Graduate Program in International StudiesAcademics
Master of Arts in International Studies
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The M.A. in International Studies is a highly customizable and interdisciplinary degree. Students may choose from one of several concentrations to focus their studies.
Degree RequirementsConcentrations
Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies
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The Ph.D. in International Studies is a highly customizable and interdisciplinary degree. Students may choose from one of several concentrations to focus their studies.
Degree RequirementsConcentrations
Certificates
Global Health Graduate Certificate
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Global Health aims to show us the big picture. Mistakenly, people assume that the target of "Global Health" involves mainly tackling problems in the developing world. Diseases and health problems do not recognize borders. All countries can learn from the experiences of other countries. Neglecting to address health problems in a global scale may affect people's health, well-being and national security around the world including in developed countries such as the United States.
This competency-based graduate level certificate program aims to provide comprehensive training on Global Health. The Global Health Certificate is designed as an online program for professionals who are practicing or who plan to practice in a worldwide setting. Graduates of the Global Health Certificate can expect to find employment in a variety of fields including health-related governmental/non-governmental organizations, university research programs, international healthcare consultancies, and multinational corporations (Education Advisory Board, 2013).
Women's Studies Graduate Certificate
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Students who want only the women's studies graduate certificate without a graduate degree may attain it, but must apply, nonetheless, for graduate standing in the Institute of Humanities. They must gain admission to the Humanities graduate program before the completion of nine graduate hours and must satisfy all of the admission requirements for the program, including the GRE. Only students who hold a B.A. or B.S. degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 may apply for the women's studies graduate certificate.
Other students who choose to obtain a master's degree in such fields as English, history, international studies, applied sociology, or counseling have the option of combining that degree with the women's studies graduate certificate. Students should fill in an application in the Women's Studies Department. Often this can be done without adding more than a few extra credit hours beyond those required for the master's degree. Admission and course requirements vary from department to department.
Graduate Certificate in Modeling & Simulation in International Studies
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Over the past several years, GPIS has added faculty with expertise in this area, and has received significant external funding for modeling and simulation projects. A number of connections have been built between GPIS and the Virginia Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Center. The M&S in international studies concentration could be pursued by students in several ways, which are outlined below. In each case, courses would be selected in close consultation with the M&S track coordinator. Modeling and simulation in the social sciences generally, and in international studies particularly, takes several different forms. The most prominent of these are:
- Statistical modeling
- Formal modeling/game theory
- Simulation/agent-based modeling
- Geographic/spatial modeling
- Network analysis
- Event simulation exercises.
Graduate Certificate in International Development
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Careers in International Development involve working for a variety of organizations, both locally in the United States and abroad, mandated to support development efforts in lesser developed nations on topical issues such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, public health, poverty alleviation, debt relief, good governance, and economic development.
Prospective employers include government agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); international and nongovernmental organizations such as the United Nations Development Program, United Nations Population Division, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Oxfam International and local affiliates, International Committee of the Red Cross, Physicians for Peace, and World Vision. The categories of employment often include skills such as program management, procurement, logistics, and monitoring and evaluation.