The Master of Arts in International Political Economy (MAIPE) prepares students to analyze the complex interactions between political and economic trends, both domestically and at the international level. Providing the analytical tools and contextual background, students are prepared for the challenges of competition in market economies around the globe. The MAIPE program also provides a foundation of fully transferable credits for students interested in subsequently pursuing a doctoral degree.

Admission requirements are detailed in the Admission  section of the Bulletin.

Degree Requirements

Coursework: 48 units; no Master’s research paper is required.

Final Paper Portfolio:  All students are required to submit two papers to the program office.  One paper must be written during the student’s first semester in the program.  A second paper should represent the student’s best work and may come from any subsequent semester that the student is enrolled in the program.  Papers are used for accreditation reviews of the program.  The program’s Student Handbook provides additional details.

University Policies:  University policies detailed in the Academic Policies  section of the Bulletin apply.

Core Course Requirement (8 units)

Two courses from the following.

• SP&E 351 - Comparative Political Institutions
• SP&E 352 - Comparative Political Economy
• INST 401 - World Politics
• SP&E 411 - International Political Economy

Research Tools (12 units)

Choose three courses from one of the following sequences:

Sequence 1

• INST 481 - Statistical Methods for Social Sciences
• INST 483 - Multivariate Analysis in International Studies Using SAS
• INST 487 - Advanced Topics in Applied Econometrics

Sequence 2 (recommended only for those with a strong math background)

• ECON 381 - Probability & Statistics for Econometrics
• ECON 382 - Econometrics I
• ECON 383 - Econometrics II

Formal & Economic Background (12 units)

SPE 317 - Advanced Formal Models

Then choose two courses from the following: 

• ECON 302 - Macroeconomic Analysis
• ECON 313 - Microeconomic Analysis
• SPE 471 - Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics & Business *required for Track 2 students
• SPE 472 - Complexity Theory in Economics and Politics

Tracks (choose one of the following):

Track 1: Applied Political Economy (16 units)

 

Core:

SPE 410 - Political Economy of International Development

Then choose three courses from the following:  

• PP 371 Globalization & Diversity
• PP 408 Seminar in World Politics: Political Demography
• PP 412 Regional Integration
• ECON 272 Environmental Economics
• ECON 235 Money and Banking OR ECON 350 Global Money and Finance
• ECON 247 International Trade Theory and Social Inquiry OR ECON 355 International Trade Theory and Policy
• SP&E 348 Regulatory Policy
• SP&E 349 Energy and Environmental Policy
• PP 361 Comparative Politics of the Middle East
• PP 363 Asian Politics
• PP 366 Political and Economic Development in Latin America
• PP 375/POST 225 Politics of Africa
• PP 420A Foreign Policy of the USA
• PP 420E Foreign Policy of Latin America
• PP 420F Foreign Policy of the Middle East

Track 2: Applied Agent-Based Political Economy (16 units)

SP&E 471 Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics & Business Decisions

Then choose three from the following.  

• PP 439 Seminar in Dynamic Modeling
• PP 447 Seminar in Social Network Analysis
• PP 448 Seminar in Computational and Agent -Based Modeling
• SP&E 317 Advanced Formal Models * does not double count if taken for a core class
• SP&E 472 Complexity Theory in Economics and Politics

Note: Students who wish to substitute classes or create alternative tracks must gain prior approval by a Faculty Advisor.