MSFS seeks to educate and equip the next generation of international affairs leaders. Through a rigorous curriculum of historical, political, social, cultural, and economic studies, MSFS challenges students to both understand theory and history and apply their knowledge to bring impactful change. We do this while also instilling a commitment to service in the international community and an appreciation for the ethical dimension of international affairs. Each MSFS student chooses one of the following fields of concentration. Each concentration includes 18 credits of coursework including at least one concentration-specific gateway/foundational course. Students may choose to specialize within a particular concentration by focusing coursework in a subfield. There are four concentration options available within the MSFS degree: Global Politics & Security (GPS), International Development (IDEV), Global Business, Finance & Society (GBFS), Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA)-, Self-Designed Concentration
Now more than ever, science and technology are at the heart of international affairs. The Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA) concentration equips students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to engage with the challenges and opportunities this presents. Remember that STIA is STEM designated as of 2023. STIA concentrators must take the following courses: One Gateway course: MSFS 505: Science Policy Matters: Introduction to the Study of Science, Technology and International Affairs (further details below). Professor Theresa Sabonis-Helf will be leading the gateway course to be offered each spring semester.
One tech competence course from a list of approved natural science, data science or computer science courses. In some cases, students with the necessary prerequisites may take courses offered in other programs of the university (3500 or above) subject to departmental approval. Students who majored or minored in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science or engineering as undergraduates may petition to the concentration chair to be exempted from this requirement, and take an additional elective course instead. Additionally, students must take four additional courses selected from a list of approved electives, three of which must be in one of the three designated subfields: Energy and the Global Environment, Innovation and Emerging Technologies and Science, Technology and International Strategy.
