College of Arts and Sciences

Department of International Relations

Graduate Secretary : Dr Paul Kowert

Department’s Phone Number : (305) 348-2938
Department’s FAX Number : (305) 348-2197

For More Information, go to

• Program's web site
• College of Arts and Sciences web site

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Brief Description of the Program:

        The Ph. D. Program in International Relations offers a rigorous interdisciplinary approach to the study of continuity and change in global affairs. It is a terminal degree program designed to prepare students for careers in higher education, government, or international service. Graduates from this program will develop comprehensive knowledge of both the theory and practice of international relations, and will be able to conduct their own original research in this area.

        This program, like many at FIU, is growing rapidly. In recent years, it has attracted students from around the world, including Belarus, China, Ukraine, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and the Netherlands. Members of the faculty represent a variety of disciplines and perspectives, including international relations, political science, geography, history, and economics. Faculty interests range from the traditional concerns of foreign policy and national security to contemporary global issues such as democratization, globalization, the environment, human rights, refugees, social movements, gender and development. Several members specialize in late-modern and post-modern theories of international relations. Most also have regional expertise—especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, but also in Africa, Central Eurasia and Russia, East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East—as do many other members of the University faculty.

Application Requirements:

• All applicants must have BA or BS degree, or its equivalent, from a recognized institution of higher education before matriculating in the program.
• They must have a grade point average of 3.2, or its equivalent, a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for all graduate work, or a combined score of 1100 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Three letters of recommendation from university teachers or professors who have knowledge of the applicant's academic qualifications (use the Department's recommendation form and/or request that letter writers use their own professional letterhead).
• A personal statement, 2 to 3 double-spaced pages in length, expressing intent and interest in pursuing a graduate degree.

Additional Requirements for International Students:

• Foreign graduate applicants are accepted subject to space and fiscal limitations
• Must be academically eligible for further study in their own country
• A minimum score of 575 (233 Computer-based) on the TOEFL is required.
• Non-native English speakers seeking graduate assistantships must take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and score 50 or better.