INTL 689 Thesis Proposal and Research

This course is designed to help students complete their master’s thesis in international relations. It is expected that research for the thesis project will be relevant to the student’s studies in the master’s degree program and will make an academic contribution to the body of knowledge in international relations.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Course Guide

View this course’s outcomes, policies, schedule, and more.*

*The information contained in our Course Guides is provided as a sample. Specific course curriculum and requirements for each course are provided by individual instructors each semester. Students should not use Course Guides to find and complete assignments, class prerequisites, or order books.


Under the direction of a thesis chair, the doctoral candidate writes a thesis manuscript in preparation for the thesis defense.


Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the candidate will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

The candidate will participate in three Discussions focused on providing a description of previous tasks, current progress, all communication and guidance from the chair, goals for the semester, and challenges the candidate is currently facing. Each thread should be between 150 – 400 words. Candidates are encouraged to interact with classmates in the Discussion to help build community and encourage one another. 

Quizzes: Manuscript Upload (3)

The candidate will complete a quiz that requires the candidate to confirm continually work on the manuscript. Also, the candidate will upload the most recent copy of their manuscript. This upload will not initiate a formal review of the manuscript; however, this manuscript upload will provide a back-up copy of the manuscript, provide evidence of progress within the course, and track progress within the program.

Quizzes: Manuscript Development Progress (5)

The candidate will self-report acknowledgment of weekly progress on this quiz. Also, this quiz serves to show course activity and attendance; therefore, each quiz must be completed within the assigned module and should not be taken early. 


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