Degrees
DEGREES
Master’s and Diploma Programs Master of Arts in International Relations (M.A.) Bologna and Washington All students admitted to the Bologna Center are eligible to complete the two-year master’s program. U.S. students usually attend the Center during the first year of the program and complete the second year in Washington, D.C. A few first-year students in Washington, D.C. elect to spend a second year in Bologna. M.A. candidates generally take four courses each semester in addition to language courses which may be necessary to develop the required proficiency. For additional information on the requirements for this degree, please see the SAIS Washington catalog. The M.A. degree is awarded after candidates satisfactorily complete these requirements.
Bologna, Piazza Maggiore
1 Core examinations To ensure that recipients of the M.A. degree possess an adequate base of knowledge in the field of international relations, all candidates must pass written examinations in two of four core subject areas. (see page 32) 2 Courses Candidates must satisfactorily complete sixteen courses for credit—normally within four consecutive semesters of study— excluding language courses. 3 Language proficiency Candidates must pass a written and oral proficiency examination in one major modern foreign language. 4 Oral examination Students are required to pass a comprehensive oral examination, usually taken at the end of the second year of study, in international economics and a second concentration of their choice.
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Academic Year 2008–09
Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) Bologna The MAIA is a research-oriented degree that requires the preparation and defense of a thesis. Students are not admitted directly to this two-year program but must instead submit an additional application during the first year of study in Bologna. Admission is based on applicants’ academic performance in the first semester, their academic potential, and a research proposal that will become the subject of their MAIA thesis in the second year. Non-native English speakers must pass a comprehensive proficiency examination to demonstrate the required competence in the English language. Native English speakers must pass an examination by the end of the second year to demonstrate proficiency in one of the foreign languages offered at the Center. Applicants must also show competence or progress in economics. The degree is awarded after a student satisfactorily completes at least twelve courses with a grade no lower than B, presents and defends the thesis, and passes the comprehensive oral examination in two programs of concentration: International Economics (required) and either European Studies, International Relations or American Foreign Policy. Students must demonstrate an integrated knowledge of their program of study during their oral examinations, and they must pass International Trade Theory and International Monetary Theory with the minimum of a B grade.
Director Keller and students at graduation ceremony
“In leadership the most important aspect is competence. You can’t motivate people if you are incompetent. That’s why I’m at SAIS.” Michael Darling MIPP Graduate (BC08, U.S.)
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Degrees
Master of International Public Policy (MIPP) Bologna The MIPP degree is intended for mid-career professionals in international fields who have a minimum of nine years of work experience after obtaining at least an undergraduate degree. Many applicants are on leave from employment as diplomats, members of the military, business executives or journalists. The Bologna Center does not provide financial aid, but employers will sometimes sponsor these studies. Candidates for the MIPP degree must satisfactorily complete eight courses, preferably as a full-time student, within one year. If necessary, an MIPP candidate can request part-time status to complete the degree in two years. Non-native English speakers must also pass the English proficiency exam before graduation. Candidates plan their academic programs with the guidance of a faculty adviser, based on their academic interest.
MIPP Graduate (BC08, U.S.)
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Academic Year 2008–09
Bologna Center Diploma in International Studies Candidates for the one-year diploma must complete a minimum of two semesters at the Bologna Center as full-time resident students. Requirements include passing a minimum of eight courses during the academic year, not including a language course. For the language requirements, non-native English speakers must either pass an English proficiency examination by the end of the year or successfully complete two semesters of a course in advanced English. Native English speakers must either pass a language proficiency examination or successfully complete two regular semester courses in any of the foreign languages offered at the Center. The intensive Italian course can be counted as a one-semester language course. However, this does not apply to the intensive English course or Survival Italian. All students who meet the specific requirements are eligible to receive the Bologna Center Diploma. Students who intend to continue their studies to earn the M.A. or MAIA degree should plan their program of study at the Bologna Center with careful attention to the respective degree requirements.
Student debate
“Poverty, economic development and humanitarian assistance are not abstractions from a textbook. For me, they have a human face. My experience as a refugee gave me a distinct perspective on life and a very clear idea of what I want to do with my future.” Nermina Sljivo M.A. Candidate (BC08, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
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Degrees
Joint Degree and Other Programs M.A. students at the Bologna Center may apply for the following programs. Students applying to a joint degree program must submit separate applications to each school and satisfy the admission requirements of both. For complete information, inquire at the Admission’s Office in Washington, D.C., consult the SAIS Washington course catalog for additional information, or visit: www.sais-jhu.edu/academics/degrees/joint-degree/index.htm. Joint Degree Programs Master of Business Administration degree Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Master of Business Administration degree Tuck School at Dartmouth Master of Health Science degree The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Juris Doctorate degree Stanford University Law School Juris Doctorate degree University of Virginia School of Law Master of Public Administration degree Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University
Other Programs Doctoral program Doctor of Philosophy, SAIS, Washington, D.C. For more information on how to apply to the Ph.D. program see the Academics section of the SAIS Washington website. The following two programs are available only through the Bologna Center. MAIA-MBA Program: Bologna and Luigi Bocconi University (Milan) A joint-degree program between the Bologna Center and Luigi Bocconi University in Milan leads to a Master of Arts in International Affairs/Master of Business Administration (MAIAMBA) degree. The program is available to students who are already enrolled at either Bocconi or the Bologna Center. Students attend the Bologna Center for one academic year, followed by a full year in the Bocconi MBA program (or vice versa). Students then complete the program with a final semester at the Bologna Center. MAIA-MAIS Program: Bologna and Diplomatische Akademie Wien (Vienna) This two-year research program allows Bologna Center students to spend a second year at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien in Vienna, studying for the Master of Advanced International Studies (MAIS). Upon successful completion of course work and defense of a thesis, the student will be awarded the MAIS degree. Conversely, students enrolled at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien, after successful completion of one year of study, may spend a second year of study at the Bologna Center. Upon completion of a thesis, eight additional courses and an oral examination, they will be awarded the MAIA by SAIS.
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