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Institute for Politics and Strategy  ›  Graduate Degrees  ›  MS IRP  ›  MS IRP-AMP Curriculum

Accelerated Master of Science in International Relations and Politics (MS IRP-AMP) Curriculum

The MS IRP-AMP requirements include 186 units (including prerequisite courses), divided as follows:

Curriculum (186 units, including prerequisite courses)

Prerequisite Courses: (42 units)

Must be completed before the end of the fourth year.  

Core Courses: (78 units)

Students must complete all of the following core courses.

Students must complete three of the four graduate seminar courses offered.

Internship: (84-705): (0 units)

Summer between Fourth and Fifth Year

Students are required to complete a summer internship in a related field between the fourth and fifth year of the program.  The internship will allow students to synthesize the program’s studies in the context of practical and hands-on experiential learning opportunities.  IPS has dedicated staff to support students in all aspects of the internship process. 

IRP Graduate Thesis (84-799): (18 units)

Spring of Fifth Year

All students must complete a graduate-level thesis paper.  Students must submit a proposal by November of the fifth year.  Students will work independently with a faculty member in the Institute for Politics and Strategy to complete the IRP Graduate Thesis.  The final paper will be reviewed and approved by the faculty adviser for the thesis and the faculty director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy. Please view the Thesis Proposal Guidelines for further details.

Concentration Coursework:  (48 units)

Students must complete a minimum of 48 units (approximately four courses).

International Relations

Undergraduate courses taken in the Institute for Politics and Strategy (84-xxx) may not also count toward the MS IRP course requirements except as listed in the prerequisite course category.  A maximum of 48 units of graduate courses out of the 186 units required to complete the accelerated master’s degree will be permitted to count toward an undergraduate degree at Carnegie Mellon.  (This allowance may be restricted further by the double-counting policies of one’s undergraduate major and department.)  Exceptions are made only with prior approval of the faculty director and the deputy director. 

Important Documents

Graduate Handbook
Master's Thesis Guidelines