MSc in International Relations

Do you want to understand and analyze international relations today in terms of diplomacy, development and environmental sustainability? This program provides the opportunity to adapt to the new global reality.

What can you use this qualification for?

Graduates may compete for jobs within a civil administration, international organizations, research and education institutions, and within private sector working in international environments. This program is currently the only Master’s degree in International Relations offered at a Norwegian university.

What will you learn?

Graduates gain an in-depth understanding of the political nature of why and how bilateral and multilateral institutions promote certain development policies, both spatially and temporally.

The program increases the practical understanding of international interactions through placement schemes, both at organizations and at other universities, particularly universities abroad utilizing the existing exchange agreements.

About

The program is of 2-year duration. The first year consists mostly of compulsory courses and some elective courses. In the third semester, students are strongly encouraged to take a semester on an exchange or to do an internship. Alternatively, elective courses can be taken at NMBU or other educational institutions. The master thesis of 30 ECTs is written in the fourth and final semester. Students attending the program typically represent around 20 nations from all continents, each year.

Learning outcomes

After graduation, the candidates are expected to have the following qualifications:

Knowledge:

• An in-depth insight into the major approaches to international relation theory, including four major approaches, Realism, Marxism, Constructivism and Liberalism, and understand the factors stipulated in these approaches as drivers of foreign policy making and international interaction.

• A good understanding of the diversity and overlaps of these major approaches, and the weaknesses of using such macro approaches.

• A good understanding of the differences between individual scholars within the different approaches.

Skills:

• Apply theory on current issues within international relations.

• Develop an independent research project.

• Demonstrate the ability to independently analyze, and to apply research methods to analyze a topic within International Relations.

• Evaluate and use primary, secondary and tertiary sources of data as a basis for the elaboration of term papers with coherent and balanced arguments and with the correct use of references. Understand the contextual factors in theory generation as well as in cases.

• Develop, plan and carry out an independent research project applying relevant methods in IR.

• Analyze ethical issues in the use of relevant research methods and be able to account for power relations and value and interest conflicts and the researcher`s position in relation to a research field.

• Contribute to discussions feeding into research and produce an innovative master thesis.

General competence:

• Plan and carry out independent research, develop innovative research questions, engage critically and informed in policy formulation and project development.

• Solve theoretical and methodological and project and policy problems independently.

• To have experience with practical international interaction through participation in multi-national classes and by exchange with other educational institutions.

• Present empiric work and academic readings in written and orally, and write and present orally a master thesis.

• Engage in public debates in media, in voluntary organizations, civil society and community meetings, popular dissemination, and in meetings with policymakers.

• Contribute to developing solutions for environmental problems by bringing out strategic development and institutional issues, project collaboration, and lead networks and centers.

• Build research teams and inter-personal communication cross academic fields and cultural backgrounds.