Samara Shaz, CIR

Samara Shaz is a Committee on International Relations Masters (CIR) student from New York City, New York, currently participating in CIR’s Second Year Specialization option. When she applied, Shaz says, “Academically, I was very curious about pursuing a PhD, and CIR provides a one-year foray into what that experience would be.” 

Prior to coming to CIR, Shaz was in the work force. While she notes that it was a challenge “creating and maintaining a sustainable schedule” for her academic workload, she says she was able to find ways to help herself focus, like getting work done in the library as opposed to her apartment. Her favorite class so far, Seminar on International Relations Theory, was also a challenge, but one she says was worth it. “It was a PhD-level course and had a lot of reading attached to it, but I found it very fun. We moved through the canon alongside its critiques so now I feel like it gave me a solid understanding of the major contours of the field. It also had an incredible in-class discussion,” she says of the course co-taught by Professors Austin Carson and Rochelle Terman. 

That interaction with faculty and fellow students is a key element to CIR, Shaz says, particularly when it comes to getting feedback. “I feel very grateful to have found people at the University of Chicago who care enough to read my work in-depth and push me to develop my ideas,” Shaz explains. 

This is especially important when it comes to working on her thesis. “In my thesis, I look at how different actors critique nuclear policy, how these critiques interact with each other, and when these critiques are successful," shares Shaz. “My advisor is Professor Austin Carson, and he has been instrumental in moving my project forward and refining my work. Outside of that, Dr. Kara Hooser and Dr. Linnea Turco have provided instrumental feedback and criticism that have helped me frame my research and situated my work in the literature.” 

Since Shaz plans to move onto a PhD and a career in academia after completing her masters, she notes that CIR is doing a great job helping her prepare. “This program not only let me sample what doing PhD-level coursework would be like but also provides a clinic to give feedback and regular check-ins on the PhD process,” explains Shaz.