Learning Goals

General Subject Knowledge

  • Understanding of historical and contemporary schools of thought in International Relations.
  • Ability to apply IR theories to explain international policy decisions and outcomes.
  • Ability to analyze how international institutions, norms and structures of governance affect and shape global, international, regional and domestic policy.
  • Knowledge of contemporary global issues, including trade, development, human rights, security and the environment.

Professional Skills

  • Ability to form, work in and lead a team towards the completion of a common project.
  • Ability to synthesize complex ideas.
  • Written communication skills.
  • Ability to present orally, argue and debate.
  • Ability to understand and use the concepts and language of international economics.
  • Ability to grasp and utilize the concepts and structure of research design.
  • Ability to use basic tools of data generation, including archival and survey research, interviewing, case studies directed studies.
  • Ability to produce and interpret statistical analysis of policy-relevant data.
  • Comprehend the multi-level institutional arenas in which policy analysis takes place: multilateral, regional, national, local.
  • Competence in the writing of policy memos and other professional writing instruments.
  • Competence in executing policy analysis individually and collectively, through team work.
  • Grasp the concept and practice of intercultural competence.

Language Competencies

  • Ability to understand complex communication in target language.
  • Ability to convey complex ideas in writing in target language, particularly in field of professional expertise.
  • Ability to convey complex ideas verbally in target language, particularly in field of professional expertise.

Specific Subject Knowledge

Concentration in International Trade Policy

  • Knowledge of legal frameworks/Institutions governing the conduct of international trade.
  • Knowledge of salient issues in the current international trade environment, e.g., environmental, labor, intellectual property effects of trade policies.
  • Ability to analyze trade issues in one or more countries/regions or sectors (e.g., US-Mexico, Asia, or services, high tech, etc.).
  • Ability to analyze economic benefits and costs of trade policy alternatives, and the stakeholders enjoying or suffering them.
  • Ability to analyze linkages between trade policy and various dimensions of economic development.
  • Understanding of institutional dynamics and skills required in the making of trade policy at national and global levels.

Concentration in International Conflict Resolution

  • Develop foundation in theory of interest-based negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution.
  • Develop foundation in skills and professional practice of negotiation and mediation.
  • Knowledge of cross-cultural, language, and gender variants in international negotiation and conflict resolution.
  • Ability to analyze interests as motivators in international negotiation and decision-making.
  • Ability to analyze the nature, history, and dynamics of international conflict including role of third party actors, and economic, political, and social determinants.
  • Ability to analyze Institutional dynamics and skills required to influence decision makers, constituent parties, and third party actors in negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution processes.
  • Development of negotiation and mediation strategy including stakeholder analysis.
  • Utilize the principles of interest-based negotiation to resolve disputes/ reach agreements including team building, negotiation and mediation skills (at the table), implementation protocols.
  • Development of effective cross-cultural communication skills and Work with Interpreters in Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpretation.

Concentration in International Development Policy

  • Knowledge of development theories and issues.
  • Knowledge of major development frameworks, conventions and norms.
  • Ability to conduct situation analysis, design, manage, implement, monitor and evaluate development programs; secure financial support for development initiatives.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and in ways that minimize cross-cultural barriers; resolve conflict through mutually beneficial negotiations; foster effective partnerships that build social capital; etc.