Master of Arts in International Affairs

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 36 credit hour Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) degree. The program is designed to provide an advanced understanding of the international system along with a focus on the multiple facets of global security issues. The degree provides students the research and analytical skills to help them to advance in their profession or begin to explore a career in international affairs. All program instruction for the MAIA program is delivered online. All courses necessary for the degree are offered on a two-year rotation.

For additional information, call 706-864-1628, or write to Master of Arts in International Affairs, Department of Political Science & International Affairs, Hansford Hall, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001.

Graduate Admissions Procedures

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Admissions or from the Master of Arts in International Affairs website. Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Admissions, the applicant will be notified and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program. After review, notification will be mailed from the MAIA program to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll within three semesters of acceptance must reapply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions for readmission. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply to the program by submitting a new application to Graduate Admissions for readmission. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned.

MAIA Admission Requirements

The following documents must be received prior to admission.

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended. International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant’s course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average.
4. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam General Test (GRE) – only if the GRE is to be used as a basis for admission and only those scores that are less than five years old will be considered.
5. Two UNG recommendation forms.
6. Six-hundred-word personal statement describing the specific interest in the MAIA degree and any background in the field of international affairs.
7. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

Regular Admission

To qualify for regular admission, an individual must have:

1. Earned baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) with at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (4.0 scale) calculated in accordance with UNG’s Graduate Admissions procedures; OR
2. Earned baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) and have received at least 301 (verbal and quantitative sections combined) on the GRE; OR
3. Earned graduate degree (M.A., M.S., J.D., Ph.D.) from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog).
4. Meet all other program admission requirements.

Meeting all admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Final admission is a competitive process that takes all aspects of a student’s record into account.

Provisional Admission

Students who do not meet the entrance criteria for the MAIA program may apply for provisional admission. The following documents must be received prior to consideration for provisional admission: 

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended indicating an earned baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog). Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) and state a calculated grade point average.
4. Two UNG recommendation forms.
5. Six-hundred-word personal statement describing the specific interest in the MAIA degree and any background in the field of international affairs.
6. A letter stating the student is applying for provisional admission and detailing the reasons why the program should admit the student provisionally and the steps the student will take to ensure success in the program.
7. Meet all other admission requirements.

Admission may be granted pending a review of the student’s material by a committee of the MAIA faculty.

A student who is admitted provisionally may register for no more than a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit with this status. The number of hours a provisional student may enroll will be determined in consultation with the MAIA academic advisor. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the completion of one semester. A student who earns a grade of B or higher in all classes completed will be given regular admission status in the MAIA program. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade of C or lower in any graduate-level MAIA course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MAIA program. A student who has been removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the MAIA program coordinator and a new application for readmission.

Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.

Non-Degree Admission

An individual who is interested in taking graduate courses in international affairs, but who does not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the MAIA program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of nine semester hours of graduate credit.

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Admissions application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended indicating an earned baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum 2.75 (4.0 scale) overall cumulative grade point average calculated in accordance with Graduate Admissions procedures. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Transcripts must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.
4. Two UNG recommendation forms.
5. Six-hundred-word personal statement describing the specific interest in obtaining the MAIA degree and any background in the field of international affairs.
6. Meet all other admission requirements.
7. Proof of lawful presence in the United States, if applying for in-state tuition.

A non-degree admitted student who earns a grade of C or lower in any graduate course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to continue in the MAIA program. A student removed because of a deficient grade may reapply to the program after a period of three semesters from the date the student was removed by submitting to Graduate Admissions a letter of appeal addressed to the MAIA program coordinator and a new application for readmission.

A non-degree student wishing to apply for admission to the MAIA program must notify the MAIA program coordinator, submit a new application to Graduate Admissions, and meet all program admission requirements. All elective credits to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the MAIA program coordinator.

Non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.

Transient Student Admission

MAIA program does not permit transient student enrollment.

International Applicants

Because of Homeland Security guidelines, an F1 visa cannot be issued for online programs. Individuals living and working in the United States whose visa status permits graduate enrollment may be considered for admission. Refer to the Admission Requirements and Procedures  section of the Graduate Catalog.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied has the right to appeal the decision. An appeal must be made in written form to the Master of Arts in International Affairs, Department of Political Science & International Affairs, 82 College Circle, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. A student whose appeal is accepted will be admitted provisionally and must meet the criteria for provisional students. Provisional students are not eligible for financial aid. Students may not appeal for regular admission status.

MAIA Transfer Residency Requirement

To be awarded a Master of Arts in International Affairs degree, a student must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours applicable to the degree in residence, unless UNG has an official transfer of graduate credits agreement for international affairs in place with another institution. In addition, no more than 6 semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward meeting the MAIA degree requirements. All course requirements, including transfer credit, must be completed within a six-year period. The MAIA program coordinator and the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters must approve all transfer credit. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of C or lower was earned. To apply for transfer credit, a student must complete the transfer of graduate credit form (myUNG password required) and submit the form to the MAIA program coordinator for approval.

MAIA Academic Policies

Incomplete Grades

The MAIA program adheres to the uniform grading system in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog. No student carrying two Incomplete grades may enroll in additional course work without the written consent of the MAIA program coordinator. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved Incomplete grade remaining on his/her transcript.

Repeated Courses

No student enrolled in the MAIA program nor a non-degree student taking MAIA courses may repeat courses for credit in an attempt to improve a grade. 

Academic Standing Policy

1. Probation – A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   1. The student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.

No student may be a candidate for the degree while on probation due to a grade point average below 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher.

1. Suspension – A student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   1. The student earns more than two grades of C.
   2. The student earns a grade below a C.
   3. The student has already served three consecutive semesters on academic probation.

The period of suspension will consist of one semester.  No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will be not recognized for transfer credit.

A student who has been placed on suspension based on the standards articulated in the Graduate Catalog may seek reinstatement to the MAIA program. The reinstatement process is outlined below:

1. A student seeking reinstatement to the program must submit a new application to Graduate Admissions and file a reinstatement request letter. A signed, hard copy of this letter must be sent to the MAIA academic advisor for the MAIA program. The letter should address the following:
   • Explanation of reasons why the student was placed on suspension due to grades earned in the program.
   • Overview of what the student will do in the future to correct the problems that caused the suspension.
2. Once the formal letter has been received by the MAIA academic advisor, a meeting will be held of MAIA faculty who have had the student in class to make a recommendation on reinstatement to the MAIA program coordinator and the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters.
3. MAIA program coordinator will make a recommendation and forward it to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters for a decision.
4. The student will be informed of the decision via electronic and hard copy letters. If the student is reinstated, included with the decision letter will be a list of recommendations from the MAIA faculty about how the student can successfully complete the requirements for the MAIA program.
5. A student who is reinstated in the MAIA program will return on probation and will have to meet the requirements of that status. In addition, all courses taken by the student must be approved by the MAIA academic advisor.

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At the end of each semester, the program faculty or MAIA program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the MAIA program coordinator with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. 

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The MAIA program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academic Information  section of the Graduate Catalog.

Policy on Plagiarism

The MAIA program faculty will use a combination of methods to detect plagiarism including www.turnitin.com and Google searches. Penalties for plagiarism will be determined by the course instructor and submitted to the Dean of Students via the Academic Misconduct Report.  Procedures for filing an Academic Misconduct Report are outlined on the UNG website, Dean of Students, Student Code of Conduct, Article 4 - Procedures.

MAIA Degree Requirements

Graduation requirements for the Master of Arts in International Affairs include:

1. Completion of 36 semester hours (21 semester hours of foundational courses, six semester hours of capstone, and nine semester hours of specialization courses).
2. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 with no more than two courses with a grade of C and no grade of D in any course.
3. Completion of at least 30 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence with no more than six semester hours of transfer credit.
4. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including transfer credit, within a six-year period.