Snapshot
- Annual enrollment:
- 140 (Graduate)
- Average GRE:
- Optional
- Average GPA:
- 3.4
- Work experience:
- 29% <2yrs; 19% 2-4yrs; 19% 5-7yrs; 33% >8yrs
- % International:
- 30%
- Alumni employment sectors:
- Private: 46%, Public: 20%; Non-profit: 34%
- Degrees offered:
- MA in Diplomacy and International Relations; MA/MBA, MA/JD, MA/MPA, MA/MA Strategic Communications, Executive MS in International Affairs; Online Executive MS in International Affairs; Online Executive MS in International Affairs and Diplomatic Practice in collaboration with UNITAR; Graduate Certificate in Post-Conflict State Reconstruction and Sustainability; Graduate Certificate in United Nations Studies
- Tuition:
- $1,445 credit, see more information here
- Internship Partners:
- 600+ internship partner institutions around the world spanning the public, private and non-profit sectors
The School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University is strategically located, with on-campus classes just 14 miles from New York City, as well as at the UN, in the heart of Washington, D.C., online and around the globe. Our School brings together an international community of students with a faculty of award-winning scholars and veteran field professionals who engage in a multidisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes multilateral diplomacy, conflict negotiation, policy analysis, economics, human rights, security and regional expertise. Through one-on-one advisement across 12 customizable graduate programs, hands on application with over 600 internship partners, and dialogue with nearly 40 international leaders and policy makers each year, we prepare talented professionals to advance global goals across the private, public and nonprofit sectors.
Highly regarded as a professional center for scholarship and practice in the field of international relations, the School of Diplomacy is an affiliate member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs. Through our unique alliance with the United Nations Association of the United States of America and the United Nations Foundation, Diplomacy students engage with influential leaders and policymakers, giving them the power to make connections and dialogue with heads of state, ambassadors and international business and non-profit professionals.
Students practice their international relations expertise through professional internships tailored to individual career goals. They complete internships at prestigious organizations including U.S. and foreign governments, United Nations agencies and top private firms. Our dedicated Office of Internships and Career Development, offers a wide range of services, including: career development workshops, fellowship opportunities and support with application processes, alumni networking, resume and cover letter critique, mock interviews, internship and job-search strategies, and access to job listings, live webinars and career advising.
Diplomacy alumni serve as diplomats and international civil servants; handle issues of commerce, security and intelligence; navigate the pharmaceutical, finance and communication industries; and respond when disaster strikes through global humanitarian organizations.
To receive information directly from the Admissions Department, click here.
Studying International Relations at the Intersection of Technology and Geopolitics
Sharkey Distinguished Visiting Scholar,
School of Diplomacy and International Relations
As the director of School of Diplomacy’s National Security Fellowship (NSF) program, how is the changing role of technology in international affairs reflected in the research your students are doing?
Over the years, we have witnessed a rapid evolution in the use of technology and its implications for national security, geopolitics, and international relations. From cybersecurity to strategic messaging and information warfare, our graduate students’ research reflects a growing recognition of the critical interplay between technology and geopolitics. Their research explores the risks and opportunities, ethical considerations, policy implications, and international cooperation required to navigate the evolving landscape of technology in international affairs and national security. All these elements are incorporated and presented to U.S. government agencies with real world impacts and recommendations.
Specifically, how does artificial intelligence (AI), social media, and other forms of new technology factor into the classroom experience?
Artificial intelligence, social media, and other forms of technology play a crucial role in our fellowship when assessing how the intersection of technology and geopolitics impacts national security. As our national security fellows conduct research and develop their policy recommendations, they do real-time analysis of social media and open-source intelligence. They develop case studies to support their policy recommendations and implications. Overall, social media, AI, and other technologies are integral to all our research projects for U.S. government agencies.
What practical opportunities, both technology-based and through traditional discourse, does the NSF program provide for students?
During the year, our national security fellowship students can wed their research skills with unique access to data to develop policy recommendations. In partnership with FNA—a deep technology, AI, and machine learning firm specializing in advanced network analytics and simulations—the NSF students can develop statistical analysis models to enhance their recommendations along with an assessment of the potential impact their recommendations could have to policy.,
What skills do students need to prepare to understand and manage crises in the global arena?
From critical thinking and analysis to collaboration and teamwork, our students learn to work across their teams in a manner that will acclimate them to the crises and strategic surprises of the real world. By developing these skills, students will better understand, navigate, and manage crises in the global arena and thereby contribute to effective crisis response, conflict resolution, and long-term stability.
Any advice for young professionals considering a career in international affairs?
Develop a strong academic foundation, cultivate critical language skills, gain real world experience, network and seek mentorship, keep abreast of local, national, and international developments, be adaptive and never stop learning. Pursuing a career in international affairs requires patience, perseverance, and continual learning. Begin by being proactive and seizing opportunities; be open to diverse paths and possibilities, and remember that your passion, dedication, and commitment will guide you in the right direction.
Connecting with the Past, Preparing for the Future
Professor
School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
As an expert on Eastern Europe and the author of the new book, Russian Energy Chains, what should students understand about Russia’s war against Ukraine and its historical context?
The long-term trends and influences on Russia’s behavior may be important in understanding the current situation. Also, decisions about energy supplies and infrastructure, which were made in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, affect how countries can react or may not be able to react. For many actors in western Europe and Ukraine, accessing Russian energy was an opportunity—a temptation that was advantageous for many people, from corrupt politicians to households that benefited from subsidized prices. This has made it difficult for western European states and Ukraine to move away from dependency on Russian energy. Also, the European Union is finally understanding the seriousness of Russia’s aggression in a way that it apparently did not understand at the time of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea in 2014.
You teach a course on Russian foreign policy. How does history and the current crisis factor into classroom discussions?
I ask students to look back at the expansion of the Russian empire and how that affects relations with neighboring states. This is a basic building block of the way I teach foreign policy.
Your faculty colleagues include influential scholars and international affairs practitioners, you among them. How do students benefit from the research and field work being done at the School of Diplomacy?
We are deeply engaged in field research and practice, which helps students bridge the more academic components of their learning with very concrete policy challenges in a timeframe that is sometimes very urgent. One example of how that works is our National Security Fellows program, where graduate students share the results of their policy relevant research with State Department officials and provide operational briefs and policy recommendations.
How else can students prepare to navigate the risks and uncertainty we may face?
We are alerting students to the very unexpected ways in which different policy fields, economic areas, and geographic regions interrelate. Very few of us would have expected Russia’s war in Ukraine would create a global crisis in energy, grain, timber, and even metals supply. We are preparing students to identify solutions that are not obvious on the surface, so that they can contribute into the future.
What advice can you give young professionals interested in studying international affairs?
Look for programs that are oriented toward innovative solutions to the challenges that are emerging. We do that at the School of Diplomacy by looking at new responses to the climate crisis. For instance, my new research project on the geopolitics of industrial decarbonization goes beyond our conventional interest in how to replace fossil fuels for electricity production. It looks at the much more complex issue of the use of fossil fuels as industrial feedstock—the last frontier of decarbonization.
We also study the ways new and emerging powers, such as China and India, respond to global challenges. Understanding their motivations helps us make policies more effective.
Working Toward a More Just and Equitable World
Associate Professor and Director of Online Programs School of Diplomacy and International Relations Seton Hall University
You have been recognized for your excellence in online teaching. How do you keep students connected and engaged?
In some ways, we are more connected than ever! Students from around the world have been able to join us virtually, expanding accessibility and adding richness to the graduate school experience. Students engage with each other’s ideas; they challenge, support, and learn from one another. They hold study sessions, work collaboratively, make presentations, and receive feedback. We host virtual events, guest speakers, online advising, group discussions, office hours, and one-to-one chats.
Your research focuses on the role of women in democratization. What impact do women have on policy and access to leadership?
Women’s leadership needs to be the new normal. We need to address patriarchal structures that marginalize women using legal reform and continued engagement. The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women, yet policies are largely gender blind. We celebrate women leaders for performing better in containing COVID-19, but women in leadership are outliers; despite years of advocating for greater representation of women at all levels, this still lags in practice. For example, in Sierra Leone, the focus of much of my research, women represent less than 10 percent of the leadership in key institutions charged with fighting the outbreak, despite leading on the frontlines as health care workers. COVID-19 reminds us that the battle for gender equity and equality is far from over.
How does the School of Diplomacy and International Relations prepare students to work in today’s diverse world?
Our community is a microcosm of the world. Our students are the changemakers leading the way. Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Coalition is listening to students and alumni, assessing curriculum, developing new courses on race and racism, and building the pipeline of diverse international affairs professionals. Our students challenge us to be more responsive and to represent a range of voices. As faculty, we are learning from them and working together to be intentionally anti-racist and address inequality.
How do students benefit from the school’s multidisciplinary, multilateral approach to international affairs?
Our proximity to New York City and Washington, DC, and unique alliances with the UN community expands students’ knowledge base and perspective on global challenges. Students learn from scholars and practitioners engaged in research and policymaking. We represent the complexities of decision-making and analysis of world events from multiple perspectives. Students work with professors as research assistants and co-author articles and opinion pieces, gaining advantage in the job market.
What advice can you give young professionals interested in international affairs?
Never lose your passion for transformative change. Be open to learning from those who do not look like you, as well as from those you want to “help.” Admit that what you do not know is much more than what you do. A key message for students is that development has to change—they have to play their part in decolonizing aid and development institutions and promoting equity in development. International cooperation and multilateral solutions to global problems have never been more essential. The world needs our graduates. This is a critical time to become an international affairs professional.
Navigating the New World Order Requires Expertise in Global Health and Security
Professor
Director, Center for Global Health Studies
School of Diplomacy and International Relations
Seton Hall University
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge throughout the world, Professor Yanzhong Huang, Director of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations' Center for Global Health Studies and a Senior Fellow for Global Health at the Council on Foreign Relations, remains a sought-out global health expert on the impact of its continuing spread. Huang, who specializes in the security and foreign policy aspects of health issues, has authored the books Governing Health in Contemporary China and Toxic Politics and is the founding editor of Global Health Governance: The Scholarly Journal for the New Health Security Paradigm. The response to the pandemic, he says, demonstrates the value of open-mindedness and an interdisciplinary perspective.
Graduate students at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations can gain an expertise in global health and security. How does this course of study connect with the pandemic and climate change?
Both infectious disease outbreaks and climate change are human security concerns due to their impact on global public health. They are also increasingly becoming “high politics” issues because of their profound implications on governance and national security. Students who have gained expertise in global health security will be well equipped to address the dual challenges of infectious diseases and climate change.
You have written about the lack of international cooperation during the pandemic, particularly between the United States and China. What motivates leaders to work together to do the right thing?
Typically, a global public health emergency is sufficient to motivate collective action and catalyze international cooperation given its ability to wreak havoc to a global community in a short period of time. The lack of international cooperation during this pandemic highlights the importance of sound political leadership that values people’s health and well-being over domestic politics or geopolitical considerations.
Why is global health security an important field to study and build a career in right now?
The ongoing pandemic is a global crisis requiring a global solution. The pandemic reveals the lack of resources, capabilities, and cooperation in addressing a global challenge. But fundamentally, it points to the failure to correctly define the challenges we face, design effective policy solutions, and pursue their implementation in a timely and coherent manner. Students of global health security will develop the knowledge and skills to analyze complex situations, synthesize information, and design interventions for improved global health governance.
What will the field look like five years from now?
In five years, global health programs will be mushrooming in the United States and worldwide. I expect all schools of international affairs to have a program that addresses the complex dynamics among health, development, and security. The program here at Seton Hall is well established. We’ve been around since 2003.
Given these turbulent times, how can students prepare for international careers that will help promote positive change?
They should be ready to update their toolbox and prove that their knowledge and skills are relevant in a complex and capricious world.
What traits do you believe students need to succeed professionally in the field?
Be open-minded and flexible, with a global and interdisciplinary perspective.
Seeing the World Through a Multipolar Lens at Seton Hall’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations
Professor and Director of the Center for Emerging Powers and Transnational Trends
School of Diplomacy and International Relations
Seton Hall University
You were recently named a Fulbright Scholar and will be looking into the impact of domestic politics and Sino-U.S. rivalry on the strategic behavior of Southeast Asian states. What are ways that today’s students prepare to contribute in a volatile global arena?
Having a voice on pivotal issues, such as how Asian states are navigating the changing balance of power and the trade war between the United States and China, requires a keen understanding of the sociopolitical systems of other countries. Analysts need a firm grasp of the underlying theories and concepts that enable them to address important questions that move beyond the simplistic labels we may see in the press and on social media. There is also a tendency for students to view global issues solely through the prism of U.S. interests. At the School of Diplomacy, we explore the world through a multipolar lens and help our students develop the skills and background knowledge needed to move global politics forward.
As a foreign policy analyst, how has your focus in the classroom shifted to reflect emerging issues?
The only thing certain in international relations (IR) is change. We adapt by expanding our knowledge of emerging issues and their potential impact on traditional national interests, such as security and economic prosperity. Today, foreign policy also encompasses transnational challenges, such as climate change, migration, global health, and food and water security. Our graduate programs provide opportunities in and outside of the classroom for students to wrestle with these issues, and engage in the conversations that are shaping the field.
How are student assignments addressing critical skills needed for tomorrow’s international affairs professional?
Our classrooms emphasize strong critical thinking skills that enable students to analyze foreign policy issues, compare cases, and draw lessons from them are crucial. After studying the Iranian nuclear deal or the sanctions against Russia, my students were asked what recommendations they would make as an advisor to the president. They needed to marshal evidence to support one position—such as whether U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was in the country’s interest—and lay out the alternative argument and rebut it. This is precisely the type of analysis and writing required for students wishing to enter policy debates—as a State Department, Department of Defense, or congressional analyst.
Cities and other subnational areas are having a greater influence on international issues. What opportunities do graduates in IR have to lead on the local, national, and global levels?
As globalization connects us all, hard distinctions between the international, domestic, and local areas are eroding. Leaders interested in promoting economic prosperity in states and cities will increasingly solicit investment from foreign companies and promote local products abroad, creating opportunities for IR graduates to work in trade and investment offices. At the same time, combatting global problems, such as climate change and transnational terrorism, requires local solutions, opening doors for School of Diplomacy alumni to apply their knowledge and address critical issues in local communities.