Joint and Dual Degree Opportunities

The BA/MA joint degree program with CIR is intended for rising fourth-year students enrolled in the College at the University of Chicago who want to pursue graduate education in international relations. During the Autumn Quarter of their third year, prospective BA/MA students must consult with their College adviser, the Director of Undergraduate Studies in their College major, and the Associate Dean of Students for Admissions in the Social Sciences (Lindsey Weglarz). 

Students graduating with the BA/MA are expected to fulfill all of the regular requirements for graduation from CIR. Applicants are expected, but not required, to have a GPA of 3.55 or higher. Please see the Division of the Social Sciences for application requirements and process. BA/MA students can apply during any of the three application rounds, but we strongly encourage applying during Early Action or Round 1, as Round 2 is on a space-available basis only.

Learn more about the BA/MA program.

Students applying to the MBA/MA must apply for admission to the Booth School of Business, clearly indicate that they are interested in the MBA/MA with CIR, and provide the additional materials requested for joint-degree consideration.

• Students take a reduced course load of 14 courses in the Booth School of Business (rather than the standard 20 courses), and the regular 9 courses required by CIR. Students also complete the CIR thesis, which includes a three quarter sequence of non-credit workshops under the supervision of CIR professors. Individual courses cannot be double-counted towards the requirements for both degree programs; however, the dual degree requirements are fulfilled with 23 courses total compared to 29 if each degree were completed individually..
• To facilitate the writing of the MA thesis paper, students must complete the three required non-credit CIR courses in a single academic year. The MA thesis paper must be submitted and approved no later than the end of Summer Quarter of the same academic year. Most students complete the dual degrees in two years (8 quarters), with the CIR thesis workshop courses and thesis completed during their second year. Students who are on a three-year schedule to completion have the option of deferring enrollment in these courses until their final year in residence.
• Students in the MBA/MA joint degree program may choose to have their MA thesis paper approved by two faculty readers — one CIR faculty reader and one reader from the Booth School of Business – in addition to their assigned preceptor.

Students must apply to both the Law School and CIR separately and receive offers of admission to both programs.

• To complete the CIR program requirements as outlined above, students take 9 graduate for-credit courses in an academic year of their choosing: 3 in the Law School and 6 in the Division of the Social Sciences, satisfying CIR’s field distribution requirements. To facilitate the writing of the MA thesis paper, students must complete all required non-credit CIR courses and have their MA thesis paper approved no later than Summer Quarter of said chosen academic year.
• Students in the JD/MA joint degree program may choose to have their MA paper approved by two faculty readers — one CIR faculty reader and one reader from the Law School – in addition to their assigned preceptor.

Students interested in a second (one-year) Master’s degree offered by the Harris School of Public Policy must apply separately to the Harris School, either before the start of the CIR program, or more commonly during the first quarter of their CIR year.

Students in this dual program always start their studies with CIR and are strongly encouraged to complete all CIR degree requirements no later than the Summer Quarter of their first year in residence.