Value of International Studies

International Studies programs are tailored to give you essential experiences, transferable skills, and a well-rounded foundation to be competitive on the global stage. We have almost 10,000 graduates who are working in fields and countries around the world. 

Thesis-Track

Thesis-track students take 30 hours of coursework and 6 hours of thesis in one of the following subjects: Geography, History, Mass Communication, Political Science, Sociology, or Spanish.

Non-Thesis Track

Non-thesis students take 36 hours of coursework, including a 3-hour internship in a field related to your academic interests and intended career goals. Non-Thesis students take a comprehensive exam in their final semester.

Comprehensive Exam

Non-Thesis Track students will take a written and oral comprehensive exam in their last semester of the program. For Thesis-Track students, the Thesis and Defense will serve as the comprehensive exam.

Thesis Defense

Requirements for the thesis writing and thesis defense.

Non-Thesis Comprehensive Exam

Requirements for the non-thesis track comprehensive exam

Deadlines

Both the Thesis Defense and Comprehensive Exam have very firm deadlines. Make sure you're familiar with the deadlines in your intended last semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Because we are a publicly funded institution, tuition waivers are based on US tax data and international students are not eligible. 

    Graduate application fee waivers are based on evidence of financial need and are intended to assist in the admission of graduate-bound students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. To qualify for a fee waiver, you must:

    • have an application on file with The Graduate College
      and
    • show proof of financial need based on an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,000 or less as found in a submitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) currently on file with Texas State University's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
      OR
    • provide Graduate Admissions with a copy of the official award letter stating your status as a McNair/Fulbright Scholar. (This award letter must not be dated more than a year old.)

    You can initiate the request for a graduate application fee waiver by contacting Graduate Admissions. All fee waiver requests are subject to approval by Graduate Admissions and may be used to apply to a maximum of two fee waivers per year.

  • We do not offer any full-ride scholarships, but the Center for International Studies does offer several scholarships, as do the College of Liberal Arts, Graduate College, and Financial Aid and Scholarship Office. Please note that to qualify for some larger scholarships, international students must apply by the priority deadline. 

    Many of our students also take part in graduate assistantships on campus for additional financial support. GA/IA/TA positions with the Department of Political Science or Department of History are probably the most popular among our students, but you would have options available in several other departments as well. 

    Each Department will offer their own assistantships and you will apply directly with their department. In addition to assistantship positions, Texas State also offers numerous other on-campus job opportunities. 

  • The thesis path is highly recommend for students who are interested in pursuing careers in academia, public or foreign policy, think tanks, or other research-heavy fields. 

    The non-thesis path is more applicable to students who do more hands-on work in fields such as non-profit administration, non-governmental organizations (not specific to policy), business, and more. 

    If you aren't sure which path is right for you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We can provide personalized recommendations based on your skills and career path. 

  • Applicants are required to submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), TOEFL Essentials, PTE, Duolingo, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam scores unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

    You'll find the required admissions scores list here. 

  • Official GRE (general test only) scores are not required unless you have a 2.8 - 2.99 overall GPA or a 2.8 - 2.99 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses). 

    If your GPA is a 3.00 or higher in your last 60 hours, you do not need to take the GRE.