Major Concentrations
Given the enormous range of potential careers in the international arena, flexibility is key. All students are expected to select a major concentration from the five core areas: Diplomacy, International Commerce, International Security, Development (which includes International Organizations) and Intelligence. Specific course requirements within these concentrations (detailed below) are minimal, enabling students to take a wide variety of electives as long as at least one-half of the required 30 credit hours are in 600 to 700 level courses. Students should work closely with their academic advisor to fashion a precise plan of study that provides essential skills and training, while matching personal interests and goals. Following are examples of course combinations which have been selected by Patterson School students in the last few years. A more complete listing of possible courses may be found in the Graduate School Program and University Bulletin.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy studies prepare students for careers with the U.S. or other diplomatic services, international development organizations, Congress, and non-governmental organizations. Career opportunities also can be found in regional, State, Provincial, or local government, research entities and private foundations. Each of these endeavors requires strong negotiating, writing, presentation and analytical skills. These skills are similarly sought after in the private sector.
Required: DIP 700 Dynamics of Diplomacy, DIP 777
Other Possibilities (not limiting):
- DIP 600D Mediation and Conflict Resolution
- AEC 626 Agriculture and Economic Development
- DIP 720 Economic Statecraft
- DIP 725 Geopolitical Modeling
- DIP 730 Cross-Cultural Negotiation and Bargaining
- DIP 750 Defense Statecraft
- DIP 755 Politics and Diplomacy of the Middle East
- GS 600 Media and Other Non-traditional Actors
- HIS 575 Diplomacy and Foreign Policy of the United States Since 1919
- LAW 925 International Law
- PS 431G Conduct of American Foreign Relations
- PS 437G Dynamics of International Law
- PS 674 Theories of International Politics
- PS 730 American Foreign Policy
- PS 737 Transnational Organizations and Processes
International Commerce
The concentration in International Commerce prepares students for careers in both the public and private sectors. Most public sector careers involve maintaining and improving the framework through which private international commercial activity takes place. This includes economic policy, economic modeling, international trade policy, trade agreement enforcement, regulatory enforcement and business promotion, and commercial advocacy. Private sector opportunities are countless and varied. Patterson School graduates are employed today by global companies, large and small, working in global management, sales, operations, supply chain management, communications, technology, and customer service.
Required: DIP 720 Economic Statecraft, DIP 777
Other Possibilities (not limiting):
- DIP 600E International Trade Policy and Practice
- AEC 610 International Trade in Agricultural Products
- AEC 645 Natural Resource Economics
- BA 610 Global Business Management
- DIP 725 Geopolitical Modeling
- DIP 730 Cross Cultural Negotiation
- DIP 740 Globalization
- ECO 465G Comparative Economic Systems
- ECO 473G Economic Development
- ECO 670 International Financial Institutions
- ECO 672 World Trade and Commercial Policy
- GS 600 Issues in Applied Economic Intelligence
- MGT 608 Comparative International Management
- MKT 624 International Marketing Management
- PS 433G Politics of International Economic Relations
- PS 733 International Political Economy
International Security
Security careers are broad and expanding rapidly. In today’s heightened security environment, there are numerous career opportunities in this field in both the public and private sector. In the public sector, increased growth in the armed forces, Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and other security agencies worldwide has created a favorable environment for International Security majors. Similarly, the private sector, in part due to increased privitization and public funding, is rapidly expanding. Keen analytical skills top the list of core competencies in this field. Language skills – particularly in Arabic, Chinese, and many other languages – help set top career candidates apart.
Required: DIP 600A National Security, DIP 777
Other Possibilities (not limiting):
- DIP 600B East Asian Security
- DIP 600C European Security
- DIP 700 Dynamics of Diplomacy
- DIP 725 Geopolitical Modeling
- DIP 750 Defense Statecraft
- GS 600 Issues in Applied Economic Intelligence
- PS 431G Conduct of American Foreign Relations
Courses covering specific geographic regions drawn from the following departments:
History
Political Science
Anthropology
Geography
Development/International Organization
International Development includes the study of economic development as taught in Economics, with courses designed to focus on a particular facet of development like agricultural or social development drawn from different disciplines. Students often combine the study of development either with International Commerce (trade and economic statecraft) or International Organizations (institutions where development is practiced). Students are also encouraged to develop a geographic specialty—generally Latin America, Africa, or South Asia—and to pursue an internship in a developing country.
International Organizations includes the study of various kinds of institutions from inter-governmental and regional organizations like the United Nations and the European Union, to non-governmental organizations, including both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Students often combine the study of International Organizations with an emphasis in a substantive issue area like international development, human rights, or the environment.
Careers include development work in either the public, (Peace Corps, USAID), or private, sectors (the Open Society Institute, the World Vision), as well as international organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, or the International Development Banks.
Required: PS 737, DIP 777, plus either DIP 700 or DIP 720
Other Possibilities (not limiting):
- AEC 532 Agriculture and Food Policy
- AEC 626 Agriculture and Economic Development
- ANT 646 Global Health
- ANT 637 Socio/Cult Dimensions of Economic Dev.
- DIP 600H Africa Development Challenges
- DIP 700 Dynamics of Diplomacy
- DIP 720 Economic Statecraft
- DIP 730 Cross Cultural Negotiation
- ECO 473G Economic Development
- ECO 670 International Financial Institutions
- ECO 672 World Trade and Commercial Policy
- GEO 542 Political Geography
- GS 600 Media and Other Non-Traditional Actors
- LAW 824 Alternative Dispute Resolution
- LAW 925 International Law
- PS 437G Dynamics of International Law
- PS 738 Politics of Economic Development
- SOC 640 Science, Agriculture, and Development
Intelligence
In the post 9/11 era, careers opportunities in intelligence have expanded in number and scope. Globally governments are investing more public resources in both human- and technology-based intelligence resources. Outstanding language, technical, and analytical skills are critically important in developing a successful career in the intelligence field.
Required: DIP 600 International Intelligence, DIP 777
Other Possibilities (not limiting):
- DIP 600A International Security
- DIP 700 Dynamics of Diplomacy
- DIP 750 Defense Statecraft
- DIP 725 Geopolitical Modeling
- GS 600 Issues in Applied Economic Intelligence
- PS 430G National Security Policy
- PS 431G Conduct of American Foreign Relations
Courses covering specific geographic regions drawn from the following departments:
History
Political Science
Anthropology
Geography
Minor Concentrations
9 credit hours or more are needed to establish a minor concentration.
If you minor in a major concentration area, you must take the following (plus two other courses):
- Dynamics of Diplomacy DIP 700
- International Commerce: either DIP 720 or DIP 740
- International Security: DIP 600A
- Development/International Organization PS 737
- Intelligence: DIP 600G ational Intelligence
Students may minor in other, more specialized areas as well. In these cases, your schedule should be worked out with your advisor. Some notional suggestions are listed below:
Agricultural Economics Minor
- AEC 532 Agriculture and Food Policy
- AEC 626 Agriculture & Economic Development
- AEC 610 International Trade in Agricultural Products
Anthropology Minor
- ANT 580 Topics in Anthropology
- ANT 637 Socio/Cult Dimensions of Economic Dev.
- ANT 640 Science, Agriculture, and Development
- ANT 646 Global Health
- DIP 730 Cross Cultural Negotiation
Banking Minor
- ECO 670 International Financial Institutions
- FIN 585 Bank Management
- FIN 623 International Financial Management
Communications Minor
- GS 600 Media and Other Non-Traditional Actors
- CJT 619 Proseminar in International Communications
- CJT 719 International/Intercultural Com
- CJT 730 Seminar in Mass Media/Public Policy
- DIP 730 Cross Cultural Negotiation
International Economics Minor
- DIP 720 Economic Statecraft
- ECO 465G Comparative Economic Systems
- ECO 652 Public Policy Economics
- ECO 672 World Trade and Commercial Policy
Geography Minor
- GEO 542 Political Geography
- GEO 565 Topics in Geography
- GEO 702 Concepts in Geography
- GEO 713 Economic Geography
Geographic Regions Minor
Courses covering specific geographic regions drawn from the following departments:
- History
- Political Science
- Anthropology
- Geography