American Studies - American Politics & Foreign Policy

GradDip American Politics & Foreign Policy
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 60)

The United States is the most influential nation in the world. However, a number of challenges in recent years have called into question the sustainability of American leadership abroad the prosperity at home. These include but are not limited to, the notion of American decline in relation to rising power such as China; a political system that appears to have entered an extended period of dysfunction; recurring problems in race relations; and rising economic inequality.

This Graduate Diploma, the first of its kind to be established in Europe or North America, allows students to gain a sophisticated understanding of the United States, its foreign relations, and domestic politics.

This Graduate Diploma is designed for those people planning, or already engaged in, a career in the diplomatic service, journalism, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations. This Masters will also prepare you for a career in politics, political risk analysis, academia, and think tanks.

This program explores both US foreign and domestic politics. During the year you will study US relations with key regions of the world. You will also discuss issues of terrorism, nuclear proliferation, the global economy, and climate changed to name a few. You will also gain an extensive knowledge of the impact of emerging technologies, such as cyber, on international relations and the US place in the world. Race, gender, elections, and political polarization will also be addressed.

Who should apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

This program is designed for those people planning, or already engaged in, a career in the diplomatic service, journalism, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations. This Masters will also prepare you for a career in politics, political risk analysis, academia, and think tanks.

Vision and Values Statement
This is an academic programme but is also suited to practitioners/professionals in a related field who wish to gain a broader understanding of processes, policies, and outcomes in the area of American politics and foreign policy, both domestically and within the context of international affairs. We value and therefore encourage our students to be active, motivated, autonomous learners who have a critical and reflective approach to the subject. We aim to provide a learning environment that will encourage students to think critically about policy and the ideas that shape it, both individually and as part of a group. As a result of this approach to learning, the programme uses teaching, learning, and assessment approaches such as the drafting of policy memoranda, one-on-one advising, small group activities, presentations, seminar discussions, policy analysis, and internships.

Programme Outcomes
- students should be able to communicate in academic language about American politics and foreign policy using historical and theoretical concepts.

- apply knowledge in a variety of professional settings or in the form of further study.

- demonstrate an ability to communicate in writing and in public speaking with a variety of specialist and non-specialist audiences.

- develop sophisticated judgments about American politics and foreign policy that encompass domestic and international/comparative perspectives.

- learn skills that will enable them to accumulate further knowledge in this or other subjects in an autonomous manner.

The programme is composed of 60 credits which come from weekly small class seminars. Students take 50 credits of core modules taught at the UCD Clinton Institute and the remaining credits are taken from a list of optional modules from other programmes. Students are taught in small group seminars on a weekly basis.
Compulsory modules include, but may vary from year to year:

The Global Politics of Cyber Security
American Politics Today
The US and the Middle East
Challenges in US Foreign Policy

Stage 1 - Core
Challenges in US Foreign Policy AMST40310
Research Skills Seminar AMST40480
The Global Politics of Cyber Security AMST40560
The U.S. and the Middle East AMST40570
Trump's America AMST40590

Stage 1 - Option
Media and US Foreign Policy AMST40030
Public Diplomacy and Soft Power AMST40130
New Media New Conflicts AMST40490
The Newsroom AMST40610

An upper second class honours degree, or the international equivalent in the subject areas such as the humanities, politics or international relations but not exclusively.

- Standard of English required it is expected that students will normally have reached an overall 7 in the IELTS with no individual band less than 6.5 or equivalent.

The following entry routes are available:

Grad Dip American Politics & Foreign Policy FT (Z236)
Duration 1 Years Attend Full Time Deadline Rolling*

Grad Dip American Politics & Foreign Policy PT (Z237)
Duration 2 Years Attend Part Time Deadline
Rolling*

Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.

The following entry routes are available:

1 year full-time Grad Dip American Politics & Foreign Policy FT (Z236).

2 years part-time Grad Dip American Politics & Foreign Policy PT (Z237).