Contact the Admissions Office
Call +43 (0) 664 427 3641, message us on WhatsApp/Viber,
or email the Admissions office at admissions@webster.ac.at.
Call +43 (0) 664 427 3641, message us on WhatsApp/Viber,
or email the Admissions office at admissions@webster.ac.at.
The Master of Arts in International Relations (MA) program at WVPU prepares you for leadership and service in the international diplomatic, professional and academic communities. Led by a team of internationally recognized researchers, lecturers and scholar-practitioners, you will examine great powers politics, humanitarian issues, and the dynamics of the international political economy, learning how to employ competing theories, methods and approaches.
Coursework provides exposure to the key subfields of the discipline and relevant issues such as international security, European integration, EU-Asia relations, terrorism and energy security. The program can open doors for work with a governmental agency, an intergovernmental organization, a nongovernmental organization or a multinational corporation. This program is also suitable if you are planning to pursue a PhD or an academic career at another institution.
Students who complete this program will be able to:
In addition, students learn to:
The Master of Arts in International Relations (MA) enables students to analyze the complexities and processes involved in world politics and international affairs. The program prepares students for leadership and service in the international diplomatic, professional and academic communities and to compete for positions in a governmental agency, an intergovernmental organization, a non-governmental organization or a multinational corporation. This program is particularly suited for individuals seeking careers or advancement among the Vienna-based International Organizations (IAEA, UNOV, UNIDO, CTBTO, World Bank among others) and is also recommended for students planning to pursue a doctoral program or an academic career.
Stemming from a multitude of nations, International Relations students examine great powers politics, humanitarian issues, and the dynamics of the international political economy, learning how to employ competing theories, methods, and approaches. Coursework provides exposure to the key subfields of the discipline including International Security, European Integration, EU-Asia Relations, Terrorism and Energy Security and relevant issues such as globalization, human rights, humanitarian action, and economic development.
The Master of Arts in International Relations program prepares students to take on positions of leadership and responsibility in the public and private sectors, to take on roles as advocates as well as analysts, and navigate the sensitivities and complexities of international politics, diplomacy and foreign policy to advance their cause and benefit the public good thereby keenly matching WVPU’s profile and objectives. Graduates of the Master of Arts in International Relations program are fully qualified for the degree they earned and are critical and adaptive thinkers capable of succeeding in a complex, changing and competitive labor market. The program’s strong focus on research, methods, and analysis combined with frequent exposure to real-world cases ensures that its graduates are professionally ready to step in and make a difference and possess the academic background to pursue a terminal degree.
The Master of Arts in International Relations curriculum is organized into four modules:
Full-time students working toward the Master of Arts in International Relations will usually carry a course load of four courses per semester. For each course in the Master of Arts in International Relations program apart from the thesis, students attend 36 hours of courses and conduct approximately another 151.5 hours of self-learning. Students working toward the Master of Arts in International Relations (MA) can complete the program in a minimum of 3 semesters.
Module 1: Core Competencies (22.5 ECTS)
Module 2: Clusters (45 ECTS)
Students must select 4 courses from the International Politics Cluster and 2 from the Comparative Politics Cluster. The courses presented below are examples of classes offered in this module. New courses may be added to the course catalogue with varying topics. s
Cluster 1: International Politics (30 ECTS). Select 4 of the following:
Cluster 2: Comparative Politics (15 ECTS). Select 2 of the following:
Module 3: Electives (7.5 ECTS)
Students must earn a minimum of 7.5 ECTS from any of the courses below or any additional courses from the Cluster module. The courses listed below are serve as an example; actual courses offered may vary.
Module 4: Thesis (15 ECTS)
Please see WVPU’S Thesis Guidelines (PDF opens in new tab) for more information on the Thesis requirements, as well as the International Relations’ Department Graduate Thesis Guidelines on Connections (for current students).
For a detailed description and a roadmap of the program, please see the Study Plan and Regulations (PDF opens in new tab).
Full course descriptions, individual learning outcomes, details about ECTS, weekly study schedules, and assessment criteria are available in each course syllabus, available via Courses@WVPU.
Active in 2020-2021
Topics in Modern European History
anerbarzilay@webster.edu
Methods of Political Inquiry
Advanced Research Methods
elinabrutschin60@webster.edu
International Affairs
johannesdruml66@webster.edu
Comparative Politics
marcelfink07@webster.edu
International Political Economy
efrey@webster.edu
Introduction to Political Argumentation and Debate
geraldgarber07@webster.edu
Middle East Area Studies
International Law
ralphjanik18@webster.edu
Politics of Development
Refugee and Migration Movements
monikamokre25@webster.edu
Globalization
War and Diplomacy
The Age of Total War: Europe 1890-1945
Contemporary Europe: 1945-Present
dieterreinisch07@webster.edu
International Law