The International Studies Program and the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) have collaborated to create a combined five-year Bachelor of Arts / Master of International Affairs program (BA/MIA). The combined program is designed specifically for selected UCSD undergraduate majors in International Studies who seek advanced training for leadership positions in the Pacific Rim community.

The BA/MIA program retains and builds on the interdisciplinary core of the existing International Studies degree and adds to it the professional training of a one-year Master of International Affairs degree. During their senior year, students will apply a rigorous, graduate-level curriculum toward the completion of their undergraduate degree in International Studies. Students will be fully matriculated at GPS as graduate/professional students in the additional year, at the end of which they will receive their MIA.

This program offers three degree pathways open to students in the International Studies Program:

See a recording of the BA/MIA info session from October 2023 below!

Admissions Requirements

General Admissions Requirements:

Students must be declared in one of the following majors (no exceptions):

International Studies – Economics
International Studies – International Business
International Studies – Political Science

GPA Requirements:

Cumulative GPA: 3.0 or higher
Major GPA: 3.4 or higher

Academic Advising Requirement:

Must meet with an International Studies Program Academic Advisor or Director of Degree Programs at GPS

Completion Requirement:

Students must be on track to complete all requirements in order to qualify for graduation by the end of the spring quarter of senior year

Time Commitment:

Attendance at GPS Summer Prep (if required) during summer prior to senior year
Ability to take courses on campus at UC San Diego during both their senior and graduate year

Admissions Application:

Successful submission of admissions application and all relevant material via Grad Apply by April 10
On Grad Apply, the program is shown as "International Affairs (IR75)"

Program Specific Admissions Requirements:

Course requirements that must be completed by spring prior to admission.

International Studies - Economics

Calculus: MATH 10A-B-C or MATH 20A-B-C
Lower-division Economics: ECON 1-2-3
INTL 100 – Analysis, Argument, and Real-World Problems
INTL 101 – Culture and Society in International Perspective
INTL 102 – Economics, Politics, and International Change
Substantial progress in General Education coursework

International Studies - International Business

Calculus: MATH 10A-B-C or MATH 20A-B-C
Lower-division Accounting: ECON/MGT 4 and MGT 5
INTL 100 – Analysis, Argument, and Real-World Problems
INTL 101 – Culture and Society in International Perspective
INTL 102 – Economics, Politics, and International Change
Substantial progress in General Education coursework

International Studies - Political Science

Calculus: MATH 10A-B-C or MATH 20A-B-C
Lower-division Economics: ECON 1-2-3
INTL 100 – Analysis, Argument, and Real-World Problems
INTL 101 – Culture and Society in International Perspective
INTL 102 – Economics, Politics, and International Change
Substantial progress in General Education coursework

Admissions Process

Application Opens in January with a hard deadline of April 10 each year.

Please email Dr. Nancy Gilson (ngilson@ucsd.edu) to schedule an appointment. Please provide at least 3 dates and times for which you are available.

Completion of all general and program specific admissions requirements by the end of Spring quarter of application year

Completion of online application via Grad Apply. To apply for the BA/MIA program you will apply for "International Affairs (IR75)"

The application includes:

Contact Information
Residency and Applicant Data
Educational Background
Program Supplement
Two Letters of Recommendation
- Preferred:
  - One academic reference
  - One professional reference
Statement of Purpose
CV/Resume
Additional Information
Review

If you have any specific questions about academic requirements, please contact the Director of Degree Programs, Nancy Gilson (ngilson@ucsd.edu). If you have questions regarding the application itself, please contact the School of Global Policy and Strategy Admissions Assistant Director, Marina Bruce (marina@ucsd.edu).