Human Security & Development
The Human Security and Development track is designed to build an understanding of the root causes of violence and conflict, promoting ideas and policies to create change through economic, political, and social development.
The Human Security and Development Track prepares students for careers that require a holistic and integrated understanding of the linkages between human security and development. It equips students with analytical and applied skills through coursework and immersive learning opportunities in regions of the world that are experiencing barriers to development or are facing conflict, violence, and other threats to human security.
Students examine a diverse set of topics including human rights, human security, development, international politics, violence prevention, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, migration, gender issues, and domestic, regional and global institutions. In addition to gaining a critical understanding of these topics, students become adept in negotiation, mediation, and other conflict resolution skills.
International Policy Studies graduates of the Human Security & Development Track launch careers in a variety of exciting organizations including local and international NGOs, government agencies, the United Nations, policy think tanks, research institutions, justice systems, and the private sector.
MA in International Policy Studies
Human Security & Development Track Requirements (60 credits required)
The Human Security and Development track provides students with a foundation of policy analysis, economics, and global politics, and expands students’ competencies with introductory and advanced coursework. In addition, students are encouraged to gain professional development experience in negotiation, conflict resolution, peace building, human rights, migration and other relevant areas.
Core Requirements (16 credits)
- IPOL 8501 Policy Analysis (4 credits)
- IPOL 8505 Global Politics (4 credits)
- Economics (4 credits) - IPOL 8520 International Economics or IPOL 8551 Development Economics
- IPOL 8529 Development Theory & Practice, OR IPOL 8511 Intro to Conflict Resolution, OR Human Rights & Human Security (4 credits)
Seminars (12 credits)
In addition to the required courses outlined on your degree map, you are required to take 3 advanced Human Security and Development Seminars from the list** below. Contact your assigned Academic Advisor for more information.
- IPOL 8602 - SEM: Latin American Development Challenges & Public Policy (4)
- IPOL 8611 - SEM: Armed Violence & Development (4)*
- IPOL 8612 - SEM: Challenges to Peacebuilding: Nepal (4)*
- IPOL 8616 - SEM: Environmental Conflict Management (4)
- IPOL 8617 - SEM: Partner with Business for Sustainable Development (4)*
- IPOL 8620 - SEM: Gender and Development (4)
- IPOL 8621 - SEM: Climate and Security (4)
- IPOL 8623 - SEM: Business Models for Sustainable Development (4)
- IPOL 8628 - SEM: International Migration, Security and Human Rights (4)
- IPOL 8634 - SEM: Security, Justice and Development (4)
- IPOL 8640 - SEM: Comparative Migration Analysis (4)*
- IPOL 8647 - SEM: US Mexico Relations (4)
- IPOL 8648 - SEM: Global Economic and Environmental Governance (4)
- IPOL 8650 - SEM: Human Rights Impact Assessment (4)*
- IPOL 8671 - SEM: Paradigm Shift: Security, Development & Human Rights (4)*
- IPOL 8672 - SEM: Transitional Injustice: Chile (4)*
- IPOL 8679 - SEM: Conflict and Peacebuilding in Divided Societies (4)*
- IPOL 8682 - SEM: Non-State Armed Groups and Conflict Resolution (4)
- IPOL 8688 - SEM: Western Hemisphere Politics and Policymaking (4)*
- IPOL 8690 - SEM: Charismatic Leadership in the 21st Century (4)
Culminating Experience (6 to 12 credits)
The Culminating Experience connects practical, professional experience to the academic curriculum. Students demonstrate that they have mastered concepts and skills gained in the classroom by applying them in a professional setting and reflecting on their experiences via projects and research papers in advanced courses.
Students may fulfill the Culminating Experience requirement through the following opportunities:
- International Professional Service Semester
- Development Project Management Institute Practicum
- Winter term practica
- Frontier Market Scouts Practicum
- International Internships
- Graduate Research Assistantships
For more ideas on how to fulfill this requirement, please visit the Monterey Abroad section or contact your Academic Advisor.
Electives (up to 14 credits, with at least 8 credits from this list of approved electives)
Select 14 credits with at least 8 credits from the list** of approved electives. Contact your assigned Academic Advisor for more information.
Approved Electives:
Seminars:
- IPOL 8602 - SEM: Latin American Development Challenges & Public Policy (4)
- IPOL 8611 - SEM: Armed Violence & Development (4)*
- IPOL 8612 - SEM: Challenges to Peacebuilding: Nepal (4)*
- IPOL 8616 - SEM: Environmental Conflict Management (4)
- IPOL 8617 - SEM: Partner with Business for Sustainable Development (4)*
- IPOL 8620 - SEM: Gender and Development (4)
- IPOL 8621 - SEM: Climate and Security (4)
- IPOL 8623 - SEM: Business Models for Sustainable Development (4)
- IPOL 8628 - SEM: International Migration, Security and Human Rights (4)
- IPOL 8634 - SEM: Security, Justice and Development (4)
- IPOL 8640 - SEM: Comparative Migration Analysis (4)*
- IPOL 8647 - SEM: US Mexico Relations (4)
- IPOL 8648 - SEM: Global Economic and Environmental Governance (4)
- IPOL 8650 - SEM: Human Rights Impact Assessment (4)*
- IPOL 8671 - SEM: Paradigm Shift: Security, Development & Human Rights (4)*
- IPOL 8672 - SEM: Transitional Injustice: Chile (4)*
- IPOL 8679 - SEM: Conflict and Peacebuilding in Divided Societies (4)*
- IPOL 8682 - SEM: Non-State Armed Groups and Conflict Resolution (4)
- IPOL 8688 - SEM: Western Hemisphere Politics and Policymaking (4)*
- IPOL 8690 - SEM: Charismatic Leadership in the 21st Century (4)
Courses
- IPOL 8504 - Data Analysis (4)*
- IPOL 8508 - Improving Government Effectiveness: Cross-cultural Perspectives (2)
- IPOL 8509 - Intro to International Negotiations (4)
- IPOL 8518 - Women's Human Rights: Cross-cultural (4)
- IPOL 8529 - Development Theory and Practice (4)*
- IPOL 8538 - Political Violence in the Middle East (4)
- IPOL 8540 - Social Sector Needs Assessment (4)*
- IPOL 8544 - Intro to Human Security and Development (4)*
- IPOL 8551 - Development Economics (4)*
- IPOL 8559 - Science and Technology for NPTS (4)*
- IPOL 8562 - Human Security Issues (2)*
- IPOL 8574 - Intro to WMD Nonproliferation (4)*
- IPOL 8576 - Peacemaking & the Environment (2)*
- IPOL 8578 - Women in War (2)
- IPOL 8579 - The China Factor (4)
- IPOL 8584 - Introduction to Terrorism (4)*
- IPOL 8585 - International Organizations (4)
- IPOL 8588 - Water and Conflict (2)*
- IPOL 8589 - Immigration Issues US-Latin America (In Spanish) (4)*
- IPOL 8593 - GP&S Colloquium: Emerging Markets (2 or 4 credits)*
- JALA 8499 - Special Topic: Human Security Issues in Japan (In Japanese) (2)*
- DPMI 8698 A - DPMI Directed Study Certificate Program (3)*
- DPMI 8698 B - DPMI Directed Study Certificate Program (3)*
Workshops:
- WKSH 8549 - Human Trafficking (1)*
- WKSH 8556 - Intro to Mediation Training Workshop
- WKSH 8567 - Grants and Contracts for International Development (1)*
*Spring 2012 Semester Course Electives
**Please note that this is a list of courses offered during the 2011-12 academic year. Course offerings will vary by semester.
Language Component (12 credits)
Students must complete at least 12 credits of their degree in one language at the 300-level or above (200 level or above for Arabic or Spanish). Please review our language proficiency requirements for more details about this component of your degree.
