At the beginning of the program, students take an intensive one-day orientation. The orientation offers a number of workshops to introduce students to the program, during which students are introduced to Blackboard (virtual classroom software), case study and analysis, library resources, and the writing of reports and reference citations.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Affairs program guarantees the preparation of versatile professionals knowledgeable about local and international contemporary history, the characteristics and major elements of an interconnected global economy, the law of the nations, and modern theories in international politics.

The intensive academic training is combined with workshops designed to equip diplomats with the written and oral language skills as well as the analytical tools that allow them to communicate effectively with their own governments, the general public, and the press, as well as the leadership training to transform participants into effective and successful diplomats.

In order to earn a Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Affairs degree, students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of study.  Eighteen (18) credit hours must be taken from core courses, six (6) credit hours from Area Studies, and six (6) credit hours from elective courses or approved independent study courses. 

Core Courses

• HSS 623 International Relations
• HSS 633 Diplomatic History: The Shaping of Contemporary International Affairs
• HSS 643 International Political Economy
• HSS 653 Public Diplomacy
• HSS 663 The United Arab Emirates: Political and Administrative Structure
• HSS 673 International Relations of the U.A.E.

Elective Courses

• The Gulf States*
• HSS 693 Security Studies
• International Negotiation*
• Crisis Management*
• Development and Underdevelopment*
• Migration and International Affairs*
• International Criminal Jurisdiction*
• Human Rights*
• HSS 683 Politics of Oil

Area Studies

• Europe and the European Union*
• African Politics*
• Latin American Politics*
• People's Republic of China in the 21^st Century*
• Politics of East Asia*
• Southwest Asia*
• The Russian Federation and its Neighbors*
• HSS 613A Area Studies: The Middle East
• HSS 613B Area Studies: Africa

Independent Studies

• HSS 699 Independent Study

*Courses Pending Final Approval