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 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 510 - Public Service Seminar (1 credit)

All students must complete an international internship (2-6 credits); students with suitable employment experience 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.  See SPIA’s Graduate Handbook for additional requirements.

Requirements:

An undergraduate degree in international affairs or a global policy field is not essential for admission. However, all students must complete certain prerequisites before finishing the program, including:

• Introductory Microeconomics (equivalent to UMaine’s ECO 120) and Macroeconomics (equivalent to UMaine’s ECO 121) ; and
• Demonstrate an intermediate-level proficiency in a foreign language.

Financial Aid:

SPIA awards a limited number of scholarships and fellowships to well-qualified students on a competitive basis. Travel grants and internship scholarships are also available to students working on professional, research, and teaching projects. The Graduate School offers a few tuition waivers and modest fellowships. All applicants are considered for funding opportunities at the time of admissions review; no additional application is required.

Students:
SPIA has between 30 and 40 graduate students from around the world with diverse undergraduate academic backgrounds, including majors in Political Science, International Affairs, Economics, Education, Business Administration, Engineering, 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
5775 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
spia@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

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

William B. Farrell, Senior Advisor, Mercy Corps and Penelope S. Wolfe SPIA Fellow

Per Erik Garder, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Stephen Gilson, Coordinator and Professor of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies; and Professor of Social Work

Kenneth M. Hillas, Adjunct Professor of International Affairs

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

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, Director, School of Policy and International Affairs

James Settele, UMaine Chief of Staff

Seth Singleton, Professor of International Affairs

Mario Teisl, Chair and Professor, School of Economics

Stefano Tijerina, Adjunct Assistant Professor

Philip Trostel, Professor, School of Economics

Kristin Vekasi, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs

James W. Warhola, Chair and Professor, Department of Political Science

Timothy M. Waring, Assistant Professor, School of Economics