Graduate School Forum

International Affairs in an Age of Global Crises

Introduction by Carmen Iezzi Mezzera

Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (@apsiainfo)

From the pandemic to the protests to the presidential election, recent events demonstrate that leaders need to be ready for anything. The policy choices they make matter.

While no one can account for every possibility, mastering the elements of international affairs and policy prepares future leaders for such crucial moments.

Training in international affairs and policy develops the ability to recognize the cultural, economic, social, and political forces at work in the world. It challenges students to build communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. An interdisciplinary curriculum and a diverse community of people integrate differing ideas. Graduates distinguish themselves by their flexibility and adaptability. They can separate facts from opinions.

As you begin your search for a master’s program, consider how schools look at the future of international cooperation and emerging mechanisms of policymaking. Ask how the program tries to anticipate changes in the way people will work and live in the future. Look at how they bring emerging voices into the conversation. Discover in what ways students challenge traditional ideas and formulate new ones. Examine how the school works to cultivate leadership qualities in students, as well as skills.

Adaptability and contingency planning are vital to a global career. International affairs graduates master underlying principles of an ever-changing world to prepare for the future—whatever it holds.