic Calendar for Thesis deadlines.

If you are a European Union (EU) citizen or have an Italian permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno), you are eligible for admission as a part-time student. Part-time students typically take between three and nine credit hours per term and are allowed four years to complete all degree requirements.

The MA in International Affairs degree serves as a foundation for pursuing careers in international affairs. You will graduate prepared to begin work in international governmental organizations, international non-governmental organizations, governmental foreign and Defense Ministries, international consulting, finance and legal firms, as well as public service and civil society organizations. You will also be prepared for further graduate and post-graduate scholarly work.