The Combined BA/MA program is an opportunity for advanced AU undergraduate students to begin a professional master’s degree program in international affairs while completing your bachelor’s degree. By taking shared courses that count towards the requirements of both degrees, our BA/MA option can open doors to more advanced careers more quickly,  saving you time and money.

Potential Benefits

• Save upwards of $22,000 in tuition costs by sharing credits between the two degrees. But there are credit limits, so please talk to your academic advisor early.
• Reduce the overall time required to earn both degrees.
• Obtain a competitive edge in the job market.
• Earn an advanced degree from a top 10-ranked, DC-based professional school of international affairs.
• Enjoy unique curricular flexibility so you can work or intern in DC while completing your graduate training.

Program Details

• Undergraduate students may apply up to 15 credit hours of approved, graduate-level coursework to satisfy both degrees’ requirements.
• Shared credits vary depending on a student’s current major/minor and master’s degree program.
• A minimum of 18 credit hours in graduate studies must be completed in residence after the undergraduate degree has been awarded.
• Interested students should meet with their academic advisor and are encouraged to meet with a career advisor.

Example of Credit Sharing

Example of an SIS undergraduate student combining a master’s degree in Global Governance, Politics & Security.

Example of an SIS undergraduate student combining a master’s degree in Global Governance, Politics & Security.

Graduate Course	Semester	Application in BA	Application in MA
SIS-619 Statebuilding	Fall (Senior)	GCG Thematic	Concentration
SIS-707 History of Global Politics	Fall (Senior)	GCG Thematic	Core Course
SIS-681 Intelligence & Foreign Policy	Spring (Senior)	Elective	Concentration
SIS-708 Foundations of Global Security	Spring (Senior)	PGSCR Thematic	Core Course

Eligibility

Admission to the combined BA/MA program requires completion of 75 credit hours. Interested students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor earlier to discuss academic plan. SIS also welcomes applications from non-SIS AU undergraduate students seeking a career in the field of international affairs. Non-SIS students should meet with the advisor as early as possible to discuss credit-sharing opportunities.

Program Options

The following SIS MA programs are available for the BA/MA combination:

• Comparative and Regional Studies
• Development Management
• Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights
• Global Environmental Policy
• Global Governance, Politics, and Security
• International Affairs Policy and Analysis
• International Development
• International Economic Relations
• International Economic Relations: Quantitative Methods
• International Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Intercultural and International Communication
• United States Foreign Policy & National Security

Scholarship Process

BA/MA students will be considered for SIS scholarship before they commence their MA programs. Students will be contacted in the final semester of their BA for an updated resume, and will then be added to the pool of students for funding consideration. All students, whether awarded funding or not, will be notified.

BA/MA Application Checklist

1. Meet with your undergraduate advisor to learn more about the BA/MA program (please note that this is not required for you to submit an application).
2. Complete online graduate application by submitting the following documents (more details):
   • Online application form
   • Resume
   • Personal Statement
   • Two recommendation letters
   • Official undergraduate transcript(s) (including AU transcript)
3. If admitted, complete the online admissions reply form to accept the offer; BA/MAs do not need to submit the enrollment deposit.
4. After admission, you will jointly meet with a degree advisor in the SIS Office of Graduate Academic Advising and the BA/MA advisor in Undergraduate Academic Advising.
5. At any time during your BA/MA planning process, if you would like to know more about the number of credits you can share between your BA and your MA, please consult with your BA/MA advisor in Undergraduate Academic Advising.

What to do now?

Freshmen

Discuss your interest in the BA/MA program with your first-year advisor.

Sophomore

Discuss your interest in the BA/MA program with your SIS academic advisor. Consider delaying your completion of the SIS thematic area courses. Courses can typically be shared using your Thematic Area courses.

Junior

Discuss the BA/MA program with your academic advisor. Follow the BA/MA application checklist to apply after you have completed 75 credits (ideally no more than 90 credits).

Junior/Senior

After being admitted to the BA/MA program, begin taking shared graduate courses.

Global Scholars

Global Scholars students are eligible to apply with at least two semesters remaining. Note that admission is not guaranteed, and you will be evaluated as any other applicant.

Some graduate courses are available during summer terms. However, summer courses are limited. It is better to plan shared BA/MA classes for fall and spring terms. If one of your two remaining semesters will be a summer semester, it is especially important that you consult with the advising office as soon as you reach 75 credits.