Integrated BA/MA

Our Integrated B.A./M.A. program allows students currently in International Studies to pursue advanced studies and complete both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree consecutively.

Eligibility

Students become eligible to apply to the B.A./M.A. Program during the second semester of their sophomore year. Before applying, students should consult the International Studies Academic Advisor. The Integrated B.A./M.A. program is open to International Studies majors who have:

  • Demonstrated strong academic performance (GPA: 3.6 or higher in the major and 3.5 overall)
  • Demonstrated a high level of maturity and clear intent to pursue a Master’s degree
  • Completed at least 12 credits in the INTL major (2 core and 2 thematic electives)
  • Completed General Education requirements in the semester of application

Deadlines

Application deadline for current BA students to apply to enter the BA/MA program in Fall 2025

March 1, 2025

Application deadline for students to apply to enter the MA portion of their program in Fall 2025

March 1, 2025

Application deadline for students to apply to enter the MA portion of their program in Spring 2025

December 1, 2024

Degree requirements

In addition to the BA requirements, there are 30 credit hours (minimum) of graduate coursework for the M.A. portion of the degree. Please refer to the College of Arts & Sciences Academic Bulletin for more information.

Please refer to the graduate bulletin for requirement details.

BA/MA Degree Map

Application requirements

International Studies majors interested in applying for the B.A./M.A. should plan to meet first with the International Studies Academic Advisor, followed by the Director of Graduate Studies.

The application process consists of two stages:

  1. The student applies to the program itself. To complete the first stage of your application, apply to the program any time after the second semester of sophomore year (it is preferable to apply before the end of your junior year.)
  2. Requires a separate application to the Graduate School. The second stage of the application must be completed at least 18 months before graduation. In order to ensure that the student is accepted by the Graduate School, they must meet the ongoing expectations of the BA/MA program, including continued exemplary academic performance and timely completion of course requirements.

A fully completed application will include your:

  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Interest indicating motivations for wishing to pursue the B.A./M.A. program (1-2 pages). Be sure to discuss your thematic interests and region of focus; if you have an idea you would like to research for an MA thesis, a brief description would be helpful.
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation from professors who know your work. At least one of these should be from an International Studies faculty member
  • You must also submit official transcripts from every undergraduate institution you have attended other than IU. Please ask each institution to mail your official transcript to us at the address below. eTranscripts are also acceptable: you may ask for them to be sent to intldgs@iu.edu
  • Submit your application to intldgs@iu.edu. Any materials which cannot be emailed should be mailed to us directly.

    Address:
    Department of International Studies
    ATTN: Graduate Admissions
    Global and International Studies Building
    355 North Eagleson Ave, Room 1019
    Bloomington, IN 47405-1105
    Email: intldgs@iu.edu

Advising for the BA/MA program happens at several levels. Please see below for contact information on who you should consult.

  1. George Andrei, Olga Bueva, Elizabeth McHugh, and Dale Spicer serve as undergraduate academic advisors and assist BA/MA students with planning and understanding the requirements of the BA degree. With the dual undergraduate/graduate nature of the BA/MA degree, your conversations with the undergraduate advisors will be a combination of resolving some questions with regard to completing your BA requirements and receiving referrals going forward. Email: gandrei@iu.edu,  obueva@iu.edu, elimchug@iu.edu, or daespice@iu.edu.
  2. Hamilton Lugar School Graduate Student Services provides guidance on the two-step application process, deadlines, and adding and dropping courses. Email: hlsgrad@iu.edu
  3. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) serves as the advisor on issues related to course requirements, course content and the major thesis. If you have questions related to which courses to choose and when, how to fulfill your requirements or questions regarding finding an academic supervisor, please contact the DGS. Email: intldgs@iu.edu.
  4. One of the major challenges of the BA/MA is the completion of the Capstone Thesis, INTL-I 680. In order to begin working on your thesis, you will need to identify a professor who can supervise your thesis, which must be completed in your last semester before graduation. We strongly recommend that you begin searching for a thesis supervisor as early as possible, at least 12 months prior to your graduation date.
  5. There are more career opportunities at international and regional organizations than ever before. These organizations provide a range of services--from hosting high-level political negotiations to managing detailed technical issues--and almost all of their professional staffs work directly for them rather than for national governments. In some cases, these staffs are quite small, but organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank employ thousands of people. For advising with regard to future career options, please see the Hamilton Lugar School careers page. Web page:  https://hls.indiana.edu/careers/index.html
  6. If you're not sure who to contact, send a message to intldgs@iu.edu, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

  1. When first accepted you will receive a letter from the department congratulating you on your entry to the first stage of the BA/MA program. This will outline the process going forward including steps to be taken to apply to the Graduate Program at least 18 months before graduation.
  2. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies and request to be added to the graduate student listserv and BA/MA listserv.
  3. Consult with the Director of Graduate Studies on course requirements and thesis expectations.
  4. If you have any financial aid or scholarships, please contact the Bursar’s Office to ensure the smooth transition of funding from undergraduate to graduate status.
  5. One of the major challenges of the BA/MA is the completion of the Capstone Thesis, INTL-I 680. In order to begin working on your thesis, you will need to identify a professor who can supervise your thesis, which must be completed in your last semester before graduation. We strongly recommend that you begin searching for a thesis supervisor as early as possible, at least 12 months prior to your graduation date.
  6. Seek information on graduate travel and study grants through the IU GradGrants Center.

Want to learn more?

Contact the HLS grad office

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