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Maxwell / Public Administration & International Affairs Department

  • Regional Concentration

  • Students with a strong interest in a particular country or region may choose to pursue a Regional Concentration to expand area expertise and acquire the skills necessary to structure development programs, assess conflict drivers, and anticipate developments in a specific country or region of the world.

    These skills ensure programmatic success and preparedness for any eventuality. Students pursuing this option may count six hours of graduate language study towards the track and are encouraged to consider opportunities at world partner institutions.

  • Associate Professor Gladys McCormick’s groundbreaking research on the impacts of drug trafficking, violence and torture in Latin America / Mexico benefits students by providing a valuable historical framework for tackling pressing current-day policy issues of citizen security and governance.

    Gladys McCormick

    ~ Gladys McCormick,

    Associate Professor, History
    Jay and Debe Moskowitz Endowed Chair in Mexico-U.S. Relations

  • Faculty

    Africa

    Rebecca Peters, Advisor (PAIA)
    Constance Freeman* (PAIA)
    John McPeak (PAIA)
    Martin Shanguhyia (HST)
    Audie Klotz (PSC)
    S.N. Sangmpam (PSC)
    John Western (GEO)

    East Asia and South Asia

    Susan Wadley, Advisor (ANT)
    Margarita Estevez-Abe (PSC)
    Masood Hyder (PAIA)
    Norman Kutcher (HST)
    Daniel McDowell (PSC)
    Dimitar Gueorguiev (PSC)
    George Kallendar (HST)
    Devashish Mitra (ECN)
    Farhana Sultana (GEO)

    Europe and Eurasia

    Brian Taylor, Advisor (PSC)
    Azra Hromadzic (ANT)
    Natalie Koch (GEO)
    Seth Jolly (PSC)
    Glyn Morgan (PSC)

    Latin America

    John Burdick, Advisor (ANT)
    Hans Buechler (ANT)
    Kwame Dixon (PSC)
    Matthew Cleary (PSC)
    Gladys McCormick (HST)

    Middle East and North Africa

    Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Advisor (PSC)
    Hossein Bashiriyeh (PSC)
    Timur Hammond (GEO)
    Miriam Elman (PSC)
    Osamah Khalil (HST)

    (*teaches in Maxwell-in-DC program)

    Core Course Recommendations

    Regionally focused work requires the ability to operate at the intergovernmental or international level, understand the importance of micro-and macro-economics, and a range of research methodologies.

    As such, students are encouraged to consider the following classes for their core requirements:

    • Economics: PAI 720 Principles of Economics.
    • Management of Programs and Staff: PAI 762: Challenges of International Management and Leadership or PAI 763: NGO Management in Developing and Transitional Countries.
    • Research Design and Evaluation: PAI 705: Research Design for IR Practitioners.
    • Signature Course: PAI 707: Culture in World Affairs or PSC 783: Comparative Foreign Policy.

    Regional Studies Course Offerings

    Africa

    PAI 702 Development in Africa
    PAI 715 African Conflicts: Causes and Consequences*

    East Asia and South Asia

    PAI 700 Who Will Rule the 21st Century
    PAI 715 Rising China and Challenges to the Global Order*

    Europe and Eurasia

    ANT 629 Transformation of Eastern Europe
    PSC 600 European Integration

    Latin America

    PAI 703 Current Issues in US-Latin American Relations
    PAI 730 Contemporary U.S.-Mexico Relations

    Middle East and North Africa

    ANT 668 Middle East in Anthropological Perspective
    PSC 682 Social Theory and the Middle     East
    PSC 684 International Relations of the Middle East

    Career Outcomes

    Regional knowledge strengthens students’ career marketability by aligning them with targeted opportunities and preparing them for positions similar to the following:

    Non-Governmental Organizations

    Public Relations Specialist and Program Coordinator, America and China Int’l Foundation
    Program Officer, Asia Program, The Henry Luce Foundation

    National Civil Service

    Director, Office of the Pacific Basin, U.S. Department of Commerce
    Political and Public Diplomacy Officer, U.S. Mission to the African Union