MA Program
NPSIA’s MA program provides our students with a strong foundation in theory and practice across multiple focus areas of international affairs.
Our students receive rigorous training in international relations theory, policy analysis and formulation, research methods, economics and law. Our program is interdisciplinary, reflecting our philosophy that exposure to a range of disciplines enables our students to develop a better understanding of our complex global environment.
Through research assignments, case studies and simulations, mediation exercises, the preparation of policy papers, and project evaluation activities, our courses enable students to apply their academic training to contemporary policy issues.
Given that the ability to communicate is essential to international affairs, all our students must be able to function in a second major international language by the completion of their degree.
Through this comprehensive training, our students build the analytical and policy skills necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world and succeed in their chosen profession
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- NPSIA is a 5.0 credit MA program. Our program includes several mandatory courses in statistics, policy, law, and economics, as well as a mandatory second language requirement.
- Students can complete the 5.0 credits in one of three ways: through Course Work, with a Research Essay, or with a Thesis. All three options will allow students to complete one or more co-op terms and/or complete an international exchange.
- Please consult Carleton’s Graduate Studies Calendar for specific and up to date information on the program requirements.
- To facilitate student planning, please consult our suggested program pathway. We recommend that students prioritize completing their mandatory program requirements early in their program, and that prioritization is reflected in our recommendations.
- It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they have completed NPSIA’s program requirements before applying to graduate. Please see this checklist for a summary of these requirements.
- For further details, please speak to the MA Graduate Administrator.
Eight (8) Fields
Fields in International Affairs
Collaborative Specializations
NPSIA Students have the opportunity to apply to Collaborative Specializations. These Specializations utilize various departments across Carleton to provide an interdisciplinary, in-depth knowledge of a given topic. Each Specialization require…
Specialization in African Studies
Specialization in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Specialization in Cyber Security
Specialization in Data Science
Specialization in Climate Change
Student Research: Masters Research Essay (MRE) and Thesis Options
- NPSIA students who are interested in undertaking their own research project can complete their degree with a Master’s Research Essay – MRE (1.0 credit) or a Thesis (2.0).
- For further information on the research process, including the difference between the MRE and the Thesis, please consult this document.
- Guidelines for Graduate Student Supervision provide suggestions on best practices and reasonable expectations for students and Supervisors.
- Guidelines for Field Research provide guidance to help students navigate the academic and logistics challenges of field work.
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- Weight: 1.0 INAF credits with 0.5 credit towards field designation.
- Students undertaking an MRE should normally have a minimum A- GPA at the end of the first two terms of study at NPSIA.
- Specialisations require MREs with significant content related to their area of specialisation.
- Students should identify their topic early in the program.
- Supervision Team:
- Please see NPSIA’s Guidelines for Graduate Student Research Supervision.
- Identify NPSIA faculty Supervisor as early as possible, review proposal with Supervisor.
- MA/JD and specialisations have specific co-Supervision requirements.
- Identify Advisor. Please see MRE guidelines for Advisor suggestions.
- Methods prerequisite (INAF 5015, for those in Data Science DATA 5000).
- Students must abide by Carleton’s Academic Integrity Policy.
- Ethics clearance is required for any research/study involving human participants. Please consult Carleton Research Ethics for specific requirements.
- Continuous registration in INAF 5908 (MA/JD INAF 5906) required after initial registration.
- MREs are graded by the Supervisory team (co-Supervisors, or Supervisor and Advisor).
- Deadlines:
- January 31 of first year: Indicate intent to undertake MRE on Program Completion Form.
- March 1 of first year: Submit Research Proposal – see NPSIA Research Proposal Form.
- Submission deadline for completed MRE – April 1 (Spring graduation), August 1 (Fall graduation), or December 1 (Winter graduation).
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- Weight: 1.0 INAF credits with 0.5 credit towards field designation.
- Students undertaking an MRE should normally have a minimum A- GPA at the end of the first two terms of study at NPSIA.
- Specialisations require MREs with significant content related to their area of specialisation.
- Students should identify their topic early in the program.
- Supervision Team:
- Please see NPSIA’s Guidelines for Graduate Student Research Supervision.
- Identify NPSIA faculty Supervisor as early as possible, review proposal with Supervisor.
- MA/JD and specialisations have specific co-Supervision requirements.
- Identify Advisor. Please see MRE guidelines for Advisor suggestions.
- Methods prerequisite (INAF 5015, for those in Data Science DATA 5000).
- Students must abide by Carleton’s Academic Integrity Policy.
- Ethics clearance is required for any research/study involving human participants. Please consult Carleton Research Ethics for specific requirements.
- Continuous registration in INAF 5908 (MA/JD INAF 5906) required after initial registration.
- MREs are graded by the Supervisory team (co-Supervisors, or Supervisor and Advisor).
Deadlines:
- January 31 of first year: Indicate intent to undertake MRE on Program Completion Form.
- March 1 of first year: Submit Research Proposal – see NPSIA Research Proposal Form.
- Submission deadline for completed MRE – April 1 (Spring graduation), August 1 (Fall graduation), or December 1 (Winter graduation).
PhD Fast-track Option
The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs offers a fast-track option into the NPSIA PhD program.
Full-time students in the M.A. program who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and research potential may, with permission of the Ph.D. Associate Director, be admitted to the Ph.D. program after two terms of registration. Eligible students will be assessed on demonstrated research abilities and performance in the first term of studies.
Students considering this option will be advised, when selecting courses for their M.A. program, to choose those courses at the master’s level which are open to doctoral students and which may assist them in the doctoral comprehensive examinations.
Students interested in the fast-track option should meet with the PhD program supervisor during the fall of their first term in the program.
updated Apr 2025