Contacts | General Information | Joint BA/MA Program | Program Requirements

Department Website: http://cir.uchicago.edu

General Information

The Committee on International Relations (CIR) has its origins in a conference on the causes and characteristics of major wars, which was organized in 1926 by University of Chicago political scientists Charles Merriam and Quincy Wright. In 1928, the research papers and collaborations spawned by this conference led to the award of several master’s degrees and thereby the establishment of CIR, now the nation’s oldest graduate program in international affairs.

Combining rigorous core instruction with an interdisciplinary curriculum, CIR’s one-year master’s program allows students to explore the complexities of global politics and interact with world-class faculty, scholars, and professionals across the social sciences and the business, law, and public policy schools. Students develop depth of expertise by specializing in two fields of study and by producing an original MA thesis. A member of the University of Chicago faculty, CIR’s senior academic staff, and an assigned preceptor together mentor each student. 

CIR also offers an extensive professional development curriculum. In addition to working with CIR’s in-house career services team, students access the expertise and funding of the University’s Center for International Social Science Research, Institute of Politics, and regional studies centers. 

CIR maintains its own professional development fund for self-designed internships in the United States and abroad; for career exploration treks; for MA thesis field work; and for individual and group visits to the University of Chicago’s global centers in New Delhi, Beijing, and Hong Kong.  

Joint BA/MA Program

Students who wish to pursue a joint BA/MA degree in International Relations should review requirements and should consult with their College adviser. They should also meet with the Associate Dean of Students in the Social Sciences (Lindsey Weglarz, lweglarz@uchicago.edu) int he Autumn Quarter of their third year. 

Please see BA/MA Degree Requirements (https://socialsciences.uchicago.edu/admissions/ba-ma-applicants) to review the eligibility requirements for the joint degree. 

Application Requirements

Applicants are recommended, but not required, to have a GPA of 3.55 or higher. The application is submitted to the Dean of Students of the Division of the Social Sciences. More information on the application process can be found at (https://socialsciences.uchicago.edu/admissions). Applications are due on the same timeline as all applications for MA admission. Specific requirements for the BA/MA program can be found on the Division of the Social Sciences website. (https://socialsciences.uchicago.edu/admissions/ba-ma-applicants). 

Program Requirements

Students selected to participate in the joint degree program must meet all the normal BA requirements for their particular field of study, as well as all the general education requirements. In addition, joint degree students in CIR must meet all program requirements listed here. 

Students must complete both the BA and MA degrees, the second award no later than the end of the Summer Quarter following a September matriculation. 

Policies on double-counting credits or requirements can be found on the Division of Social Sciences website (https://socialsciences.uchicago.edu/admissions/ba-ma-applicants). Questions regarding double counting or degree logistics should be directed to Lindsey Weglarz, Associate Dean of Students (lweglarz@uchicago.edu).