MIP Academic Policies

Graduate Degrees lists the university’s general requirements, applicable to all graduate degrees at Stanford. Review university requirements and policies carefully. In addition, the MIP-specific academic policies are listed below.

Degree Progress and Academic Standing

MIP students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to maintain good academic standing. Similarly, a 3.0 cumulative GPA is required to confer the MA degree. Failure to remain in good academic standing, either due to falling below the 3.0 GPA threshold or not making sufficient degree progress, will result in being placed on academic probation (which could ultimately result in dismissal from the university). Students should always proactively seek guidance from the MIP Assistant Director for Academic and Student Affairs if they find themselves in this situation.

Please review the details on Minimum Progress Requirements for Graduate Students.

Grade Policies

Students should familiarize themselves with the General University Grading Systems.

Students must take the following courses for a letter grade:

• MIP Core Courses (except INTLPOL 300A which is only offered as Satisfactory/No Credit)

• MIP Capstone Courses (except INTLPOL 310A, which is only offered as Satisfactory/No Credit)

• MIP Subplan Required Courses

Students may apply up to 10 pass/fail units toward the Subplan Electives and Customized Electives. (Note: This is a combined total).

• The 10-unit limit includes pass/fail courses taken at the: Graduate School of Business; School of Earth, Energy, and Environmental Science; School of Education; School of Engineering; School of Medicine; School of Sustainability; and School of Humanities and Sciences. This also includes Law School courses taken as: Mandatory Pass/Restricted Credit/Fail.

Questions about grading policies or systems should be directed to MIP.

Incomplete (I) Grade

Students who receive an incomplete grade (denoted as “I”) must complete the course on a shorter timeline than university policy. The following completion schedule applies:

• Autumn and winter quarters: Incomplete grades must be completed no later than June 30 of the same academic year. 

• Spring quarter: Incomplete grades must be completed no later than August 30 of the same academic year.

• Summer quarter: Incomplete grades must be completed no later than December 30 of the same calendar year.

Students are also responsible for coordinating the course completion with the instructor(s) and keeping the MIP Assistant Director for Academic and Student Affairs apprised of progress.

Students who have three or more incomplete grades (denoted as I) or who have incomplete grades in multiple quarters will be placed on academic probation unless there is a rationale due to personal or health reasons that is accompanied by documentation from Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of Accessible Education, or Vaden Health Center.  

Courses Policies

A maximum of 12 undergraduate units (i.e., courses numbered 100-199) can be applied toward the MA degree. The exceptions are History and Political Science, which list undergraduate courses from 100-299. Per university policy, courses numbered below 100 do not count toward graduate degrees. Accordingly, activity courses (e.g., Tennis, Weightlifting), performance and visual arts courses (e.g., Piano, Studio Arts, Dance), and WELLNESS courses do not apply toward the MIP degree requirements. See below for similar limitations on English proficiency courses.

Language Courses

Units from language courses may only be applied toward the Customized Electives requirement. Since students cannot apply language courses below the 100-level towards the MIP degree requirements, they should discuss options with the Stanford Language Center, including enrolling in a graduate-level section with the course number 395 (e.g., course).

English proficiency courses for international students do not count towards the MIP degree requirements. 

Students should also confirm their language course enrollment with the MIP Assistant Director for Academic and Student Affairs before the Final Study List deadline for a given quarter.  

Directed Readings

Directed reading is an independent study arranged with the guidance and oversight of a Stanford instructor. See Explore Courses, the Stanford Bulletin, and the MIP website for full details.

Students may arrange a directed reading course to be applied toward the subplan or Customized Electives if the current course offerings do not meet particular research or study needs. 

There are important restrictions for directed readings:

• Students can apply a maximum of 15 units of directed reading toward the MIP degree requirements

• This includes a maximum of 10 units that can be applied toward the subplan

• The balance can also be applied toward the Customized Electives

• Students may receive up to five units per directed reading course

• Students must receive a letter grade for the directed reading

One must submit a Directed Reading Proposal for review by the MIP Assistant Director for Academic and Student Affairs. The proposal must include the topic, plan for research or course of study, and assignments/deliverables for the course. 

If approved, MIP will create a section of INTLPOL 299 for the specific instructor so that the student(s) can enroll in the course. The course will be listed as INTLPOL 299: Directed Reading, and the section number will correspond to the instructor (e.g., INTLPOL 299 - 02 (Stoner, Kathryn)). 

The proposal must be submitted to the MIP Assistant Director for Academic and Student Affairs no later than the second Friday of the academic quarter in which one plans to enroll in the course. MIP will review the directed reading proposal and render a decision no later than two days before the Final Study List Deadline.

Practical Training

Students may obtain an internship in a relevant research or industrial activity to enhance their professional experience consistent with their degree program and subplan. Up to three units of practical training may only be applied toward the Customized Electives. The course number for the academic year (autumn, winter, spring) is course: Practical Training. The course number for summer quarter is course: Practical Training. Both courses meet the requirement for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for students on F-1 visas.

Those who need to enroll in a curricular practical training course as part of the internship may apply by submitting the MIP CPT Proposal on the program website no later than the second Friday of the academic quarter in which they are enrolling. 

For comprehensive details, please visit the MIP website and Student Handbook.

Graduate Student Milestones

Program Proposal

Students must submit a MIP Master’s Degree Program Proposal during spring quarter of the first year of study. Submission of the Program Proposal requires scheduling a 30-minute advising session with the MIP Academic Services Team to review degree progress during the first year and outline coursework that must be completed in future quarters to graduate. The university requires students to have a program proposal on file with the degree program. Failure to complete this milestone will result in an enrollment hold being placed on the student’s account. Please see the Graduate Advising page for additional details.

Graduation Program Proposal

Students must submit a second MIP Graduate Program Proposal before or during the quarter they have applied to graduate. The proposal submission deadline is the second week of the intended graduation quarter. Failure to submit this milestone will result in the denial of the application to graduate. See Graduate Advising Expectations on this website for additional details. 

Joint Degree Programs

Up to a maximum of 45 units, or one year, of the university residency requirement can be credited toward both graduate degree programs (i.e., the joint degree may require up to 45 fewer units than the sum of the individual degree unit requirements). For example, an MA/MPP requires a three-year residency, one year less than required for the separate degrees. The reduced requirement recognizes the subject matter overlap between the fields comprising the joint degree.

Juris Doctor and Master of Arts in International Policy (JD/MA)

Students may choose to pursue a joint JD/MA in International Policy. The joint degree program combines the strengths of the Law School and MIP.

Academic Policies

The joint JD requires 111 units, and the MA in International Policy requires 54 units. Joint students must complete the MIP core curriculum (27 units), subplan (18 units), and capstone (9 units). 

Students who originate their studies at the Stanford Law School may complete the required statistics sequence in Law instead of the INTLPOL sequence, although it is not advisable. Note that there is generally one statistics course in Law instead of the two-course sequence in INTLPOL, which does not sufficiently cover topics important for the MIP capstone course. Students who proceed with this option may be at a disadvantage, and approval from MIP is required to pursue this option. Any additional units that students need to complete as a result of completing the Law statistics course would move to the subplan. Additionally, customized electives are not required for joint JD students who first enroll at the Law School; in some instances, they may not be required for students who first enroll in MIP.  

How to Apply

For details on how to apply, see the admissions Information within the International Policy section of the Bulletin.

Master of Public Policy and Master of Arts in International Policy (MPP/MA)

The MPP/MA in International Policy joint degree program allows students to pursue study in both the Public Policy and International Policy (MIP) programs in three academic years of residence. Students participating in this program gain in-depth knowledge of international and domestic policy issues.

Academic Policies

Joint students must complete 90 units for the MPP and 80 units for the MA in International Policy. Up to a maximum of 45 units, or one year, of the university residency requirement can be credited toward both graduate degree programs (i.e., the joint degree requirements may contain up to 45 units less than the sum of the individual degree unit requirements). The MPP/MA in International Policy has a three-year residency requirement, one year less than the sum of the requirements for the separate degrees. 

The Public Policy Program encourages an intellectual, professional, and social community among its students. For this reason, joint degree students are strongly encouraged to devote one year of full-time study at Stanford entirely to the Public Policy Program rather than spacing out Public Policy courses throughout their graduate careers. 

How to Apply

See the admissions Information within the International Policy section for details on how to apply.

Dual Degree Programs

Students who have attended Stanford for at least one term and are currently enrolled may apply to add a second-degree program. The first step in the process includes consulting with the primary and secondary degree programs to which the student is considering applying. Application requirements and deadlines vary by the graduate program. If a student is admitted to a secondary (i.e., dual) degree program, they must submit a Graduate Program Authorization Petition via Axess to add the new degree program that will be pursued concurrently with the existing program. The petition will be reviewed by each degree program and the Bechtel International Center (for international students). 

It is essential that the attempt to add degree programs be made while a student is enrolled. Otherwise, a new Application for Graduate Admission must be submitted, and an application fee must be paid. Similarly, enrollment must be continuous if a new degree program is added after the completion of an existing program. Summer quarter enrollment is optional for students who intend to begin a new degree program in autumn quarter, provided that they have been enrolled the prior spring quarter.

MIP offers two dual degree programs with a more formalized course of study.

Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in International Policy (MBA/MA)

Students may choose to pursue a dual MBA/MA in International Policy. The dual degree is designed for students who want to work at the intersection of business and the state in the U.S. and abroad. Prospective students interested in this dual degree program may apply concurrently to the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the MIP program. Two separate applications are required, and applicants must submit the appropriate standardized test scores to each program. 

Academic Policies 

Completing this combined course of study requires approximately three academic years, depending on the student’s background and quantitative preparation. Admissions processes for both programs are completely independent, and units from courses can only be applied to one degree or the other, not both. Students enrolled in this dual degree program must complete 90 units for the MBA and 54 units for the MA in International Policy. Contact the MBA Program office and MIP Assistant Director for Academic and Student Affairs for details.

How to Apply

See the admissions Information within the International Policy section for details on how to apply.

Master of Science in Environment and Resources and Master of Arts in International Policy (MS/MA)

The dual degree with the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER) allows MIP students to deepen their understanding of the science, technology, and engineering underlying environmental problems. This understanding, integrated with their professional education in International Policy, provides a unique lens for future leaders and innovators to influence and solve the world’s most challenging environmental and sustainability problems.   

Academic Policies

For the dual degree, students must meet the university’s minimum requirements for their MA degree and complete an additional 45 units for the MS in Environment and Resources. Completing the MS typically requires at least three quarters of study in addition to the time needed for the student’s MA degree.

How to Apply

See the admissions Information within the International Policy section for details on how to apply.

Coterminal Master’s Program

Undergraduates at Stanford may apply for admission to the coterminal master’s program in International Policy when they have earned a minimum of 120 units toward graduation, including Advanced Placement and transfer credit, and no later than the quarter before the expected completion of their undergraduate degree. MIP has one application deadline per year in early January for matriculation in autumn quarter of the same calendar year.  

MIP Coterm Degree Requirements

To earn the MA in International Policy, coterm students matriculating in autumn quarter must complete the courses listed in the curriculum below. These requirements include:

• Core courses (27 units)

• Subplan (20 units), including:

  • Two required courses

  • Three or more additional courses (see the subplan Elective Courses list above for approved options)

• Customized Electives (14 units)

• Capstone courses (9 units)

The minimum number of units required for a coterm in MIP to graduate is 70.

How to Apply

See the admissions Information within the International Policy section for details on how to apply.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this Bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the Coterminal Master’s Program section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the Graduate Degrees section.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request a transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree. Transferring courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case-by-case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken three quarters before the first graduate quarter or later are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career. No courses taken before the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The university requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The university also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

Exchange Program

Stanford MIP-Vienna School of International Studies Academic Exchange

The Stanford MIP-Vienna School of International Studies Academic Exchange is an autumn quarter exchange program between the Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy and the Diplomatische Akademie Wien – Vienna School of International Studies (DA). Two second-year students from each institution are selected by application to receive fellowships to spend autumn quarter in an academic exchange at the other institution where they take courses as full-time students, pursue extracurricular activities, and participate in the academic life of the host institution.

MIP students participating in the exchange program must complete all requirements listed in the MA curriculum. However, the minimum number of Stanford units required to graduate will be 65. In addition to the minimum requirement of 65 units, students must complete, at minimum, the equivalent of 15 units (4 or more full-time courses) at the DA. MIP students selected for the exchange must submit their list of chosen DA courses to the MIP academic services team for approval no later than the end of the first week of classes in autumn.

Students considering applying to the academic exchange program should assess how the courses taken at the DA will fit into their degree requirements. They should also consider the impact of spending one quarter away from Stanford.

While on exchange at the DA, MIP students’ status will be listed as active, but they are not considered enrolled at Stanford. In addition, MIP students receive an academic transcript from the DA for autumn quarter. Hence, there is no reference to the exchange on the Stanford transcript.

For further information, please see the Stanford-Vienna Academic Exchange section of the MIP website.