Master of Arts
International Affairs
International Affairs

Major Fields

Major fields in the International Affairs program consist of at least four courses selected from one of the following global issues or regional areas. Students are encouraged to discuss these choices with their respective major field faculty advisors. Any Special Topics courses included on the lists below may vary each semester.

Global Issues Major Fields

CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Required Course:
IAff 282 Intro to Conflict Resolution
Supporting Courses:
Anth 250 Nationalism and Contemporary Problems
Anth 251 Anthropology and Contemporary Problems
Geog 224 Political Geography
IAff 207 Theory and Practice of International Negotiation
IAff 218* Special Topics in Intl Affairs: Nation Building: Theory and Practice
IAff 218* Special Topics in Intl Affairs: Reinventing the United Nations
IAff 238* Special Topics in IDS: Food, Globalization, and Conflict
IAff 238 Culture, Violence, and Conflict Resolution
IAff 266 The Military and Post-conflict Intervention
IAff 283 Conflict Mitigation and Resolution in Africa
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Conflict Resolution in Divided Societies
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Global Security and US Hegemony
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Post Conflict Reconstruction
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Responses to Terrorism
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: War and Conflict in Africa
Mgt 215 Conflict Management and Negotiations
PPsy 205 Political Violence and Terrorism
PSc 242 Politics of International Institutions
PSc 244 Politics of International Law
PSc 249 International Security Politics
PSc 251 Civil–Military Relations
PSc 276 The Arab–Israeli Conflict
PSc 289 Ethnic Conflict
PSc 289 Major Wars: Theoretical Perspectives
Law School Relevant courses in the GW Law School** (maximum two courses; requires permission from the Law School dean of students).
Oxford: Courses in the GW/Oxford Annual Program in International Human Rights (maximum two courses).

* Other Special Topics courses (IAff 218, 238, 258, 308, 318, 328, 338, 358), may, with permission of the major field faculty advisor, be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

** Students may, with permission of their advisor, include courses in the GW Law School in their major field. Enrolling in a law school course also requires permission of the Law School dean of students. Students should consult the Elliott School Academic Advising & Student Services office before enrolling in Law School courses.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT


Choose one course from the following:
Anth 223 Research Methods in Development
Econ/ Geog/ Stat 291 Methods in Demographic Analysis
Soc 230 Sociological Research Methods
Soc 232 Qualitative Methods: Doing Field Research
PAd 202 Research Methods and Applied Statistics
PAd 206 Policy Analysis and Evaluation
PAd 264 Public Program Evaluation

Students select a concentration from below and choose three courses listed for that concentration:

Culture, Society and Development
Anth 220 Anthropology of Development
Anth 221 Key Variables in the Development Process
Anth 222 Issues in Development (Topics vary)
Anth 237 Ethics and Cultural Property Rights
Anth 250 Nationalism and Ethnicity
Anth 251 Refugees and Displaced People (Topics vary)
Anth 254 Medical Anthropology
Anth 257 Gender and Sexuality
Anth 259 Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
Anth 272 Anthropology of Latin America
Geog 223 Population and Health
IAff 334 Indigenous Social Movements
Soc 246 Comparative Race and Ethnicity
Soc 273 The Sex Industry

Economic Development Policy

Econ 221 Economics of Policy Analysis
Econ 237 Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
Econ 248 Health Economics
Econ 269 - 270 Economy of China
Econ 271 Economy of Japan
Econ 283 Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy
Econ 284 Survey of International Macroeconomic and Finance Theory and Policy
Econ 285 Economic Development of Latin America
Econ 358 Urban Economics
IAff 232 US Development: Aid and Trade Policies
IAff 233 Assessing Aid Effectiveness
IAff 338 Political Economy in Latin America

Humanitarian Assistance

Anth 251 Refugees and Displace People
Anth 254 Medical Anthropology
EMSE 232 Crisis and Emergency Management
EMSE 238 Current Issues in Emergency and Crisis Management
EMSE 239 Health and Medical Issues in Emergency Management
Geog 224 Political Geography: Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
IAff 238 Humanitarian Assistance
IAff 238 Violence, Gender, Humanitarian Assistance
IAff 238 Fragile, and Transition States
IAff 238* Special Topics in IDS: Human Trafficking
IAff 238* Special Topics in IDS: International Law
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Africa
Law 540 Refugee and Asylum Law**
Law 572 International Rights of Women**

International Business

IBus 260 The New Global Competitive Framework
IBus 264 International Business Strategy
IBus 269 Managing in Developing Countries
IBus 271 International Business Finance
MBAd 240 The World Economy
Mgt 291 Entrepreneurship

International Development Management

IAff 226 NGOs and Development (Open only to IDS students during early registration; all others will be registered at the discretion of the professor )

The following PAD courses are limited to IDS students and PAD/PPOL students during early registration; open to all others on basis of availability after early registration:

PAD 217 International Development Administration**
PAD 218 International Development NGO Management**
PAD 219 International Development Management Processes and Tools**
PAD 253 Financial Management in State, Local, and Nonprofit Organizations
PAD 264 Public and Non-Profit Program Evaluation (Requires PAD 202 or equivalent statistics and research method course as a prerequisite)

International Education

Educ 201 International and Comparative Education
Educ 202 Regional Studies in International Education II (see various sections for specific topics)
Educ 203 Policies and Programs in International Education
Educ 204 Policy Issues in International Education: Developing Countries
Educ 228 Selected Topics in International Education (see various sections for specific topics)
Educ 285 Education and National Development

International Health

Anth 254 Medical Anthropology
EMSE 239 Health and Medical Issues in Emergency Management
Geog 223 Population and Health
IAff 238* Special Topics in IDS: HIV/AIDS and Development in Africa
PubH 202 Biostatistical Applications for Public Health
PubH 203 Principles and Practices of Epidemiology
PubH 321 Introduction to Global Health and Development
PubH 322 Comparative Global Health Systems
PubH 323 Global Health Economics and Finance
PubH 325 Global Health Policy Analysis
PubH 326 Global Health Program Management
PubH 327 Global Family Health
PubH 328 Global Health Program Development and Evaluation
PubH 329 Theories and Applications for Global Health Promotion
PubH 330 Qualitative Data Analysis
PubH 332 Regional Issues in Global Health and Development (five choices)
PubH 751 Social Marketing and Development and Evaluation

Natural Resources and the Environment

Econ 237 Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
EMSE 221 Environmental Management
Geog 207 Urban Planning and Development
Geog 222 Resources and the Environment
Geog 223 Population and Health
Geog 225 Transportation and Development
Geog 230 Environmental Issues in Development
Geog 244 Urban Environmental Policy
Geog 250 Geographical Perspectives on Development
Geog 261 Geographical Perspectives on Latin America
IAff 252 International Environmental Policy
Law 454 International Environmental Law**
PAD 265 Environmental Ethics
PAD 266 Environmental Policy
SMPP 210 Strategic Environmental Management

Political Science

IAff 238 State, Society, and Development in Africa
PSc 230 Comparative Government Politics
PSc 232 Communism and Democratization
PSc 234 Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective
PSc 235 The Politics of Industrialization
PSc 236 Political Economy of Developing Areas
PSc 237 Theories of Political Development
PSc 238 US Foreign Economic Policy
PSc 239 International Political Economy
PSc 242 Politics and Practice of International Institutions
PSc 273 The Political Economy of Asia
PSc 276 The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSc 283 Comparative Politics of Latin America
PSc 288 Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
PSc 770 Turbulence in World Politics (also listed as IAff 770)
PSc 772 The Dynamics of Globalization (also listed as IAff 772)

Women and Development

Anth 257 Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality
Geog 223 Population and Health
Law 572 International Rights of Women**
Soc 273 The Sex Industry
WStu 230 Global Feminisms
WStu 270 Global/Domestic Labor Studies
WStu 270 Global Islamic Feminisms
WStu 270 Women and Entrepreneurial Leadership
WStu 270 The Global Welfare State
WStu 270 Women, Development, and Rights


Students are encouraged to discuss these choices with their major field faculty advisor.

* Other Special Topics courses (IAff 218, 238, 258, 288, 308, 318, 328, 338, 358), may, with permission of the major field faculty advisor, be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

** Students may, with permission of their advisor, include courses in the GW Law School in their major field. Enrolling in a law school course also requires permission of the Law School dean of students. Students should consult the Elliott School Academic Advising & Student Services office before enrolling in Law School courses.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

  • Take Econ 283 *and* 284 to satisfy the core requirement for economics.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in introductory statistics. This statistics requirement can be met by having taken a satisfactory undergraduate course, an equivalent course at USDA or STAT 051, 053, 111 or IAff 212 at GW.
  • Complete 6 or 12 required credits for the major field from the Economics courses listed below. The remaining 6 credits can be from other departments.

Economics Courses (must complete two):

Econ 237 Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
Econ 250 Survey of Economic Development
Econ 255 Economics of Technological Change
Econ 269 Economy of the People's Republic of China
Econ 271 Economy of Japan
Econ 285 Economic Development of Latin America
Econ  295  Special Topics. The following courses may be taken for this field without prior approval:

Econ 295 Economic Analysis of International Trade Law
Econ 295 Industrial and Technology Policy in Developing Countries
Econ 295 Economics of the European Union
Econ 295 Economics of U.S. Trade Policy
Econ 295 Emerging Market Financial Crises

Other Econ 295 courses with international content may be applied towards the field with the approval of the major field faculty advisor.

Supporting courses (Maximum of two courses can be counted towards the field):

IAff 232 U.S Aid and Trade in the Developing World
IAff 328* Special Topics in Asian Studies: Political Economy of South Asia (does not count as one of the two required Economics courses)
IAff 338* Special Topics in Latin American & Hemispheric Studies: Political Economy of Latin America (does not count as one of the two required Economics courses)
IBus 260 The New Global Competitive Framework
IBus 263 Legal Aspects of International and Multinational Business
IBus 271 International Business Finance
IBus 273 Seminar: International Banking
IBus 275 External Development Financing
IBus 276 Seminar: International Financial Markets (pre-req: IBUS 271 or 273)
PSc 236 Political Economy of Developing Areas
PSc 239 International Political Economy

* Other Special Topics courses (IAff 218, 238, 258, 288, 308, 318, 328, 338, 358), may, with permission of the major field faculty advisor, be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

** Other International Businesses course can be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORGANIZATIONS

Econ 295 Economics of the European Union
IAff 207 Theory and Practice of International Negotiations
IAff 218* Special Topics in Intl Affairs: Reinventing the United Nations
Law 386** Foreign Relations and National Security Law
Law 520** International Law
Law 534** Law of the European Union
PSc 226 Politics and Organizations
PSc 239 International Political Economy
PSc 242 Politics and Practice of International Institutions
PSc 244 Politics of International Law
PSc 770 Turbulence in World Politics (also listed as IAff 770)

* Other Special Topics courses (IAff 218, 238, 258, 288, 308, 318, 328, 338, 358), may, with permission of the major field faculty advisor, be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

** Students may, with permission of their advisor, include courses in the GW Law School in their major field. Enrolling in a law school course also requires permission of the Law School dean of students. Students should consult the Elliott School Academic Advising & Student Services office before enrolling in Law School courses.

GLOBAL HEALTH

Required courses : (6 credits)
1. PubH 322 Introduction to Global Health and Development

2. PubH 332 Regional Issues in Global Health and Development.
Choose one: Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, or Islamic World.

Supporting courses : (6 credit units) choose two
Anth 222 Population Health and Development
Anth 254 Medical Anthropology
Anth 259 Refugees and Displaced Persons
Econ 248 Health Economics
Geog 223 Population and Health
PubH 322 Comparative Global Health Systems
PubH 325 Global Health Policy Analysis
PubH 326 Global Health Program Analysis
PubH 327 International Family Health
PubH 328 Global Health Program Development and Evaluation

* Other Special Topics courses (IAff 218, 238, 258, 288, 308, 318, 328, 338, 358 and others), may, with permission of the major field faculty advisor, be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES


Required course :
1. PSc 249 International Security Politics

Supporting courses: (choose three)
The following courses are grouped into issues areas to help guide students in choosing appropriate coursework; students do not necessarily need to select one concentration, however, what is important Is that there is a logic and believable narrative to their course choices. Students should consult their major field faculty advisor to help with this determination.

Transnational Security Issues

Anth 250 Nationalism and Contemporary Problems
Anth 251 Anthropology and Contemporary Problems
Geog 224 Political Geography
IAff 258 Special Topics: Space and National Security
IAff 271 Fundamentals of Intelligence
IAff 273 Issues in International Criminal Law
IAff 274 Globalization and national Security
IAff 275 Transnational Security Issues
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Homeland Security Policy
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Forward Engagement
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: International Organized Crime
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Gang Violence and Transnational Threats
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Global Security and US Hegemony
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Health and National Security
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Response to Terrorism
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Terrorism and US Foreign Policy
IAff 332 Drug Trafficking in the Americas
Law 552 Law of War**
PPsy 204 The Theory and Practice of International Negotiation
PPsy 205 Political Violence and Terrorism
PSc 242 Politics and Practice of International Institutions
PSc 770 Turbulence in World Politics (also listed as IAff 770)
PSc 772 The Dynamics of Globalization (also listed as IAff 772)

Intelligence

FORS 208 Forensics: Terrorism
GEOG 293 Military Geography
IAff 218 Understanding Political Islam
IAff 238* Special Topics in IDS: Human Trafficking
IAff 263 Defense Policy and Program Analysis I
IAff 264 Defense Policy and Program Analysis II
IAff 267 Weapons Proliferation and Nonproliferation
IAff 271 Fundamentals of Intelligence
IAff 275 Transnational Security Issues
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Health and National Security
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Defense Trade in the 21 st Century
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Drug Trafficking in the Americas
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Energy and National Security
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Global Terrorism
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: International Organized Crime
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: International Law and Transnational Threats
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Responses to Terrorism

U.S. National Security Policy and Process

HIST 282 History of US Foreign Policy, 1775-1975
IAff 206 Secretaries of State
IAff 262 National Security Resources
IAff 271 Fundamentals of Intelligence
IAff 274 Globalization and national Security
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Covert Action and National Security
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Democracies and Intelligence
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Energy and National Security
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Strategic Planning for the 21 st Century
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Terrorism and US Foreign Policy
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Global Security and US Hegemony
IAff 371 U.S. Foreign Policy Summer Institute

LAW 386 Foreign Relations and National Security Law**
PSc 246 US Foreign Policy
PSc 248 Politics of US National Security Policy
PSc 257 U.S. National Security Policy Making

Political Psychology

PPsy 201 Fundamentals of Political Psychology
PPsy 202 Political Psychology Research Methods
PPsy 203 Public Opinion and Political Socialization
PPsy 204 The Theory and Practice of International Negotiation
PPsy 205 Political Violence and Terrorism

Defense Policy Analysis

Econ 239 Economics of Defense
IAff 246 U.S. Space Policy
IAff 258 Special Topics: Space and National Security
IAff 262 National Security Resources
IAff 263 Defense Policy and Program Analysis I
IAff 264 Defense Policy and Program Analysis II
IAff 265 Defense Transformation
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Defense Trade in the 21 st Century
PSc 248 Politics of U.S. National Security Policy

Homeland Security

IAff 206 Secretaries of State
IAff 253 Science, Technology, and National Security
IAff 262 National Security Resources
IAff 267 Weapons Proliferation and Nonproliferation
IAff 271 Fundamentals of Intelligence
IAff 274 Globalization and national Security
IAff 275 Transnational Security Issues
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS : Democracies and Intelligence
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Homeland Security: National Challenges
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Homeland Security Policy
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Intelligence and Homeland Security
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: International Law and Transnational Threats
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Responses to Terrorism

With consultation and approval from the major field faculty advisor, students may choose additional classes from other schools within the University, which may include the School for Public Health and Health Services, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Media and Public Affairs, and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.


Strategic Concepts and Military History
Hist 228 Topics in Modern Military and Naval History
Hist 229 Seminar: World War II
Hist 230 Strategy and Military History
Hist 233 The Age of the Battleship: An Introduction to Modern Naval History
Hist 257 Rethinking the Cold War History
Hist 282 History of US Foreign Policy, 1775-1975
Hist 297 International History of the Cold War
Hist 297 Insurgency, Counterinsurgency and Imperialism
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Covert Action and National Security
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Strategic Planning for the 21 st Century
PSc 276 The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSc 289 Major Wars: Theoretical Perspectives

Science, Technology, and National Security Policy

IAff 241 International Science & Technology Policy Cornerstone
IAff 246 U.S. Space Policy
IAff 247 Issues in U.S. Space Policy
IAff 252 Environmental Policy
IAff 253 Science, Technology, and National Security
IAff 258* Special Topics in ISTP: Space and National Security
MGT 241 Information Systems Security

Security and Development

ANTH 222 Culture, Risk, and Security
IAff 218 Nation Building: Theory and Practice
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: Culture, Violence, and Conflict Resolution
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: Human Trafficking
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: Care of Children in Complex Emergencies
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: Food, Globalization, and Security
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: Violence, Gender, and Humanitarian Assistance
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: Fragile and Transition States
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: Post Conflict Reconstruction in Africa
IAff 238* Special topics in IDS: HIV/AIDS and Development
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: Post Conflict Reconstruction
IAff 288* Special topics in SPS: War and Conflict in Africa
PPsy 205 Political Violence and Terrorism
PSc 236 Political Economy of Developing Countries
PSc 289 Ethnic Conflict

 

Regional Security
Students may also include courses on regional security issues to fulfill the required number of credits.
IAff 312 NATO & European Security
IAff 318 Special Topics: Transatlantic Security Issues
IAff 323 Asian Regional Security
IAff 328* Special Topics in Asian Studies: Force in Asian Politics
IAff 342 Regional Security in the Middle East
PSc 289 China's Military and Security
PSc 289 Asian Security

* Other Special Topics courses (IAff 218, 238, 258, 308, 318, 328, 338, 358), may, with permission of the major field faculty advisor, be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

** Students may, with permission of their advisor, include courses in the GW Law School in their major field. Enrolling in a law school course also requires permission of the Law School dean of students. Students should consult the Elliott School Academic Advising & Student Services office before enrolling in Law School courses.

TECHNOLOGY POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Required course :
IAff 241 International Science and Technology Policy Cornerstone

Supporting courses (choose three) :
Econ 255 Economics of Technological Change (prerequisite Econ 217)
IAff 212 Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners
IAff 242 Technology Creation/ Diffusion
IAff 246 U. S. Space Policy
IAff 247 Issues in Space Policy
IAff 252 Environmental Policy
IAff 253 Science, Technology and National Security
IAff 258* Special Topics in Intl Science and Technology Policy

*Other Special Topics courses (IAff 218, 238, 258, 288, 308, 318, 328, 338, 358), may, with permission of the major field faculty advisor, be used to fulfill the required number of credits.

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

Choose at least one of the following courses :
Hist 282 20 th Century U.S. Foreign Policy
Hist 282 U.S. Foreign Policy 1775-1975
IAff 371 U.S. Foreign Policy Summer Institute
PSc 246 U.S. Foreign Policy Making
PSc 247 U.S. Foreign Policy: Perspective and Issues
PSc 248 U.S. National Security Policy-Making

Supporting courses :
Econ 295 Economics of U.S Trade Policy
Hist 230 Readings Seminar: Strategy and Policy
Hist 259 Seminar: Problems-US⁄Soviet⁄China Relations
Hist 274 Readings Seminar - U.S. 19 th Century History
Hist 283/284 Readings Seminar - Recent U.S. History
Hist 297 History of International Economic System
Hist 297 Special Topics Seminar: Rethinking Cold War History
IAff 206 Secretaries of State
IAff 218* Special Topics in Intl Affairs: U.S. Public Diplomacy
IAff 218* Special Topics in Intl Affairs: U.S Foreign Policy in the Persian Gulf
IAff 247 Issues in U.S. Space Policy
IAff 253 Science, Technology and National Security
IAff 262 National Security Resources
IAff 272 Intelligence and National Security Policymaking
IAff 274 Globalization and National Security
IAff 275 Transnational Security Issues
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Global Security and U.S. Hegemony
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Forward Engagement
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy
IAff 288* Special Topics in SPS: Covert Action and National Security
IAff 318* Special Topics in EES: Transatlantic Relations
IAff 322 Taiwan: International Development and Foreign Affairs

Updated: 08/21/2007

 
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