You are here: American University School of International Service Ethics, Peace, & Human Rights Degree Requirements
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4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesRequirements at a Glance
- Entrance Semester
- Fall and Spring
- Application Deadline
- January 15 for the fall semester
- October 1 for the spring semester
- Additional Requirements
- Undergraduate degree
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- TOEFL/IELTS score if international applicant
- Application
- Completion of online application
Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights (MA)
Admission to the Program
Students may apply to either the Department of Philosophy and Religion or the School of International Service. Students applying to SIS must apply by January 15 for fall and October 1 for spring to be considered for merit-based aid.
A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is optional. Applicants who have completed the exam are welcome to submit their scores as part of their application.
Degree Requirements
- 36 credit hours of approved graduate work
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA required to remain in good academic standing and to earn the degree
- Capstone Experience: Completion of graduate work that clearly relates to the field of Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights via one of the following:
- Approved Internship: 3-6 credit hours with a grade of B or better
- Practicum: 3 credit hours with grade of B or better
- Substantial Research Paper: 3 credit hours with grade of B or better
- Thesis: 3-6 credit hours with grade of SP and submission of the thesis
Course Requirements
Required (12 credit hours)
*Note: Students in CAS will complete PHIL-631 and students in SIS will complete SIS-642.
- PHIL-631 Topics in Modern Moral Problems (3) or SIS-642 Intercultural Relations (3)
- PHIL-693 Global Ethics (3)
- SIS-622 Human Rights (3)
- SIS-733 International Peace and Conflict Resolution Seminar I (3)
Philosophy (3 credit hours)
Complete 3 credit hours from the following:
- PHIL-616 Feminist Philosophy (3)
- PHIL-617 Philosophy of Race (3)
- PHIL-620 Seminar on Ethical Theory (3)
- PHIL-631 Topics in Modern Moral Problems (3)
- PHIL-655 Global Philosophy of Religion (3) / RELG-655 Global Philosophy of Religion (3)
- PHIL-702 Graduate Seminar in Philosophy (3-12) (topics)
Research Methods (6 credit hours)
Complete 6 credit hours from the following, or another approved methodology course, or approved graduate seminar in Philosophy and one qualifying paper:
- ANTH-652 Anthropological Research Design (3)
- SIS-600 Statistics, Research Design, and Research Methods for International Affairs (3)
- SIS-612 Qualitative Research Methods in Peace and Conflict Resolution (3)
- SIS-750 Research and Professional Methods in International Affairs (3) (topics)
- SOCY-620 Social Research Methods (3)
Concentration (9 credit hours)
Complete 9 thematically-related credit hours in one of the following concentrations, or in another academically sound concentration approved by the student's faculty advisor:
- Ethics of Development
- Global Environmental Justice
- Human Rights, Advocacy, and Social Justice
- Human Rights, Genocide, and Mass Atrocities
- Human Rights, Peace, and Conflict Resolution
- Philosophy and Ethics
Elective (3 credit hours)
Complete 3 credit hours from the following, or other approved courses:
- PHIL-797 Master's Thesis Research (1-6)
- SIS-730 Skills Institutes in International Affairs (1) (topics)
- SIS-797 Master's Thesis Supervision (1-6)
Capstone (3 credit hours)
Complete at least 3 credit hours from one of the following:
- PHIL-691 Internship in Philosophy (1-6)
- PHIL-797 Master's Thesis Research (1-6)
- SIS-793 Practicum in International Affairs (3) (topics)
- SIS-795 Master's Research Requirement (1-3)
- SIS-797 Master's Thesis Supervision (1-6)
Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights (MA) and Business Administration (MBA)
For approved dual degree program, see Ethics, Peace, and Human Rights (MA) and Business Administration (MBA).