MAS-IA Career Track: International Relations
In this career track, you will examine how major actors in the Pacific region cooperate, compete and resolve conflicts on issues like security, trade, human rights and the environment. You’ll learn theories and methods from political science, economics, law and more to analyze global politics.
Faculty Spotlight
Meet Professor Lauren Prather, who teaches a core course on the Politics of International and National Policy Making (GPCO 481). Her new book focuses on how election monitors — and foreign interference in a country’s election process — can affect the public’s perception of elections. Read the story here and watch the video.
Curriculum
The MAS-IA program offers a comprehensive and highly personalized curriculum. You’ll begin with two required core courses that give you a foundational understanding of global economies, as well as the systems and developments influencing policy creation. The core rounds out with a capstone workshop on policy issues. From there, you’ll choose nine courses depending on your professional path and regional interests.
See the general catalog for a complete listing.
Core and Capstone Courses
GPCO 481 - Politics of International and National Policy Making
This course provides an introduction to international political economies of the Pacific region and covers important international developments, such as regionalism, as well as domestic decision-making processes.
GPCO 482 - Global Economics and Markets
This course studies the major economies of the Pacific region by combining standard economic tools with each economy's institutional background. Special attention is given to the challenges that economic globalization poses to economic relations among those economies.
GPCO 483 - Workshop on Policy Issues in the Pacific Rim
This capstone class focuses on students collaborating on long-term projects and analyzing important political, economic and business issues in the Pacific region using the tools acquired through other school courses.
Additional Courses
Nine additional courses are required for this track. They are divided into three groups: courses focused on the track, elective courses and regional courses.
Below is a sample listing.
Three additional courses are required to fulfill the track requirement:
- GPPS 400 - International Relations of Asia-Pacific
- GPPS 401 - The New “New” Civil Wars
- GPPS 405 - U.S.-China Relations
- GPPS 408 - Korean Security
- GPPS 448 - Civil Society and Development
- GPPS 449 - Making US Foreign Policy
- GPPS 454 - Current Issues in U.S.-Latin American Relations
- GPPS 460 - The Politics of U.S.-Japanese Relations
- GPPS 427 - International Law and Regulation
- GPPS 478 - Japanese Foreign Policy
- GPCO 410 - International Politics and Security
- GPCO 412 - Globalization, the World System and the Pacific
Four courses fulfill the electives requirement and can be selected from existing GPS courses.
Two courses fulfill the regional electives requirement:
China
- GPPS 403 - Chinese Security, Technology and Innovation
- GPPS 404 - Chinese Politics
- GPPS 405 - U.S.-China Relations
- GPIM 461 - Doing Business in China
- GPPA 467 - Chinese Environmental and Energy Policy
- GPEC 486 - Economic and Social Development of China
Japan
- GPIM 411 - Business and Management in Japan
- GPPS 416 - Postwar Politics in Japan
- GPPS 460 - Politics of U.S.-Japan Economic Relations
Korea
- GPPS 408 - Korean Security
- GPPS 484 - Korean Politics
Latin America
- GPEC 409 - Economic Policy in Latin America
- GPPS 454 - Current Issues in U.S.-Latin American Relations
- GPPA 472 - Latin American Environmental and Energy Policy
Southeast Asia
- GPEC 462 - Southeast Asian Economics
- GPPS 463 - Politics of Southeast Asia
Some prerequisite(s) or the instructor's consent may be required for some classes. Course schedules are published quarterly and are subject to change without notice. Some courses that can be applied to meet requirements may not be offered in a given academic quarter or academic year.