July 20, 2010
Global MA in International Relations Program Begins Fifth Year
It’s the only graduate program in international relations of its kind. Webster University’s Global Master of Arts degree in International Relations takes advantage of the university’s unique infrastructure and vast global network of extended campuses. Now in its fifth year, the one-year, 36-credit hour program, begins Aug. 19 with 32 students at a two-day orientation in Leiden, The Netherlands.
The 2010-11 Class
This year’s class is comprised of 22- to 34-years-old U.S. citizens -- several of which are naturalized citizens originally from Cambodia, Canada, Israel, The Phillipines, Russia and Thailand -- and have professional backgrounds in environmental policy, linguistics, journalism, business, international affairs and global policy and justice. These students will travel together in three assigned cohort groups, completing five consecutive eight-week terms while rotating through Webster’s international campuses that include: Leiden; London, England; Geneva, Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; and either Bangkok, Thailand or Beijing, China. Classes are taught in English and cover such subject matter as international law, diplomacy, comparative politics, international political economy and humanitarian issues. In the classroom, each cohort group is joined with other students already studying at each of the campuses, exposing students to even more diverse people and perspectives from all over the world.
The Faculty
Just as in other Webster University programs worldwide, Global IR students are taught by international professors who are leaders in their fields. For example, Leonard Suransky, Ph.D., leads the program in Leiden and has trained diplomats at Clingendael and the Foreign Service Institute; Yossi Mekelberg is an associate fellow at the Middle East Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, one of the world's leading independent organizations for the analysis of international issues; and Margaret McMillion is a former senior American diplomat with expertise in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, post-conflict societies, and the challenges of economic and social development. Her Department of State assignments include serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda from 2001 to 2004.
Field Experiences
Beyond the classroom, students take advantage of the tremendous connectivity Webster has with prestigious global organizations that open their doors to provide a real-world classroom experience. For example, in Vienna students visit the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE); and in London, the Chatham House, which is the Royal Institute of International Relations. Other organizations include the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the World Trade Organization and OPEC.
Program Alumni
Graduates of the program over the years have landed jobs in the public sector, including the Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. government departments and agencies, while others work in international non-profit organizations and non-governmental organizations. Some have pursued doctorate degrees or pursued scholarship in international relations think-tank organizations.
Admissions
Tuition is $40,500 and includes housing, books and health insurance. Each of Webster’s campuses work closely together to coordinate all of the details including visa issues and housing necessary for students to move from one campus to the next. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or the U.S. equivalent if the degree was earned from an international university and must submit an official transcript, resume, essay, two letters of recommendation and passport. International applicants must submit TOEFL scores. A previous background in international relations or study-abroad is not required.
For more information about the Global MA in International Relations, call 1-800-986-2758 or e-mail: gadmit@webster.edu. Please direct media inquiries to Christine Eason, director of media relations, Webster University, at: 314-968-5976 or eason@webster.edu.
With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University is a worldwide institution committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence. Founded in 1915, Webster offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs through five schools and colleges, and a global network of more than 100 campuses. Its 20,000-plus student population represents almost 150 nationalities.
Since opening its first campus overseas in Geneva in 1978, Webster has become a recognized leader and innovator in global education. The University's Study Abroad programs rank in the top 2 percent of the more than 1,400 colleges and universities surveyed in the "America’s Best Colleges" 2010 edition of U.S. News & World Report. Webster is one of just 34 U.S. institutions to share this distinction, which recognizes study abroad programs that involve substantial academic work for credit and considerable interaction with the local culture. The University's international presence now includes campuses in London; Vienna; Amsterdam and Leiden, the Netherlands; Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu, China; and Bangkok and Cha-am, Thailand. Webster also has educational partnerships with universities in Mexico and Japan.
###
470 East Lockwood Avenue