The School of Policy and International Affairs (SPIA) administers the Master of Arts in Global Policy. Core seminars define the body of knowledge and skills considered fundamental to assume a role in global public policy development and analysis. These core courses include:
- SPI 501 - Methods of Inquiry and Research (3 credits)
- SPI 502 - Issues in World Economy (3 credits)
- SPI 503 - International Relations (3 credits)
- SPI 504 - Global Justice (3 credits)
- SPI 510 - Public Service Seminar (1 credit)
All students must complete an international internship (2-6 credits); students with suitable work history may waive some course requirements with graduate coordinator approval.
The M.A. in Global Policy has three concentrations – International Environmental Policy (IEP); International Trade and Commerce (ITC); and International Security & Foreign Policy (ISFP). Although each concentration consists of distinct required and elective coursework, all focus on policy and policy choices. Other electives can be taken with preapproval from the graduate coordinator. Requirements of the M.A in Global Policy degree include a minimum of 33 graduate-level credit hours. SPIA only accepts grades of B or better in core seminars, and B- or better in all other courses. See SPIA’s Graduate Handbook for additional requirements.
Requirements:
A policy-related undergraduate degree is not essential for admission. However, all students must complete certain prerequisites before entering the program, including:
- Either Intermediate Microeconomic(equivalent to UMaine’s ECO 350) or Macroeconomic Theory (equivalent to UMaine’s ECO 321) ;
- Introductory Statistics (equivalent to UMaine’s MAT 215 or 232); and
- Demonstrate an intermediate-level competency in a foreign language.
Financial Aid:
SPIA awards a limited number of scholarships to well-qualified students on a competitive basis. Travel grants and internship scholarships are also available to students working on research and teaching projects. The Graduate School offers a few tuition waivers and small fellowships. All applicants are considered for scholarships at the time of admissions review; no additional application is required.
Students:
SPIA has between 20 and 30 graduate students from around the world in the master’s program. Students come from various academic backgrounds including undergraduate majors in Political Science, International Affairs, Economics, Education, Business Administration, History, and English.
Applying:
SPIA reviews complete applications on a rolling basis. A complete package includes GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts of all previous college work. Applications are available at The Graduate School website at http:// www.umaine.edu/graduate/.
Website:
For more information about SPIA, please visit: www.spia.umaine.edu/
Correspondence:
The Graduate School
5755 Stodder Hall, Rm 42
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5755
207-581-3291
graduate@maine.edu
www.umaine.edu/graduate
The School of Policy and International Affairs
5754 North Stevens Hall, Rm. 239
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469-5754
207-581-3153
james.settele@maine.edu
http://spia.umaine.edu/
Cooperating Graduate Faculty
James Acheson, Professor of Anthropology and Marine Sciences
Aria Amirbahman, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Emmanuel Boss, Associate Professor, School of Marine Sciences
George Criner, Professor, School of Economics
Habib Dagher, Director, Advanced Structures & Composites Center, Professor Civil/Structural Engineering, Bath Iron Works Professor of Structural Engineering
Elizabeth DePoy, Professor of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies and Social Work
Per Erik Garder, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Stephen Gilson, Coordinator and Professor of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies; and Professor of Social Work
G. Paul Holman, Libra Professor of International Affairs
Stephen Hornsby, Director, Canadian-American Center, Professor of Geography and Canadian Studies
Michael Howard, Professor of Philosophy
Gary Hunt, Professor, School of Economics
Shaleen Jain, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cooperating Assistant Professor, Climate Change Institute
Teresa R. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Marine Policy, School of Marine Sciences
Debra Jean Kantor, Assistant Extension Professor, UMaine Cooperative Extension
Roger King, Chairperson and Associate Professor of Philosophy
Robert J. Lilieholm, E.L. Giddings Associate Professor of Forest Policy, School of Forest Resources
Laura Lindenfeld, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism and the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center
John F. Mahon, John M. Murphy Chair of International Business Policy and Strategy and Professor of Management at the Maine Business School
Ivan Manev, Dean of the College of Business, Nicolas M. Salgo Professor of Business Administration
George Markowsky, Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science
Paul A. Mayewski, Director and Professor, Climate Change Institute, Professor, Dept. of Earth Sciences
Henry L. Munson, Jr., Professor of Anthropology
Michael “Mick” Peterson, Libra Foundation Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Paul “Jim” Roscoe, Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, Professor, Climate Change Institute
Jonathan Rubin, Professor, Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center and School of Economics
Daniel H. Sandweiss, Dean and Associate Provost for Graduate Studies, Professor of Anthropology and Quaternary and Climate Studies
James Settele, Director, School of Policy and International Affairs
Seth Singleton, Professor of International Affairs
Mario Teisl, Chair and Professor, School of Economics
Philip Trostel, Professor, School of Economics
James W. Warhola, Chair and Professor, Department of Political Science
Timothy M. Waring, Assistant Professor, School of Economics