Missouri Southern’s International and Political Affairs program (IPA) provides the knowledge and skills to navigate the interconnected realm of politics, international relations, and cultural studies. With career paths potentially earning anywhere between $59,000 to $139,000, a degree in IPA can be beneficial to those interested in political and global issues or the legal system.
What is International and Political Affairs?
A truly interdisciplinary track, MSSU’s IPA program unites Political Science, International Studies, and Geography to offer students the opportunity to pursue interests in American and international politics. IPA courses are infused with a strong focus on justice, thanks to the collaboration with MSSU’s Justice Studies program.
What will students study?
Those pursuing a degree in IPA may choose from a variety of majors: A BA or BS in either International Affairs, a BS or BA in Political Science, or a BA in Global Cultural Emphasis, with certificate options to further tailor their degree.
International Affairs majors will explore global cooperation through international law, trade, and alliance; understand causes of conflict like war, terrorism, and civil unrest; and study how foreign policy is developed and analyzed.
Political Science majors may learn about political institutions and legal systems, examine and apply political theory to real-life issues, and study law and judicial process.
Global Culture Emphasis majors can deepen their understanding of global cultures and societies, learn additional languages, and study abroad to experience different ways of life.
There is also an emphasis on immersive learning through labs, internships, study abroad, traveling seminars, and student-led activities. MSSU’s international mission amplifies these opportunities, helping students develop practical skills and real-world experiences.
“What makes MSSU’s IPA program unique is our commitment to immersive learning, the ability to personalize the degree with the help of our hands-on advisors, and the professional development embedded throughout the curriculum designed to help students explore career options and smoothly transition from classroom to career,” said Dr. Nicole Shoaf, associate professor of Political Science at MSSU. “Few of our competitor programs in the field can match the high-impact opportunities we have.”
Current trends in IPA include cybersecurity, AI and Automation, and digital transformation—modernizing systems to create seamless, user-friendly experiences for citizens.
“One of the most interesting trends we’re seeing is a big push for technological advancements in law and government services,” said Shoaf. “Governments are increasingly adopting technology to enhance public services and rapidly shifting technologies are creating new legal frontiers in these areas.”
Various IPA courses offered at MSSU cover these trending topics: Model United Nations and related international relations courses regularly address cyber security in its connection to international diplomacy and national security. The summer Public Administration course will cover AI’s potential role in government, a new addition to the course since its last offering to students in 2023 when AI was just on the horizon of the field.
Why pursue this degree?
An IPA degree from MSSU offers a sophisticated understanding of political systems and the development of critical civic skills, providing insight into how governments operate and helps students remain more informed on current events, civic responsibilities, and more.
“Political science and the International & Political Affairs program require analyzing complex texts, data, and ideologies,” Shoaf explained. “Students develop the ability to evaluate arguments, understand opposing viewpoints, and construct logical conclusions.”
Graduates also often work in various facets of the field, such as local, state, or national government, law, journalism, education, international relations, nonprofits, and the private sector. MSSU prepares students for career paths like Policy Analyst, City Planner, International Affairs Analyst, Campaign Manager, Political Consultant, Political Journalist, Professor or Researcher, Public Affairs or Government Relations Specialist, and more. The IPA program also serves as a strong foundation for graduate studies in law, public administration, and international affairs.
Unique opportunities
The IPA program offers several unique opportunities to their majors. In conjunction with their IPA undergraduate degree, students can complete an accelerated master's degree in justice studies.
“Pursuing a degree in International & Political Affairs is a great choice because it offers students a path into a wide variety of career paths and both the substantive knowledge and practical skills to move between career paths as industries and interests shift,” said Shoaf.
Students can also gain invaluable presentation and research experiences by attending local and national conferences. Just this spring semester, IPA undergraduates presented at three: the Arkansas Political Science Association Conference at Arkansas Tech University, the national Midwest Political Science Association Conference (MPSA) in Chicago, and the MSSU Student Research Symposium. The latter is where students Axl Ramirez & Chris Stockton won first place with their research on “Shifting Immigration Narratives: Democrats vs Republicans by Party 2016 to 2024” and Kaylee Butler and Aryan Arora’s “The Political Divide on State Education” placed second in the social sciences category.
“Conferences are a great way for students to see how exciting research can be, to network with people who might be helpful to them in the future, and to explore subfields and career options they may not have considered before,” Shoaf explained. “They are also a good opportunity to help shift from the mindset of students to soon-to-be-professionals, and conference trips can really help focus students' attention on their professional trajectories if planned well.”
