Curriculum

This course covers the entire spectrum of international organizations, and the theoretical and practical issues related to international organizations. These issues include peace and security, human rights, and economic development.

Presents a broad overview of concepts, theories, processes, and practical global challenges confronting professional public/nonprofit managers; discusses contemporary issues facing multi-national corporations, non-government organizations, and public agencies; and analyzes the similarities and differences between public, non-profit and private management.

An overview of world religions and cultures as a backdrop of effective communication for international professionals. Religious and political conflicts have increasingly become a staple of our complex, globalized world. As a result, it is important for professionals working with international and non-governmental organizations to understand the religions and the cultures of the world to better facilitate their work in different societies in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. Since religion is an integral part of many cultures, understanding the religous implications of certain activities is important in navigating certain societies and facilitating the work of professionals, especially in regions where religion and political violence dominate foreign relations and foreign policy.

This course introduces the conceptual basics of international relations and trains students in analytical and critical thinking skills through familiarity with the broad palette of issues and actors that make up today's world politics. Topics include the origins of the state and its changing role in today's world and an examination of the actors in international relations and the issues before them.

Reviews the essentials of International Economics. It then provides students with an operational understanding of the theory of comparative advantage and its application to policy issues.

Explores organizations from the strategic perspective of the leader, identifying common elements of thinking, structure, measures, outcomes, issues, and challenges faced by those who seek leadership roles in international administration.

Professor: Dr. Dina Moulioukova

Professor: Dr. Dina Moulioukova

Theoretical approaches and the major global threats to human security along with some of the most promising policy solutions will be explored. Some of these human security threats are well known, like genocide, and others, like cybersecurity, are newly emerging. Focus will be placed on key human security topics such as war, terrorism, human trafficking, climate change, famine, violence against women, and infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Professor: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli & Dr. Bradford McGuinn

This course examines the management of civil crises issuing from violent human actions. In the first section of the course, a framework will be developed that addresses the security of “civil space,” emphasizing actions threatening public order and individual safety. Emphasis will be placed on the burdens of “critical incident management” and the elements central to its success. These elements – planning and contingency, leadership and management, intelligence and analysis as well as operations and communication - will be engaged further in the second section. The final section of the course will examine specific threats to civil order and the management of systems designed to mitigate their effects. (Course is open to all students at the University of Miami)

Professor: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli & Dr. Bradford McGuinn

This course examines the management of disasters issuing from natural causes. It is focused primarily on the theory and practice of response. At the center of this investigation is a difficult question: how to help? The answers are not obvious. Through the vocabularies of practitioners and the frameworks offered by academic literature, we will explore the ways in which responders respond, the lessons learned and the best practices that have emerged in the field of disaster response and humanitarian intervention. (Course is open to all students at the University of Miami)

Professor:  Michael Connelly

International Finance provides a working knowledge of international financial issues, theories, concepts and practice. The first part of the course examines the mechanics of the foreign exchange market, reviewing spot, forwards, futures and options. The second part of the course constructs the four building blocks of international finance: interest rate parity (covered and uncovered interest rate arbitrage), purchasing power parity, the international Fisher (expectations) effect, and asset market equilibrium (money market and exchange market equilibrium). The role of the money supply in exchange rate and price level determination according to interest rate parity is stressed. The case for common currencies is reviewed. In the third part of the course, currency risk management is explored in detail. We then analyze Ponzi schemes and other fraudulent financial practices. We conclude with a review of financial leverage, moral hazard and the financial crisis of 2008-2009. (Course is ONLY available to students in the MAIA Program)

Students can chose two approaches to their capstone project. One involves a 200-hour internship with an organization culminating in a practicum report. The other involves writing a research paper on a topic in the area of your concentration.