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.

Faculty

AFRICA
  
Rebecca Peters, Advisor (PAIA)
  
Constance Freeman* (PAIA)
 Audie Klotz (PSC)
John McPeak (PAIA)
 S.N. Sangmpam (PSC)
Martin Shanguhyia (HST)
John Western (GEO)
   
EAST ASIA and SOUTH ASIA
  
Susan Wadley, Advisor (ANT)
  
Margarita Estevez-Abe (PSC)
 Dimitar Gueorguiev (PSC)
Masood Hyder (PAIA)
George Kallendar (HST)
Norman Kutcher (HST)
Devashish Mitra (ECN)
Daniel McDowell (PSC)
 Farhana Sultana (GEO)
   
EUROPE and EURASIA
 
Brian Taylor, Advisor (PSC)
 
Azra Hromadzic (ANT)
Seth Jolly (PSC)
Natalie Koch (GEO)
 Glyn Morgan (PSC)
   
LATIN AMERICA
  
John Burdick, Advisor (ANT)
 
Hans Buechler (ANT)
 Matthew Cleary (PSC)
Kwame Dixon (PSC)
 Gladys McCormick (HST)
   
MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA
  
Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Advisor (PSC)
 
Hossein Bashiriyeh (PSC)
 Miriam Elman (PSC)
Timur Hammond (GEO)
 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