The member schools of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) are the primary sources of education for international affairs professionals in their respective countries. These schools prepare students for the global workplace of the 21st Century by combining multidisciplinary, policy-oriented, intercultural studies with career development. The APSIA schools are proud of their reputations for producing diverse, well-educated and sophisticated international affairs professionals, many of whom hold leadership positions in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors throughout the United States and the world.

Graduates
Education at an APSIA school opens the door to careers in public service, private enterprise and nonprofit organizations worldwide. Graduates of APSIA schools hold executive and managerial positions throughout:

• federal, state and local governments
• international organizations
• multinational corporations
• international banking and financial institutions
• media organizations
• consulting firms
• professional associations
• colleges and universities
• policy research centers
• cultural and educational exchange
• organizations
• development assistance programs foundations

Degree Programs
All APSIA schools offer two-year masters degree programs. Their courses of study are designed to impart a thorough knowledge of international relations, public policy and the worlds countries and cultures. Students gain the skills -- in economics, policy analysis, management, communications and foreign languages -- that they need to excel as practitioners.

APSIA schools take a multi-disciplinary approach to professional education, offering programs that integrate political science, economics, history, law and business, as well as comparative, regional and international studies. Teaching methods stress the application of theory to practical issues in international relations.

Many APSIA schools offer joint and dual degree programs that combine the study of international affairs with such fields as law, business, public policy, environmental studies, social work or public health.

Students
Students at the APSIA schools have strong academic credentials and are drawn from many excellent undergraduate institutions from around the world. Most have studied, worked or traveled overseas. Half of the students are women and 30 percent are foreign nationals, representing almost every country in the world.

Faculty
The faculty of the APSIA schools includes noted scholars and practitioners who enhance the international effectiveness of institutions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Through their research, writing, teaching and media commentaries, APSIA faculty members contribute to international affairs scholarship and global understanding.

Special Programs Midcareer and nondegree programs are open to diplomats, government officials, journalists and other professionals interested in further academic training. APSIA schools sponsor a variety of conferences and seminars on foreign policy issues to enhance the professional development of scholars and other practitioners.

"Having the credential from Columbia has been invaluable to me. My colleagues know I have the expertise in international affairs, the understanding of politics, and the professional clout to do the work."