Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are good places to go to earn a Masters degree in International Affairs?

A. A good place to start is with the members of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs: http://www.apsia.org/apsia/search/schoolSearch.php

Q. I am a senior and tried to sign up for my senior seminar, but the system will not let me in. What’s the problem?

A. Because some of the I.R. senior seminars require particular prerequisites, you must sign up with Lucy Ramsey, in Mr. Jeffrey Judge’s office, first. Then she will give you an override for the class.

Q. I need a class for graduation, but it’s full. What do I do?

A. The Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Jeff Judge, handles overrides into classes. If you really need a particular class for graduation, he will let you in.

Q. I wanted to take a different pair of courses for my related area than the ones listed at the bottom of the check list. Is that possible?

A. The listings at the bottom of the checklist are only illustrative. See your academic advisor. Your academic advisor approves your related area courses.

Q. What is the writing portfolio requirement for I.R. majors?

A. The IR faculty and students have adopted a portfolio requirement, which doesn't add anything to the University approved Tier 2 writing requirement for I.R. students, but simply requires some documentation that students have met it.  Student members of the I.R. field committee were enthusiastic about this because it provides graduating seniors with a portfolio and evidence of their writing, something increasingly required by employers and graduate schools.  The specific requirements and the ways provide the document are available on the I.R. Writing Portfolio page to which you should have access.  If you have any questions or problem with accessing the page, please contact Peter Murray.  If you have questions how to meet the requirement, please contact the I.R. chair (qing@msu.edu). 

Q.   I know that the requirements for an I.R. major have been changed.  Which am I held to?

A.   The University policy is that students are held to the requirements that were in place when they entered the major (i.e. when you became an I.R. major, normally the beginning of your sophomore year) or, if a student prefers any new requirements that have been adopted subsquently, i.e. new requirement.  Look at the checklists, keeping that in mind.

Q: How can I combine my interest in attending graduate school and serving in the Peace Corps?

Beginning in fall 2006 Michigan State University, already a top Peace Corps producer, will offer a master’s level program combining campus coursework in East Lansing with Peace Corps volunteerism abroad. The new MSU Master’s International program is based on existing master’s of science programs in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Michigan State University, already a top Peace Corps producer, will offer a master’s level program combining campus coursework in East Lansing with Peace Corps volunteerism abroad.

The new MSU Master’s International program is based on existing master’s of science programs in the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Students in the MSU Master’s International program will spend a year on campus before going overseas to serve with the Peace Corps. All of the Master’s International students will be agriculture and environment volunteers, areas in which demand outreaches the supply of skilled volunteers.

After returning to the United States, students will spend another one to two semesters completing a research project before graduating. Degree options will include crop and soil sciences, agricultural economics, and community, agriculture, recreation, and resource studies – all areas in which MSU already offers strong, internationally-focused graduate programs. Students also will have the options to add specializations in international development and environmental science and policy.

"This exciting new program builds on MSU's long history as one of the leading institutions in recruiting Peace Corps volunteers and as an institution committed to problem-solving engagement around the globe," said Jeffrey Riedinger, acting dean of international studies and programs. "This program will better equip Peace Corps volunteers from MSU to make a difference in working to address problems such as environmental degradation, hunger, infectious diseases, limited educational opportunities and poverty."

MSU joins Western Michigan University and Michigan Technological University as the third Michigan school to incorporate a Master’s international program into its curriculum. This year 71 volunteers are serving from MSU, making the university the eighth highest producer of Peace Corps volunteers.

Master’s International, one of the Peace Corps’ domestic programs, enables individuals to pursue graduate degrees while serving in the Peace Corps. The program has established partnerships with more than 50 universities nationwide.

Potentially interested students wishing to pursue the M.I. degree at MSU should contact Professor Eric Crawford in Agricultural Economics at crawfor5@msu.edu.

For more general information about Master’s International, please visit the Peace Corps Web site at www.peacecorps.gov/masters.

For more information on MSU Peace Corps participation, please visit: http://newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/2504/content.htm.

Q: I am thinking of going into the Peace Corps.  What foreign language should I study at MSU?

If you started a foreign language in high school, I always encourage you to continue with that language, for knowing a language in-depth is generally better than knowing a smattering of a few languages.  Moreover, rather than focusing on what language you anticipate needing in the Peace Corps, you might instead look at what's available at MSU and select whichever language interests you most. 

In addition to German ( http://www.msu.edu/~linglang/german/index.htm),

French ( http://www.fci.msu.edu/), and Spanish ( http://www.spp.msu.edu/), the LCTL Program website ( http://www.msu.edu/~lctl/) lists all less commonly taught languages offered at MSU with links to relevant information.

Because Peace Corps volunteers can be placed most anywhere specific planning is difficult.  Furthermore, wherever you go, you will probably need to learn the local language which, chances are, will be a much-less-commonly-taught-language perhaps not even offered at MSU.  So . . . look at what's available at MSU and study what you think you will enjoy most.

Even if, ultimately, you end up learning a language at MSU and need another language for the Peace Corps, the experience you gain from your classroom time at MSU can help you develop important communication strategies and give you valuable language learning experience you may need in order to learn a more difficult language in the future.  Research shows that people learning a 3rd or more language are more "open" to options in the new language and may have an easier time.  So whatever you study will help you in your international travel and perhaps your career - even if, by chance, the language you study at MSU is not the one you eventually need to learn in the Peace Corps.  Between the intensive pre-service language training you will receive and two full years of immersion you will definitely learn something with the Peace Corps too.

Email Michael Schechter with your questions regarding International Relations.