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Department of

Political Science and International Relations

Admission Requirements

  • 24 undergraduate units in Political Science, History, and/or Economics.
  • Minimum of 3.1 GPA (4.0 scale)
  • Minimum score of 500 on each of the Verbal and Quantitative sections, and 4.5 on the Analytical portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). More information on the GRE can be found here: http://www.ets.org/gre/
  • Official college/university transcripts from all institutions attended
  • Three letters of recommendation: at least two should be from academic references
  • Statement of Purpose: this should clearly and succinctly explain your motivation for pursuing the MAIR degree, your future career plans, and why you believe USD is a good fit for you.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for international students whose undergraduate work was not completed in English. Information on the TOEFL can be found at http://www.ets.org/toefl/
  • Up-to-date resumé
  • Application form: Available at http://sandiego.edu/admissions/graduate/application.php

Important Deadlines

Applications for admission to the MAIR program are considered year-round. However, prospective students should keep the following points in mind:

  1. To be considered for financial aid and USD scholarships, applications must be received by March 15 for fall enrollment and October 1 for spring enrollment.
  2. The department does not review applications until they are complete.
  3. It is the prospective student’s responsibility to verify that his/her application is complete. All inquiries should be directed to Graduate Admissions (grads@sandiego.edu, or 619.260.4524)
  4. Prospective students should allow approximately six weeks, from the time that their application packet is complete, for a final decision on admission.

FAQ regarding admission the MAIR program

What if I am interested in applying but I do not have 24 units of undergraduate work in political science, history, and/or economics?
For prospective students without the necessary background we often recommend that they take and earn at least a “B+” in each of two upper division political science/international relations courses. This shows us that you have the potential to do graduate level work in this area. It also gives you an opportunity to gain greater familiarity with the discipline and therefore be certain that this is the kind of degree you want to pursue. The classes can be taken at a university close to you and, once completed, you can then apply to USD. If you decide to pursue this course of action, you should contact the graduate director and make sure that the classes you’ve chosen to take are appropriate in rigor and subject matter. Please also note that we recommend this course of action, but it is not a guarantee of admission.

What if I do not have 3.1 GPA or the required minimum on the GRE?
We evaluate all applications as a whole. Therefore if either set of numbers is slightly below the minimum, it can be offset by other strengths in the application.

Who should my letters of recommendation come from?
At least two of your letters must be from academics who can speak to your intellectual development and potential. Letters from employers or bosses can be helpful, but they should address your overall potential to succeed in graduate school. Letters from friends, colleagues, relatives, clergy, etc. are of no use and do not improve your chances of gaining admissions.

What are you looking for in the statement of purpose?
Your personal statement is an opportunity for you to demonstrate to us that you have thought carefully about why you want to pursue an MA in international relations, why you want to do it at USD, and what your longer-term professional goals are. The essay should fall within the 500 word limit, be well written (no typos, grammatical errors) and creative. In rare cases, the statement can also be used to address elements of an application that otherwise might require clarification, though this should be done succinctly and should not be the basis of the entire essay.

What scholarships are available to MAIR students?
Please see the page on scholarships and financial aid.

What are the visa requirements for international students?
Specific information for international applicants can be found at: http://www.sandiego.edu/admissions/graduate/international.php