Institute of Graduate Studies and Research

International Relations (MA)

Duration 2 Years

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About
Curriculum
Entry Requirements
Fees & Scholarships

About the Program

The Master’s Program on International Relations teaches its students to think analytically on theories combining local studies and international relations. The program adopts an interdisciplinary approach as a requirement of the changing dynamics of the international systems. During the thesis program, students must take seven courses, undertake seminar and prepare a master’s thesis. As for the non-thesis program, the students must take ten courses and prepare a graduation project. The Theory of International Relations and the Problems of International Security are the core courses in both programs. The elective courses focus on topics such as universal history, political philosophy, European integration, globalization and international associations, Turkish-Greek relations, Turkish foreign policy.

Education Opportunities

The graduates of this program can either earn M.A. Diploma (thesis program) or M.A. Certificate (non-thesis program) providing a basis for future academic studies such as Ph.D. in international relations or similar disciplines. The students can also apply for the integrated graduate program of Ph.D. on International Relations before completing their master’s thesis. The program has two options: thesis and non-thesis.

Career Areas

International Relations M.A. Diploma offers job opportunities in diplomacy, politics, bureaucracy, media and academia in both local and international arenas. Although international organizations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of countries are the most suitable offices for the graduates, the diploma also provides good opportunities in different working areas such as the media sector, or international relations department of global private companies.

Contact

Institute of Graduate Studies and Research
Graduate Sciences and Education Center, GE106
Tel: +90 392 671 1111 Extension: 2776
Institute E-mail: ciu-institute@ciu.edu.tr

Compulsory modules

First Semester

THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Course code

INRE501

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course provides an analysis of the major theoretical debates of International Relations discipline, including Idealism-Realism, Realism-Pluralism and recent debates in critical International Relations approaches. The course also addresses the level of analysis problem as well as the central assumptions and key concepts of various theories of International Relations; namely postmodernism, normative theory and constructivism, with special emphasis on the basic concepts, and current critique of realism and neo-realism. Theoretical framework of the International Relations discipline will be defined and analyzed in the context of the course. The new theories will also be examined in detail and discussed.

ELECTIVE

Course code

INRE5X1

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

ELECTIVE

Course code

INRE5X2

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

ELECTIVE

Course code

INRE5X3

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

Second Semester

PROBLEMS IN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Course code

INRE503

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

As a sub-field of International Relations discipline, the scope of International Security Studies gradually broadens. Therefore, this course examines major traditional and new theoretical approaches to International Security Studies as well as the different aspects of the contemporary international security issues, events, structures and processes. The course also aims to develop analytical and critical skills of the graduate students to comprehend and discuss the specific cases in the changing conceptual/theoretical framework of International Security by referring to different sectors of security such as military, economy, society, politics, energy and environment.

SEMINAR

Course code

INRE590

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

Seminar presentation and group discussions on selected topics related to the International Relations program.

ELECTIVE

Course code

INRE5X4

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

ELECTIVE

Course code

INRE5X5

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

Third Semester

THESIS

Course code

INRE500

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

Supervised independent research on a topic agreed between the student and the supervisor (a faculty member) and approved by the Administrative Committee of the Institute. It is evaluated by a jury of two faculty members and a member from other universities.

Optional modules

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

Course code

INRE101

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GLOBALIZATION

Course code

INRE548

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course examines the role of international organizations in an age of globalization. It also studies the role of state and non-state actors within the context of global governance. The course attempts to analyze the changing dynamics of the international system and the emergence of new actors via discussing current regional and international political, economic, socio-cultural and humanitarian issues pertaining contemporary world affairs. The changing dynamics of globalization, the inequalities created in the world scale and the effect of recent migration trends to international organizations will be covered during the course.

INTRODUCTION TO WORLD POLITICS

Course code

INRE104

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

Course code

INRE546

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This Course is designed to introduce students of IR the political thought by following the footsteps of the outstanding thinkers from Plato, Aristotle, St. Thomas to Marx, Gramsci, Althusser, and Badiou through an analysis of the political thought of selected scholars along with their contributions to political philosophy. In examining the ideas of those theorists the method to be adopted is both textual and contextual, attempting to give due regard to the thoughts expressed by the authors and the social environments in which they have been expressed. These philosophers will therefore be evaluated and analyzed in their own historical context.

ISSUES IN EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Course code

INRE502

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course attempts to analyze major issues of European Integration within a theoretical framework. The course begins with an analysis of the major theories of European Integration such as functionalism, neo-functionalism and federalism. On the basis of this theoretical framework, the course will focus on the two main issues of European Integration, which are named ‘supranationalism versus intergovernmentalism’ and ‘widening versus depending’. In the context of this course, the impacts of decisions on the integration processes taken in summits such as Maastricht and Copenhagen will also be examined and discussed. The students will prepare a project about the current issues of the European Union at the end of the semester.

CURRENT WORLD EVENTS

Course code

INRE534

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The main purpose of this course is to examine emerging issues of the international system within the framework of traditional and critical theories. Within this context, on one hand, state-centric security conceptualization will be discussed,, on the other hand, it will be aimed to add a new perspective with alternative convergences that focus on economic, political, cultural, humanitarian, social and environmental areas. Within the framework of the lecture, in addition to all of those theoretical approaches, current events and problems will be explained with examples. Furthermore, the security structures in the world’s different regions and the main subjects of the security communities will be evaluated.

MIDDLE EAST IN WORLD AFFAIRS

Course code

INRE556

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This Course offers the students of IR a contemporary history and politics of the Middle-Eastern states. This course will examine the nationalist ideologies, processes of nation-building and political change with a particular emphasis on the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle-East. This course will provide an academic background on the Middle East politics through referring basically to issues of legitimacy and stability, leadership, political elites, ideologies and social movements. The topics which will be covered include the Palestinian Question, the Arab-Israeli conflict, intra-Arab rivalries and the role of the military in politics.

POLITICS OF PEACE AND CONFLICT IN DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETIES

Course code

INRE562

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course explores the politics of deeply divided societies and focuses upon the ways through which such societies manage their divisions and sustain peaceful politics. Politics of deeply divided societies is characterized by instability and the persistence of conflict. Some deeply divided societies, however, maintain peaceful politics through power-sharing between groups. The course surveys the literatures on ethnic conflict, third party peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding as well as the power-sharing theory to answer the following questions: What makes the politics of deeply divided societies fractious and unstable? What are the main approaches to manage conflict in such societies? What roles can third party actors assume in bringing about peaceful settlements?

GLOBAL HISTORY

Course code

INRE504

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The main goal of this course is to shed light on the emergence of modern society, modern state and modern international system as well as the development process of human civilization. Ancient civilizations, empires and nation-states are also included among the topics of this course. The course will provide the students with introductory information on the transition from feudal age to industrial age, history of the 20th Century and globalization.

HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS I

Course code

INRE201

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

DEMOCRATIZATION AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Course code

INRE560

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course is aimed to examine and explore the processes of democratization and civil society movements in the Middle East with an analytical and critical methodology. Specifically, socio-cultural, economic, and political structures and the interplay of the factors and actors within these structures will be the main areas throughout the discussions in this graduate course. In addition, ideological, religious and social dimensions of the democratization and political liberalization processes of the Middle Eastern region will be analyzed and compared with specific countries and cases.

GLOBAL POLITICS

Course code

INRE511

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The course provides the analytical tools required to examine the changing nature of the international politics and the emergence of a global political space. It provides a historical understanding of the evolution of global political and economic forces and the ideas that shaped them. It also includes evaluations of the spread of neo-liberal economic orthodoxy, the creation of new multilateral institutions, migration, and debates on global media and the increased interpenetration of the world’s cultures. students are expected to have a profound understanding of core perspectives in international political economy; to learn how the current highly integrated global economy was created and evolved.

HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS II

Course code

INRE202

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

CRITICAL THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Course code

INRE544

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course aims to examine and analyze various theories that bring different explanations to the study of International Relations. The course will examine Critical Theory, Postcolonial and Feminist theories of International Relations and question how these theories inform and expand our understanding of international politics. The course examines how critical theory brings different approach than realist/liberal concepts of state conflict and cooperation, how feminist theory brings different explanatory power by including gender to the analysis and how postcolonial theory offers an in depth understanding of the ways ‘other’ is constructed.

ISSUES IN EURO-MEDITERRANEAN POLITICS

Course code

INRE535

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course aims to develop theoretical and empirical background of the students in relation to the political, cultural, economic and security affairs of the countries which are members of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Thus and so the project of Euro-Mediterranean Partnership will be analyzed within the framework of both traditional and critical theories by referring to the three constitutive phases (security and political cooperation, economic cooperation and cultural dialogue) as well as by assessing certain case studies. The relations between the EU and the Euromed States will also be highlighted.

POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

Course code

INRE554

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course aims at familiarizing master students with the idea of politics in the philosophical context. Philosophers who dealt with the concept of the politics from past to modern times will be studied during the course. In the second phase of the course modern ideologies: Liberalism, Socialism, Marxism, Conservatism, Fascism and Nationalism will be analyzed on the left-right spectrum. Later on contemporary ideologies suh as feminism, ecologism, religious fundementalism, post-modernism, post-colonialism and post-structuralism will be highlighted in relation with and as a critic to the modern political ideologies.

ISSUES IN TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY

Course code

INRE505

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The aim of this graduate seminar is to give the students an awareness of the various foreign policy issues that confront Turkey. An attempt is be made to discuss the causes and consequences of the various crises and regional problems between Turkey and neighbors. The Turbo-Greek problems, the Cyprus dispute, Turkey’s relations with the Middle Eastern states, Balkans, and with the Turkish republics of the former Soviet Union, as well as the Turco-American and Turco-European ties are examined. Updated problems such as Syrian migrant crisis and Turkey’s accession process into EU will also be covered during the class

CURRENT ISSUE IN TURKISH FOREIGN POLICY

Course code

INRE506

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

In this course, the Turkish Foreign Policy from 1960 to present will be discussed by a thematic perspective, which will be accompanied by books and articles. Starting from 1960, International Dynamics and the internal dynamics will be analyzed in parallel; theoretical perspectives like Revisionism, Balance policies, Win-Win, Structuralism will be reviewed in the light of current foreign policies. Turkey’s current relations with Syria and Iran will also be highlighted within the framework of the migrant crisis and accession to EU: What can be the possible openings for Turkish Foreign Policy in its EU project? İs the question to be answered. Russian-Ukraine crisis will be highlighted.

GLOBALIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

Course code

INRE525

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

Global political economy course deals with the issues of world economy and world politics by starting with the analysis of the emergence and evolution of the “world system” from the fifteenth century till the current phase of globalization. The course specifically examines the subjects like industrial and financial economic development, periodically emerging economic crises, development and undevelopment problems and economic integration of the global system. The current issue of the global terrorism will also be handled in relation with underdevelopment, and global migration trends.

MEDIA AND INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT

Course code

INRE561

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The course examines the cultural, political and economic dimensions of media responses and media coverage of the international conflicts through assessment of different theoretical approaches. The course also provides necessary methodological skills to graduate students in order to comprehend and assess specific cases of media’s involvement in the international conflicts at different level. Topics include war and peace journalisms, politics and economy of conflict reporting and the role of media in conflict resolution. The “conset manufacturing” effect of the global mainstream media in relation to the apprehension of the global terrorism will also be monitored during the courses.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WORLD CULTURES

Course code

INRE519

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course aims to analyze different world cultures in a comparative perspective. Why some societies are more rebellious than others? ; Why some are more submissive and loyal to their State? ; What is essence of culture and where is it related to political participation? ; What is what we call “A democratic culture”? ; is there a relation between the education and the political participation? All those questions will be dealt with through a conceptual and theoretical point of view throughout course discussions with the aim of finding out the differences and similarities of various world cultures.

NEW COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

Course code

COMM510

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

Focusing primarily on the internet and digital cultures, this course will explore the theoretical and practical debates that have developed around the concept of ‘new media’. Topics to be studied include interactivity, social networking, media convergence, cyberculture and the emergence of ‘web 2.0’. Are these developments anticipated by pre-existing studies of communication practice, or are new theoretical models required to understand them?

ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

Course code

COMM508

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course is designed to examine the internal and external communication systems of business organizations. It is also examined that the uses of communication media such as internet and intranet in organizations.

SCIENCE FICTION FILM AND LITERATURE

Course code

COMM531

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course aims to teach students to develop an advanced understanding of critical perspectives in science fiction film and literature. In this context this course focuses on critical skills in thinking about the role of science fiction within contemporary societies. From this point of view, the course examines European and American science fiction literature and film traditions with a special emphasis on cyberpunk literature and films

FILM AESTHETICS

Course code

COMM513

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course aims to develop the skills and knowledge necessary for analyzing film as an art and an aesthetic category. The course focuses on film theories and film criticism and gives special attention to detailed film analyses. Within this context it examines and analyzes the film styles of “auteur” filmmakers and compares their cinematographic styles with those of mainstream filmmakers.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Course code

BUSN512

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

Managing human capital in the new economy is a challenge all business professionals face. This course addresses that challenge by retaining its unique orientation to overall practicality and real-world application incorporating technology, teams and virtual learning methods. Practical tips and suggestions provide effective ways of dealing with problems in communication, leadership, discipline, performance appraisal, labor relations, and compensation administration.

ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

Course code

BUSN513

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course is structured to inform the MBA students about contemporary applications of management. With this basic approach the topics include knowledge society and organizations, information technologies, globalization and organizations, TQM, core competence, outsourcing, hybrid, organizations, downsizing, sub – contracting, lean organizations and cluster organizations. This course examines organizational theory, practice and learning in the context of rapidly changing competitive and economic environments. Strategies and tactics for growth and performance improvement are explored. This course covers issues of current relevance, including social networks, knowledge management, innovation, organizational learning and design thinking.

NEGOTIATION TECHNIQUES AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Course code

BUSN540

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE AND CRITICAL EVALUATION

Course code

BUSN519

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The main focus of this course is to crystallize the students’ capability of accessing, reading and understanding the evidence that is revealed through social sciences literature to guide inquiry; the use of measurement or manipulation; and an assessment of relationships under controlled, objective, and systematic conditions. The abundance of information made readily available by internet created important problems like selecting and assessing. Hence the aim is to increase awareness and furnish the students with the basic tools of critical evaluation to detect those fine nuances between what is right and what is not, the ability to capture the meaning of several, often contradictory signals and stimuli, to interpret them in holistic and integrative manner, to learn from them, and to act on them.

THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Course code

INRE501

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

PROBLEMS IN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Course code

INRE503

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY I

Course code

INR209

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY II

Course code

INR210

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTERNATIONAL LAW I

Course code

ILAW331

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Course code

BUSN558

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

Course code

BUSN535

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

TURKISH GREEK RELATIONS

Course code

INRE549

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

LEADING, TRANSFORMATION AND CHANGE

Course code

BUSN508

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Course code

INR446

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

ORGANIZATION BEHAVIOUR

Course code

BUSN566

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The aim of the course is to provide students with a basic concepts related to organizational behavior and show them how individual and group behavior is important for the management of an organization.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Course code

INRE341

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTERNATIONAL LAW II

Course code

ILAW332

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTERNATIONAL LAW II

POLITICS OF CYPRUS AND CYPRUS CONFLICT

Course code

INRE555

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The course offers a critical examination of the current politico-economic landscape in the island within a broader historical context. It covers major economic, social and political turning points that took place since the end of the 19th century. The major focal point is the Cyprus conflict, its historical evolution, and the role of international as well as local actors involved to resolve (or to perpetuate) it. This requires a multidisciplinary approach and use of different theoretical frameworks, which includes but not limited to nationalism, conflict resolution, international law, geopolitics, and post-colonialism. By the end of the semester the students are expected to write a literature review on a specific dimension of Cyprus politics of their choice.

BUSINESS ECONOMICS

Course code

BUSN521

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INDUSTRIAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND WORK BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

Course code

BUSN556

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The application of principles, theory and research of industrial organization, work behavior management and behavioral science knowledge in the context of work setting is explored in this course. The main goal of the course is to outline how businesses and their organizations can be designed so that both employees’ efficiency and quality of life are improved. The covered topics comprise job analysis, training and development, personnel decisions, organizational change, leadership, motivation, teamwork, occupational stress and well-being, personnel assessment, history and evolution of the field, as well as other related subjects on employer-worker relationship. The course also includes developing students understanding of the questions raised and answered by scholars in the field and the methods used to answer those questions in paper writing.

MESSAGE DESIGN AND MEDIA MANAGEMENT

Course code

COMM503

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course aimed to analyse the forming and designing the planned message and its communication techniques and media within the framework of practices in strategic communication management. Relating to this, the case studies on how the effective media management should be are examined.

OPERATION MANAGEMENT

Course code

BUSN506

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The intent of this course is to further provide management and analytical concepts/tools for the management of operations and the decision-making process within the scope of the supply chain. Competitive advantage driven by supply chain strategy has been a common practice in the business environment in the past few years. Most of the strategies involve improving operational efficiency either through cost reductions or increase capital efficiency. Decision-making regarding operational issues is one of the most common tasks within organizations. This course will enhance students' ability to perform the quantitative analysis necessary and understand the management issues in order to make good operational decisions within the supply chain. Coverage is topical and will include supply chains issue and strategy, operations management framework, the Six Sigma approach, quality management, demand and supply planning, inventory deployment/control, and transportation networks optimization.

INTERNATIONAL LAW II

Course code

ILAW332

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT

Course code

BUSN250

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS

Course code

BUSN101

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

COMPARATIVE POLITICS-I

Course code

INRE321

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

The course introduces the methodology and scope of comparative politics; emphasizing political culture as well as institutional structures. The course also compares different countries’ political culture, constitutional structure, and governmental development, with particular attention given to contemporary problem. General overviews of Western liberal democracies, contrasts with totalitarian or authoritarian countries will be supplemented by detailed analyses of some national policies. Lecture topics include; basic terminology, classification of regimes, presidential versus parliamentary systems, mechanisms for popular consent/input in decision-making, the structures and outcomes of the policy processes, political attitudes and interactions. At the end of this course, students will be able to have ability to recognize these institutional concepts and they can analyse them.

MARKETING

Course code

EASC331

Credit

Theoretical

Practical

Ects

This course introduces the essential principles of marketing (key concepts, methods of analysis, strategies and tactics) critical to managing profitable customer relationships in today’s dynamic and allied environment. Topics include, understanding the marketplace, product, services and branding strategies, new product strategies, pricing products, marketing channels, integrated marketing communication strategies. The course will help in understanding development of managerial decision-making techniques and problem-solving through practice in analyzing practical marketing cases. It will expose students to the commonly problems faced by marketing managers and to develop skills in analyzing marketing problems and preparing implementable plans of action based on analyses of given business situations. Cases and a marketing simulation are used to focus the discussion and to reinforce learning of key marketing concepts.

TR & TRNC
International

Students who are interested in pursuing advanced graduate studies leading to a master’s, doctoral degree, or professional doctorate degree for the Fall and Spring semesters every year. Applicants can directly apply online to our graduate programs using the application portal.

TR Applicants- Required documents:

Bachelor’s Degree Diploma
Bachelor’s Degree transcripts for each completed academic term/year.
Valid ALES result document (must not exceed 5 years),
Documents to prove English proficiency for English language departments,
Scanned copy of passport or identity card.

Click for detailed admission requirements information.

TRNC Applicants- Required documents:

Bachelor’s Degree Diploma
Bachelor’s Degree transcripts for each completed academic term/year.
Documents to prove English proficiency for English language departments,
Scanned copy of passport or identity card.

Click for detailed admission requirements information.

International Applicants- Required documents;

Bachelor’s Degree Diploma
Bachelor’s Degree transcripts for each completed academic term/year.
Evidence of English Language competence: TOEFL (65 IBT) or IELTS (5.5). Students without these documents will take the CIU English proficiency exam on campus following arrival.
Scanned copy of international passport/birth certificate
CV
Fully completed and signed CIU Rules and Regulations document (which can be downloaded during the online application)

Click for detailed admission requirements information.

Scholarships
Fees

Cyprus International University provides academic scholarships for its students as an incentive for success, with most students benefiting from 50%, 75% or 100% scholarships or discounted tuition fees. Click for more information.

Fee per course	€ 350,00
Fee for thesis	€ 1.050,00
Fee for seminar	€ 120,00
Scientific Foundation per course	€ 150,00
Registration and other fees*	€ 245,00
Student Union fee	€ 50,00
	VAT Exc.

*Applies to 1st. Year students. € 195,00 for others.