The New School Graduate Program in International Affairs

Introduction

This Handbook serves as a guide to the basic information andprocedures for the Graduate Program in International Affairs (GPIA). Some of the information herein is compiled from other sources. TheHandbook is intended for the convenience of GPIA students and advisors. Students should refer to this Handbook first to see if their questionsare answered. For further information students should contact the International Affairs office (see below), their academic advisor, orthe respective university office or program. This Handbook does not replace other official sources and students should refer to them forrelevant details. See especially The New School Student Handbook and The New School Registration Information and Procedures Guide for therelevant semester. Information in the Handbook is subject to change. The GPIA appreciates suggestions for future versions.

 

The Basics

GPIA Office

The main office for the Graduate Program in International Affairs is located at 66 W. 12th St., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10011, USA. Telephone: (212) 206-3524. Program Fax: (212) 924-1292. GPIA office email: intaffairs@newschool.edu. The GPIA Websites are: www.ia.newschool.edu and www.gpia.info. Office hours are from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m. during the Fall and Spring semesters. Please check for hoursduring the breaks.

Advising

All students are assigned an academic advisor for the purpose ofcourse selection and academic development. Students meet with their advisors at least once before each semester to plan their curriculum. Advisors hold regular office hours and are available to meet with students throughout the academic year as well, although registration only takes place during the formal registration periods (see section on Registration). Students are encouraged to meet with other faculty and administrators as well. Your advisor is the first and best contact for questions about program requirements, general advice and resources available to students.

Degree Requirements

The Program in International Affairs offers two degrees with different requirements. For the Master of Arts (MA) in International Affairs, students must complete an approved program of study consisting of a minimum of 42 credits. For the Master of Science (MS) in International Affairs, students must complete an approved program of study consisting of a minimum of 30 credits. To be considered for MS candidacy students must have at least five years relevant experience ininternational affairs as determined by the program. (See Section V,Courses for information on required courses and concentrations.)

Full- and Part-Time Status

Part-time status is six credits or fewer per semester. Full-time status is nine credits or more per semester. Both the MA and MS programs may be taken on full or part-time basis. Financial aid consideration is given to students who carry a minimum of 6 credits per semester. See also International Students.

Time Limitations

GPIA students must complete their degree within five years ofthe date of matriculation. Transfer credit must be based on graduate work completed within the five-year period immediately preceding matriculation. (See section on Transfer Credit)

Grading

Letter Grade System. The following grades are issued for graduate programs (there is no grade of D), with the following GPA value:

Grade	GPA Score
A	4.0
A-	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B-	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
C-	1.7
F	0

Incomplete Grades The grade of I (temporary Incomplete) is awarded at the discretion of the instructor upon the request of the student. Request forms are available in the GPIA office. Faculty members reserve the right not to award an Incomplete. Conditions for completing the course work and having a grade assigned are set by the instructor. The work must be completed by the date decided by the instructor, but no later than the end of two semesters immediately following the semester in which the Incomplete was awarded. A student with two or more grades of Incomplete is not permitted to register until the work has been completed and the grade assigned. A grade of I that is not resolved by the assigned date will automatically be converted to a grade of N (permanent incomplete). The grade of N is notcalculated into the grade point average. No credit is awarded for thegrade of N.

Administrative Grades Besides the grades awarded by the instructors, the following administrative grades are issued by the University Records Office: W, NP, and GM. The grade of W (withdrawal) shows that a student has withdrawn from a class after the drop period but before the withdrawal date indicated in the semester’s Registration Information and Procedures guide. The grade of W can also be issued by an instructor to a student who has not attended or not completed allrequired work in a course. This grade is different in meaning from an F, which shows that a student's work is insufficient to receive apassing grade. The grade W is not calculated in the grade point average. The grade NP shows that the instructor has not submitted grades for the course. The grade of GM shows that the instructor has submitted grades for the course but not for the individual student.

NOTE: Students taking courses in other New School divisions should be aware of those divisions’ grading policies, particularly their policies regarding Incompletes.

Change of Grade Following a petition for a grade review (below), final grades are subject to revision by the instructor for one semester following the semester in which the course was offered. After the next semester has elapsed, all grades recorded in the University Records Office become a permanent part of the academic record and no changes are allowed.

Grade Review A student may petition for a grade review by the following procedure:

1. The student initially requests of the instructor an explanation of a grade.
2. If the student is not satisfied or has additional questions and wishes to pursue the grade review process, the student submits a letter outlining any questions and/or objections to the faculty member with a copy to the Program Director.
3. The instructor must submit a written response to the student’s letter with a copy to the Program Director.
4. The student may respond in writing to the faculty member as well as to the Program Director.
5. If a resolution has not been reached, the student may request that the Director evaluate the petition; at this stage the Director may choose to consult with both the student and the faculty member involved in the dispute to determine the fairness of the grade.
6. If either the student or the faculty member is dissatisfied with the Director’s decision, a final appeal may be made to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Repeated Course Policy With divisional approval, graduate students with a grade of B- or below are eligible to repeat up to 3 courses during a single degree program. Although the initial grade willappear on the transcript, the grade earned the second time will be computed in the grade point average and the previous grade will dropout of the cumulative GPA. Students must submit an approved form at the time of registration. Repeated courses may not be counted twice toward fulfillment of graduation requirements, nor may they be counted twice for loan or New York Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) certification. It is therefore important for students who wish to repeat a course to discuss their plans with a financial aid counselor. Approval forms are available in the GPIA office.

Academic Standing

All matriculated students must earn a 3.0 term and cumulative GPA to remain in good academic standing. Academic progress of graduate students is reviewed every semester. To earn a Master’s Degree, astudent must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (a grade of "B") or higher.

Academic Probation Students with lower than a 3.0 term GPA or cumulative GPA will be placed on academic probation. Students who earn lower than a 3.0 term GPA or cumulative GPA for two consecutive semesters will be subject to dismissal (see Administrative Withdrawal). Students who do not complete one half of accumulated attempted credits after two consecutive semesters in the program will be subject to probation and might not be allowed to register for more courses or equivalency in the following semester.

Academic Honesty, Plagiarism

Plagiarism Plagiarism is the unattributed use of material fromany source and is not allowed. A student who plagiarizes an assignment will receive a failing grade on that assignment or a failing grade for the course at the instructor's discretion, and the Dean's office and other faculty with whom they are taking or have taken courses will be automatically notified. The instructor may also ask the Associate Deanfor Academic Affairs to convene the academic standards committee to consider additional penalties, including dismissal from the university. Details on the procedure are available in The New School’s rules and regulations. Plagiarism on a master's thesis is ground for dismissal.

All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves withthe rules and regulations concerning academic honesty. See the Student Code of Conduct.

Transfer Credit

All credit transfers require formal approval by the International Affairs Program and are considered after students are matriculated into the program. Transfer credit must be based on graduate work completed within the five-year period immediately preceding matriculation. Transfer credit cannot be used toward core courses, only toward electives.

Master of Arts (MA) students may apply for transfer ofup to nine (9) graduate credits to be used toward the electiverequirements. Six of these credits may be transferred from another graduate institution attended prior to matriculating in the GPIA. Three additional credits can be acquired from a graduate program at another university while enrolled in the GPIA (see How to Register for Non-GPIA Courses taken outside the New School). For students transferring toGPIA from other graduate programs of the New School a maximum of nine credits may be transferred.

Master of Science (MS) students may apply for transferof a maximum of six (6) graduate credits to be used toward the elective requirements. Three of these credits may be transferred from another graduate institution attended prior to matriculating in the GPIA. Three additional credits can be acquired from a graduate program at another university while enrolled in the GPIA (see How to Register for Non-GPIA Courses taken outside the New School). For MS students transferring toGPIA from other graduate programs of the New School a maximum of six credits may be transferred.

All transfer credit determinations are made on a case-by-case basis by a program advisor only after a student is matriculated in the Graduate Program in International Affairs.

Students requesting a transfer of credit are obligated to make the case for the courses in question. Students who wish to apply for transfer credit must first meet with an advisor to discuss the credits and ensure that the required courses fit their program of study. At that time the student must provide the Advisor and the Program Assistant Director with 1. a written rationale for how the course(s) in question contributes significantly to their International Affairs program of study, and 2. a copy of the syllabus for the course(s) in question. Other information may be requested as needed. Upon approval, students complete a form, Transfer of Credit Petition, which they deposit along with an official transcript at the GPIA Office and this information is transferred to the Records Office.

Registration

Registration Basics

The academic year consists of two semesters, fall and spring,and a summer session. All students must properly register for course seach term in order for them to count towards the degree. The current calendar can be found at http://www.newschool.edu/admin/registrar/calendar/. Current information on registration can be found at the Registrar’s Office website: http://www.newschool.edu/admin/registrar/.

Continuing Student Registration

Continuing students receive advisement and register online each mid-semester for the following semester. Exact dates vary and will be announced. Check the current academic calendar. Students must register during the designated registration period.

New Student Registration

New student registration is held the week prior to the start ofthe semester. Exact dates vary. Please check the current academic calendar.

Late Registration

If a student misses the designated registration period, it maybe possible to register late during the add/drop period (see below).However, there is a large financial penalty for late registration,students may not receive advisement, and courses may be closed. Please check the Registration Information and Procedures guide for current information.

How to Register for Fall or Spring Semester

1. Continuing students must meet with an advisor during the set registration period. Sign-up sheets are available at the GPIA office in advance of registration or at orientation (for new students). Registration Packets with information on courses and registration procedures are available online and in the GPIA office.
2. Students meet with the advisor during the registration period. Advisors provide students with PIN numbers to be used for online registration. PIN numbers change each registration period.
3. Students log onto ALVIN to check for registration holds and visit the appropriate university offices if they need to clear your account. Students who have outstanding registration holds will not be allowed to register. (See Registration Holds)
4. If there are no registration holds, students follow the instructions in ALVIN for online registration, and proceed to register. NOTE: See the Registration Information and Procedures guide printed each semester for current information.

How to Register for Summer Session

Summer registration occurs during registration for the fall semester and follows the same procedure.

Add/Drop Procedures

Students may add courses to their schedule during the first twoweeks of the semester. Students may drop classes through the third week of the term. Please refer to the current add/drop schedule published by the Registration Office.

All schedule changes require approval of an academic advisor.To add or drop a class students must fill out an add/drop form available from the GPIA office. This form must be signed by an advisor and the signed form must be taken to the Registration Office on the first floor of 65 Fifth Ave.

Registration Holds

A registration hold prevents students from registering for a number of reasons. Holds may be related to failure to be to be properly immunized or to academic performance or financial issues. Be sure to check your ALVIN account for registration holds and visit the appropriate University offices to clear your record of any outstanding holds. Students who have outstanding holds will not be allowed to register.

Course Withdrawals

New School graduate students may withdraw from a course with a grade of W after the add/drop period. A grade of W is not calculated in a student's GPA. Students fill out add/drop forms and obtain an advisor's approval and signature. There is no refund for withdrawing from a course after the add/drop period has ended.

Withdrawal from Program

(See Student Exit Procedures)

How Do I Register For...?

Language Courses

GPIA students who are currently registered for degree credits may audit language courses offered by The New School, without charge. These courses do not carry academic credit and are not graded, but do appear on student transcripts as audits. You may register for language courses after you have registered for GPIA courses, in five steps:

1. You can find the Fall 2007 language courses listed at: http://ceregistration.newschool.edu/register/index.cfm?deptcode=NFLN&semesterpick=200710
2. If you need to determine the correct language level, report to the Foreign Language Dept. of The New School for General Studies, 64 West 11th St./1st floor, ph. (212) 229-5676.
3. Complete a course Add form available in the GPIA office and have it signed by an advisor.
4. Take the Add form to the Coordinator of Academic Student Services in the Dean's Office of The New School for General Studies, 66 W. 12th St. 3rd floor, phone: (212) 229-5615, who will issue a Fee Waiver form.
5. Take the Add form and the Fee Waiver form to the Registration Office at 65 5th Avenue.

Courses in Other Graduate Divisions of The New School

Students may take as electives any relevant graduate class for credit within the New School's other programs or divisions with approval of their academic advisor. Credits for classes taken in other schools within the New School are not considered transfer credits, and students who take them pay GPIA tuition rates. Students should examine the course offerings at the The New School for Social Research, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, the Media Studies Program, or other programs within The New School each semester for relevant courses.

Students who wish to take classes within The New School should always check with the course instructor or respective program office to make sure the course is available and open and to check whether thereare any prerequisites. Registration then follows the standard procedures. Students taking courses in another school of the university should be aware of that school's grading policy, particularly the policy on Incompletes.

GPIA Courses taken outside The New School

MA and MS students are allowed to transfer up to 3 credits (oneclass) at other universities while matriculated in the GPIA degree program.

Students must first get approval from their advisor for any course taken outside The New School that they wish to count towards their degree. Students then register on a non-matriculated basis at the respective university and apply to transfer the course credit. Students are responsible for becoming acquainted with the procedures, rules and regulations of the respective university. Students bear the tuition costs of the credits and payment is made directly to the respective institution.

Independent Study

After their first semester, students in good academic standing may register for one course of Independent Study. Students start with a problem or specific area of interest to investigate in detail, and then design a project with the approval of an interested faculty member who serves as the course advisor. Permission of the course advisor is required before a student can register for Independent Study.

Students planning to register for Independent Study must submit an application in the form of a proposal that contains:

1. The specific subject or problem that they would like to investigate.
2. The proposed method for investigating the topic.
3. A preliminary bibliography.

These materials must be submitted to and approved by the course advisor prior to registration. Include with this proposal the form, Contract for Independent Study (available at the GPIA Office). Applications must be submitted with enough time for full evaluation no later than two weeks prior to the start of the term registration period. Upon approval, the student registers following the standard procedure using an Independent Study course number (CRN) provided by the GPIA program. Upon successful completion of the Independent Studyproject, the faculty supervisor assigns a letter grade.

Internship

Students in good standing who have completed their firstsemester may register for up to three credits through an approved internship. To qualify for credit, a student must work a minimum of 150 hours (10 hours/week during the regular semester or 20 hours/week during the summer session). Students may undertake non-credit internships at any time.

Students who wish to register for a credit-bearing internship should take the following steps:

1. Identify the organization, secure the internship, and obtain written confirmation of the internship.

2. Choose a faculty supervisor and write a proposal that includes

a. The name and contact information for the organization,

b. The name and contact information for the on-site internship supervisor,

c. The period of internship, including number of hours,

d. The proposed tasks the intern will undertake,

e. The nature of a written report that the student will submit to the faculty supervisor at the completion of the internship.

3. Submit the proposal to the faculty supervisor for approval.Include with this proposal the form, Contract for Internship (availablein the GPIA office). Applications must be submitted with enough timefor full evaluation prior to registration.

Upon approval, students register following the standard procedure using an Internship course number (CRN) provided by the GPIA Program. An additional signed Internship Approval Form is required by the Registration Office and is available at the GPIA office.

During the internship, the student keeps the faculty supervisor regularly informed of the student's progress. Upon successful completion of the internship, faculty advisors assign grades of P (pass) or F (fail), based jointly on the student's written reports and the internship supervisor's written evaluations of the student'sperformance.

Most internships are unpaid. If an internship is paid, please note that international students usually face restrictions on the type of work they can accept. International students should, therefore,consult with the Office of International Student Services before accepting a paid internship.

GPIA Summer International Field Program

Each summer GPIA offers a number of six-credit internship programs abroad. The programs are announced mid-autumn, and students apply by submitting the Summer Program Application form and accompanying material to the summer program coordinator. Students are expected to possess reasonable fluency in the respective language of the internship site unless otherwise noted.

Students are notified of acceptance into the summer internship program by early spring semester, and must confirm participation with a non-refundable deposit of $1,000. After students are accepted, they participate in a series of individual pre-trip meetings for each program. Students participating in the GPIA summer programs do not register for internship credit, but for one of the International Field Program sections during the summer session.

Airfare, local travel, tuition (six credits), and living expenses are covered by students themselves. The cost of airfare, travel and living expenses vary according to location. In certain programs, the cost of accommodations is included in the program fee; in other cases students find their own housing. Students may be able to use their financial aid to cover tuition costs. Be sure to check early with the Financial Aid office about this option.

Thesis Supervision

Students who are writing a thesis must register for Thesis Supervision, NINT 5951, a 3-credit course, under the name of their thesis supervisor. Thesis Workshop is a prerequisite for Thesis Supervision. (See Thesis under part V-Courses).

Maintenance of Status

Students who, for whatever reason, do not register for any courses during a fall or spring semester must maintain status within the registration period to remain in good academic standing. Students who maintain status are considered active students, though not pursuing coursework. They retain access to academic advising, library resources,and University email. Please consult the Registration Information and Procedures guide for current fees for maintaining status. Master's students are normally allowed to maintain status for no more than four consecutive semesters, after which time they are withdrawn from the program in good standing (see Administrative Withdrawal). A semester of maintaining status is considered an active semester and deducts time from the five year limitation for earning the master's degree. Students who maintain status for more than four consecutive semesters and wishto return must re-apply for admission. NOTE: Students who do not wishto register for either maintaining status or for classes must use the Student Exit Form to apply for a leave of absence or to withdraw from the program. (See Student Exit Procedures.) International students should check with International Student Services before registering for Maintaining Status.

Leave of Absence

(See Student Exit Procedures.)

Equivalency Credit

Matriculated graduate students who are registered for fewer than the minimum number of credits necessary for full- or part-time statusbut who are engaged in approved "equivalent activities" may registerfor equivalency credit in order to maintain full- or part-time status.This is intended for students who are completing their Master's Projects or for rare equivalency activities that are an integral partof the student's program and must be verified by an appropriate advisor or faculty member. Approval is not automatic. Students registering for equivalency credits must also register for additional degree credits.

Registration for equivalency credit takes place during the registration period. Students must complete the Petition for Equivalency Credit Form as appropriate, obtain their advisor's approvaland file the form with the Program before Registration. Full-time status for New School graduate students is defined as enrollment for nine degree credits per semester. Half-time status requires a minimum of six degree credits per semester. Some financial aid agencies and programs require that students register for twelve credits per academic semester; please check with Financial Aid. Also, international studentswith certain types of visas are required to register for full-time status (nine graduate credits per academic semester for graduate students). Please check with International Student Services.

Student Exit Procedures

Student exits may be initiated by students (leave of absence orwithdrawal from the program) or by the program (administrative withdrawal). The Student Exit Form is used for all types of studentexits.

Leave of Absence

Students in good academic standing who wish to interrupt theirstudies for pressing reasons may petition for a leave of absence by consulting with their GPIA advisor and then filling out a Leave of Absence form available from the Coordinator of Academic Student Services in the Dean's Office of The New School for General Studies. All students who wish to take leaves of absence are responsible forobtaining the signature of a financial aid advisor on their Student Exit Forms. In addition, international students must obtain thesignature of an international student advisor, and students who live inUniversity housing must obtain a signature from the Housing Office. Upon obtaining the required signature(s), students return the form tothe Coordinator of Academic Student Services. Students on leave ofa bsence do not register or maintain status and the leaves do not apply to degree time limits. A maximum of four semesters of leave may begranted during a student's entire program of study. Leave will not be granted retroactively under any circumstances. Students who do notreturn to their studies at the expiration of a leave of absence will be withdrawn in good standing (see Administrative Withdrawal).

Withdrawal from Program

Students who wish to leave the program without obtaining adegree must indicate their intention to withdraw from the program onthe Student Exit Form and follow the procedure outlined above under Leave of Absence.

Administrative Withdrawal from Program

Academic Dismissal: Students who earn a GPA lower than3.0 for two consecutive semesters will be subject to academic dismissal and may be administratively withdrawn. Administrative withdrawals areprocessed by the program and do not require the presence of thestudent. Written notification of administrative withdrawals is sent to the address of record, and copies are placed in students' files.

Failure to Return from Leave of Absence: Upon the expiration of a leave of absence, students must notify the program oftheir intent to return to the program, to request an extension of theirleave, or to withdraw from the program. Students who do not return to their studies and who do not request permission for an extension oftheir leave will be administratively withdrawn.

Courses

Required Courses

Core courses: There are two "core" courses that allstudents must complete: Global Flows and the International Community and Comparative Development Experience. Please see the catalog orwebsite for course descriptions. Global Flows is a prerequiste for Comparative Development.

Economics: All students entering the program must take one of two economics courses offered during their first semester. Economics in International Affairs I is designed for students who donot enter the program with an economics background. Economics in International Affairs II is designed for students with an economics background, defined at a minimum as having taken a course in macro or micro economics in which they received a B or better within the last five years. Students taking Economics I must complete it prior totaking Comparative Development.

Methods: All students are required to complete a minimum of one course in research methods. We offer a basic engagement with quantitative and qualitative social science methodology in our Research Methods class (see catalog or website for course description). Students can also fulfill the requirement by taking an approved statistics or qualitative methods course through other New School departments. Check with your advisor if you wish to fulfill the requirement using a course outside the GPIA.

Final Project: Final Project: Master of Arts students must also complete a final project consisting either of an independent research project (Thesis Option – see below) or a team-based project (Practicum Option - see below). Students decide on one of these options, in consultation with their advisor, after completing 18 credits.

Waiving a Required Course or Pre-requisite

Students who wish to waive a required or pre-requisite coursemust speak with their advisor. Core courses and final projects cannot be waived. If the advisor agrees that a student has the appropriate background and that it would make academic sense to waive a course, astudent must write a petition for waiver to the advisor with a copy tothe Associate Director. The letter should state clearly:

1. What course the student would like to waive;
2. How the student meets that requirement or prerequisite without taking the course (usually by prior graduate level course work or relevant professional experience);
3. Why it would be in the student's educational interest for the course to be waived, including how the student proposes to use the three credit hours made available by the waiver.

The petition should be accompanied by any documents in support ofthe petition. The advisor will confer with the Associate Director and appropriate faculty members and report the decision back to thestudent. The petition and the decision will be placed in the student's file.

Concentrations

Students concentrate in a sub-specialization within the international affairs field. A concentration is declared after the completion of 18 credit hours by completion of the Declaration ofConcentration form during registration with the student's advisor. Students must take the respective concentration "Foundation" course andat least three electives that count toward the respective concentration. An updated list of concentrations and approved coursesis available each semester from the GPIA office.

Concentrations are offered in:

• Development (DEV)
• Governance and Rights (GR)
• Cities and Urbanization (CU)
• Media and Culture in International Development (MC)
• Conflict and Security (CS).

The foundation courses are:

• Economics II (Development Economics) (DEV)
• Global Governance (GR)
• Urban Foundation Course (CU)
• News Media and Culture in International Affairs (MC)
• Critical Security Studies (CS).

In rare cases students may individually design a concentration with the approval or their academic advisor. To do so students must identify the requisite number of courses and write a proposal that explains why these courses should count as a concentration.

Electives

Electives are courses offered by the GPIA or other New School graduate programs that focus on specific areas of academic and professional interest. They may be taken to fulfill a concentration requirement, a specific skill need, or simply to fulfill intellectual curiosity. Electives may be taken outside the Program (see How do I register for courses taken within/without The New School). The number of electives a student may take depends on the particular program of study.

Final Project

For graduation Masters of Arts students complete a final project consisting either of an independent research project (thesis option) or a team-based project (practicum option). After completing 18 credits of course work, students decide on one option in consultation with their advisor.

Thesis Option

The thesis is an independent project based on field work, institutional research, and/or theoretical research involving primaryand secondary sources. Media-based theses are possible, as are custom-designed projects that meet Program approval. Theses must conform to academic standards.

In the semester before completing the thesis a student registers for Thesis Workshop, which focuses on designing the research project and writing a proposal. Concomitant with the Thesis Workshop the student puts together a thesis committee consisting of a primary and secondary reader, and completes a Thesis Registration Form that is to be returned to the department secretary by Dec. 1st for students completing their thesis the following Spring semester and by May 1st for students completing their thesis the following Fall semester. The primary reader is known as the thesis supervisor (not necessarily the same person as the academic advisor) and must be a GPIA core faculty member. The secondary reader can be an academic, researcher or professional in a field related to the student's work and may be external to the program. External readers must be approved by the thesis supervisor.

In the semester following the Thesis Workshop students register for Thesis Supervision under the name of their thesis supervisor. Thesis Supervision carries 3 credits. By the beginning of the semester students submit their finished proposal to their committee and conduct the agreed-upon research independently and write the thesis, working with the advice and guidance of their supervisor.

Upon completion of the manuscript the student provides copies of the complete draft of the thesis to the supervisor and the secondreader. Readers should have at least two weeks to consider the work. Either reader may ask the student to revise and resubmit part or all ofthe work. In order to graduate a clean, final copy of the approved thesis bearing the signatures of the committee members on the cover page must be deposited with the GPIA Assistant Director and thesupervisor must submit a passing grade (P) for the Thesis Supervision. The thesis does not receive a letter grade. Finished, signed, and approved thesis manuscripts on acid-free paper, conforming to all ofthe usual expectations of library-deposited thesis documents, are due in the Assistant Director's office by December 15 for January degree conferral, and May 1 for May degree conferral. Theses deposited after that date will delay the student's graduation by one semester.

Practicum Option

The Practicum in International Affairs (PIA) is a faculty-supervised, client-driven capstone course that provides students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the courseof their studies in specific consulting assignments with a wide range of client organizations. Organized into teams of 4-6, students work on discrete assignments of at least one semester's duration for client organizations from the not-for-profit, public and private sectors, and multilateral agencies such as the United Nations.

PIA seeks to simulate the professional context, including its emphasis on deadlines and professional standards for work products, as well as the imperative to make decisions and recommendations based on imperfect information. It emphasizes working closely with teammates and being responsive to clients in achieving the desired objectives of their assignments.

After 18 credits, students register for the Program Developmentand Project Management course (PDPM), followed by the PIA in their last semester.

Independent Study

See previous section on How to Register for Independent Study for full details.

Internship

See previous section How to Register for Internship for full details.

GPIA Summer International Field Program

See previous section on How to Register for GPIA Summer International Field Program for full details.

Auditing

With the exception of language courses (see How do I register for language courses) it is generally not possible to audit courses. Students who wish to audit classes should inquire directly with the respective division or program about their policy. Students should inform their advisors if they receive permission to audit a class.

Graduation

Degrees are conferred twice-a-year, in January and May. Commencement ceremonies are held once a year only, in May. Both January and May degree recipients attend commencement ceremonies in May.

Petition for Graduation

First, check with your faculty advisor to confirm that you have completed all requirements for graduation. This must be done in the first month of the semester in which you plan to graduate. Your advisormust clear you to graduate.

If your advisor has cleared you to graduate you must then petition the University Records Office, 65 Fifth Avenue, ground floor. Petitions must be completed and returned to the Records Office by October 1 for January graduation and February 15 for May graduation.You can find this and more information on the New School Commencement Website. There is no filing fee to petition to graduate. NOTE: Late fees will be assessed if the petition is filed after the deadline.

If a student fails to petition properly or to complete all requirements by the graduation deadline, the student will not graduate that semester.

Alumni

After graduation all GPIA degree holders are invited andencouraged to join the New School Alumni and Friends Association. Members receive a newsletter and are invited to alumni events. Membership is free and information is available on The New School website. A GPIA alumni group is being formed; consult the GPIA website for more information.

Special Student Categories

Three categories of students have special considerations: international students, non-degree students, and BA/MA students.

International Students

If a student is in the U.S.A. in F-1 Student or J-1 Visitorstatus, the student must be enrolled full-time for each fall and spring semester. (If students are taking online classes please note: to meet the minimum full-time enrollment requirement, a student cannot take more than one class or three credits on-line per semester.) U.S.government regulations do recognize some situations in which an F-1 or J-1 may lawfully enroll for a reduced course load. (For example, the student may have a medical condition, or the student may need less than a full course load to complete the course of study.) However, in all cases in which F-1 or J-1 international students enroll less than full-time, written authorization must be obtained from International Student Services within the first two weeks of the semester. Students who are considering enrolling less than full-time should make an appointment with an International Student Services advisor well in advance so that they may obtain authorization without delay. Note: international students in B-2 Tourist or F-2 Student Dependent statuses are NOT permitted to be enrolled full-time. These students must be enrolled for 8 credits or fewer each semester. For further information students should contact International Student Services.

Very Important Note: All international students are individually responsible for remaining up-to-date on all compliance issues for staying in visa status. Please check the International Student Services Website at http://www.newschool.edu/studentaffairs/st_intl_home.htmlon a regular basis. For further information contact International Student Services at (212) 229-5592 or ISS@newschool.edu. ISS is located at 79 Fifth Avenue, 5th Floor.

Non-Degree Students

Students approved for non-degree status may enroll for up to nine credits (three courses) within the International Affairs program on a space-available basis. (In order to take more than three courses,students must apply and be admitted to the M.A. program.) All International Affairs courses taken in non-degree status are charged at current graduate tuition rates and earn graduate credit. For students who apply and are accepted into master's degree status in a subsequent semester, that credit will be applicable toward the International Affairs degree requirements. Both new and continuing non-degree students must make appointments with the designated non-degree student advisor, ordinarily the GPIA Assistant Director.

Non-degree students who wish to be considered for GPIA admission must complete their admissions applications by the application deadlines set by the admissions office, usually October 15for Spring and February 15 for Fall (check the admissions website for updated information). Non-degree students should inform the Admissions office of their intent to apply so that their admissions applications can be updated. Please call or visit the Admissions Office, 66 W. 12th Street, Room 401, (212) 229-5630.

B.A./M.A. Students

New School Bachelor's Program and Eugene Lang College students who have completed 60 credits or more may apply for B.A./M.A. status. Students admitted to B.A./M.A. status may take up to 12 "swing" credits (4 courses) of International Affairs coursework to apply towards their Bachelor's degree. Upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree and acceptance into the International Affairs Program as an M.A.student in a subsequent semester, the 12 swing credits will be applied to the International Affairs degree. The student must provide their official University transcript to the GPIA Assistant Director so thiscredit transfer can be made. All International Affairs courses taken under B.A./M.A. status are charged at current undergraduate tuition rates. Applications for M.A. status from B.A./M.A. students follow the standard application procedures for new M.A. students. Interested students can obtain B.A./M.A. applications in their respective degree program office.

Financial Aid

The information below is only a broad overview of types of financialassistance. All inquiries and applications for financial aid,scholarships (including GPIA scholarships), and work study must be madethrough the University Financial Aid Office at 79 Fifth Avenue, (212)229-8930. See: www.newschool.edu/studentservices/financialaid/. NOTE:GPIA staff and faculty cannot provide financial aid information. Allinquiries must go through the Financial Aid Office.

Eligibility

Financial assistance is available to qualified M.A. and M.S.students in good academic standing with a minimum G.PA. of 3.0. To beeligible, students are required to register for a minimum of 6 graduatecredits per academic semester (Fall and Spring). Students on academicprobation are generally not eligible for financial assistance.International students are eligible for institutional financial aid.

All aid, scholarships and assistantships are contingent upon availability and students' eligibility with regard to the specific terms of the aid. The same scholarship or assistantship is not guaranteed for the next year (in case of scholarship) or semester (incase of assistantship), and future scholarships or assistantships are based in part on the previous year's evaluation and departmental resources.

Types of Financial Aid

Federal Financial Aid, University, and GPIA Scholarships

Federal financial aid and other scholarships are available toqualified students through the University Financial Aid Office. The GPIA offers a limited number of competitive scholarships. All inquiries must go through the University Financial Aid Office (FAO). GPIA staff and faculty cannot provide financial aid information.

Federal Work-Study

Federal work-study is available to qualified students. Please see the University Financial Aid Office for details.

Summer Financial Aid

Summer registration is optional for students receiving financial aid during the academic year. Limited summer scholarship money may be available; please see the University Financial Aid Office to complete the Summer Financial Aid Application form. For students participating in the summer International Field Programs (IFP) there is limited financial aid available in the form of tuition remission. Please refer to the current IFP application guidelines for further details. Students wishing to use their regular financial aid allotment for the summer should contact the Financial Aid office prior to the academic year to insure the correct allocation.

Financial Aid Appeals

GPIA students who have completed at least one full semester in the program who wish to be considered for a scholarship, or to request an increase in a current scholarship award, may apply to the Financial Aid Office/FAO by submitting the form, "Request for Reconsideration of Financial Aid Awards". This form is available on the Financial Aid Office website, in the FAO, and on the GPIA website. The completed form must be returned to the FAO only; it cannot be submitted to the GPIA office. Reconsideration of current student awards occurs once a year only. The completed form is due in the Financial Aid Office by March14th, 2008. Decisions are made by the end of June and are effective starting the following Fall semester. Please see the form for further details.

NOTE: In addition to this form, FAFSA Forms, required for federal financial aid eligibility, are due every March 1st in the Financial Aid Office. All eligible students are strongly encouraged to submit a FAFSA form each year.

GPIA Assistantships

GPIA offers a limited number of paid research and programa ssistantships. These are based on the needs of individual faculty and the GPIA Program, and they last either for one or two semesters. Openings for GPIA assistantships are usually announced to students within the department via the GPIA Listserv. Hours, salary and application details, including deadlines, vary by position. Applications for GPIA assistantships are made directly through the GPIA office according to the terms of the announcement and do not go through the Financial Aid Office.

Career Advising

The GPIA works closely with the Office of Career Services (OCS) to assist students in developing career management and job search skills and to provide students with a clearing house for jobs, internships and fellowships. GPIA faculty are also a resource for career advice in areas of their expertise. Please note that The New School does not operate a placement office, but endeavors to assist students in strategizing, networking and searching for jobs.

Resources and Services

The Office of Career Services (OCS) provides online job and internship databases. The Career Library at 65 Fifth Avenue, room 214, carries the International Career Employment Weekly and books, bindersand other print resources, including lists of international organizations and companies, career development and job search information. OCS provides individualized career counseling including career assessment and brainstorming, personalized resume and job search correspondence reviews, and individual mock interviews. OCS and GPIApresent an ongoing series of workshops on varied topics, from evaluating and negotiating a job offer, relationship building and networking, overcoming age discrimination, and international student job search strategies to career days with non-profit and government employers.

To set up an appointment with an advisor, please call or email the Careers Office at (212) 229-5163 or careers@newschool.edu and see their website http://www.newschool.edu/studentaffairs/careers. The OCS is located at 65 5th Ave, Room 214.

Career Newsletter

All students should sign up for the Career Newsletter to receive information on new jobs, workshops, job fairs and other events directlyby email. To sign up send an email to careers@newschool.edu with "join listserv" in the subject line. NOTE: job and internship information is also often posted on the GPIA Listserv.

GPIA Internships, Jobs, and Fellowships

You may consult this useful resource - a centralized job, internship, and fellowship database for GPIA students: http://gpiacareerdevelopment.wordpress.com/.

New School Email Accounts

All degree students are automatically issued New School email accounts. To receive your password, go to the University Computing Center at 55 West 13 Street, 3rd Floor and present your validated student I.D. card. The GPIA staff regularly sends information to students via New School email only, so it is essential to use this account. Forwarded New School email is often considered spam by other major email account providers. You may access New School email accounts from any web browser by going to: https://webmail.newschool.edu.

Programming and Events

The Weekly Observer

The New School Weekly Observer is the University-wide newsletter. Students are strongly encouraged to read it, as it contains not only University news and events listings but important announcements concerning student services, such as career, international student, and financial aid information. The Weekly Observer can be found on the web at http://www.newschool.edu/observer.

GPIA Events

The GPIA Program sponsors a wide variety of events ranging from brownbag talks to workshops, lectures, conferences and social events, such as graduation parties. Events are announced on the GPIA Listserv. University-wide events are listed in the Weekly Observer. You can view the GPIA Event calendar here.

GPIA Listserv

The GPIA listserv is the main forum for communication of information such about events and issues, important program announcements, and announcements of jobs and internships. All students are very strongly encouraged to join the listserv.

To join the listserv send an email tomajordomo@newsite.newschool.edu. Leave the subject line blank and, inthe body of the text, write <subscribe gpia>. To unsubscribe follow the same procedure but write <unsubscribe gpia> in the body of the text. You will receive an automated response with information about listserv functions.

NOTE: You can subscribe from any email address you choose, and you will only receive email from the listserv to that address. A message sent to gpia@newsite.newschool.edu will go to all list members. The GPIA Listserv is unmoderated and is a community resource; no commercial or vulgar messages are permitted. Common courtesy and tolerance is expected of all members.

GPIA Program Websites

The GPIA Websites are: http://www.gpia.newschool.edu and www.gpia.info. Most program information is available on the websites.

Wikigpia

http://www.wikigpia.info

GPIA Newsletter

http://www.gpia.info/publications/newsletter.html

Contexts, the Student Journal of the GPIA

Contexts is a student-initiated and edited journal, dedicated toa ddressing the most challenging and current topics in the field of international affairs. It is entirely conceived, written, edited and published by students in the Graduate Program in International Affairs.See: http://www.gpia.info/contexts/ and http://www.wikigpia.info/index.php?title=Contexts

University Services

The University services selected below are of particular interest to GPIA students. There are many more services available. Please see the University Student Handbook 2007-2008 and the Student Affairs website: http://www.newschool.edu/studentaffairs/st_home.html for more information and additional services.

Writing Center

GPIA students are entitled to use the New School Graduate Programs Writing Center. Writing Center staffers work one-on-one with students to address any aspect of the writing process, from first ideasto fine tuning. The student sets the agenda. Some students come in regularly and establish a relationship with a particular staffer; others visit as the need arises. To make an appointment go to the Writing Center at 65 Fifth Ave., room 376A, or call (212) 229-5310.

Student Health Services Center

Student Health Services

Contact the Student Health Services (SHS) Center at (212) 598-4796 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to make an appointment. The Student Health Services Center is located at the Henry and Louise Loeb Residence Hall, 135 East 12 Street New York, New York 10003.

Psychological counseling services

The New School provides professional, confidential counseling to degree students. The SHS Counseling Center provides counseling 9:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Counseling Center is located at Loeb Hall, 135 East 12 Street, Suite #2E. Services are available on a walk–in basis, or students may call (212) 229–1671 to make an appointment.

Disability Services

Through designated administrators in each of its divisions, The New School will consider reasonable special accommodations for students who have presented adequate medical documentation of disability and limitation. More information about services for students with disabilities is available at Student Disabilities Services or by contacting Tom McDonald, Director of Disability Services: telephone (212) 229-5472; email: mcdonalt@newschool.edu.