Elliott School of International Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University
is a professional school in international relations. It is located in the heart of Washington, D.C.
at the university's Foggy Bottom
campus.
As a leading professional school of international affairs, the Elliott School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with majors covering a range of global issues and world regions. It is a full member of The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs
, a grouping of the world's foremost academic institutions in the field of international relations.
The school is located opposite to the U.S. State Department
's headquarters, the Harry S Truman Building
. Additionally, it is blocks from the International Monetary Fund
, the World Bank
, and the White House
. More than 2,100 undergraduates and 750 graduate students attend the Elliott School, making it the largest school of international affairs in the United States.
Michael E. Brown
has served as the Dean of the Elliott School since June 2005. Brown, who founded and directed the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Georgetown University
, has a background in international security, conflict and conflict resolution, and U.S. foreign and defense policy.
. The institutional forerunners of the Elliott School began with the School of Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplomacy which lasted only seven years (from 1898 to 1905) and was followed by the School of Politics and Diplomacy, which ran from 1905 to 1907. This school was expanded to include other fields of study and was reconstituted as the College of the Political Sciences, a part of the University that operated from 1907 till 1913. At this point, the College was turned into an academic department within the Columbian College and renamed the Department of International Law and Diplomacy. This iteration of the Elliott School functioned from 1913 until 1928.
In 1928, the University once again reorganized its departments. It was in this year that the School of Government was created. This School had the longest run until then, as it remained a part of the University from 1928 till 1960. It was in 1960 that the fields of business and international affairs were added to the school of government, creating thus the School of Government, Business, and International Affairs, working from 1960 until 1966. Then, in 1966, President Lloyd Hartman Elliott
split its faculties into a new School of Government and Business Administration (SGBA) and a new School of Public and International Affairs. Running from 1966 until 1987, it was once again renamed and became the School of International Affairs. It was then in 1988 when, in honor of President Elliott and his wife Evelyn, that the school acquired its present name and became the Elliott School of International affairs. At this point it was it was reorganized to focus exclusively on undergraduate, graduate, and mid-career education in international affairs.
In March 2003, the Elliott School opened its new academic building at 1957 E Street NW. The building was formally opened by then-Secretary of State
and GW Alumnus Colin Powell
. This building features state-of-the-art lecture halls, classrooms, offices, lounges, and common areas used to host public events. It is diagonally across from the Harry S Truman Building
, the headquarters of the United States Department of State
through a small park. The school is across the street from the headquarters of the American Red Cross
.
magazine. The survey ranked the school’s undergraduate program as #10 in the United States and its graduate programs #7.
More recently, a study carried out by researchers at the College of William and Mary
found that the Elliott School had the 8th best terminal master's program in the world for those interested in policy careers in international affairs.
The school is noted for its excellent faculty. Some past and present faculty members include Marc Lynch
, David Shambaugh
, Charles L. Glaser, James E. Foster, Michael N. Barnett, James N Rosenau, Martha Finnemore
, Harry Harding
, Edward "Skip" Gnehm Jr.
, Leon Fuerth
, Nathan Brown, Cynthia McClintock, Henry Farrell
, and Christopher A. Kojm
, the new Chairman of the National Intelligence Council
. The school's focus on professional education allows noted professionals in the field of international relations to serve in the school's faculty.
Likewise, many of the school's former students have gone on to distinguished careers in international service. Some of its alumni include Admiral
John B. Hayes
(MA '64), General John M. Shalikashvili
(MA '70), and Kurt Volker
, the former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and Rose Gottemoeller, the new United States Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation.
Regional Concentrations include:
Functional Concentrations include:
There are also two special programs beside the Master of Arts. One is for mid-career professionals, called a Masters of International Policy and Practice (MIPP) while the other is a Masters of International Studies (MIS) granted to graduate students attending Elliott School academic partner institutions abroad.
These include:
Centers & Institutes
Research & Policy Programs
Some of these include the University of Sydney
in Australia, the Universidad Torcuato di Tella
in Argentina, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
in Brazil, Carleton University
in Canada, Fudan University
in China, Sciences Po
in France, Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, Jawaharlal Nehru University
in India, Waseda University
in Japan, Ewha Womans University
in South Korea, The American University of Beirut
in Lebanon, Universiteit Maastricht
in the Netherlands, European University at Saint Petersburg
in Russia, National University of Singapore
in Singapore, IHEID (Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
) in Switzerland, Boğaziçi University
in Turkey, and the London School of Economics
& Political Science in the United Kingdom. The school constantly looks for new partners and schools are added on a yearly basis.
The undergraduate students also have the option of studying abroad during their time at the Elliott School. However, that program is not run independently by the school but instead undergraduates use the George Washington University
's study abroad system. Thanks to that, these students have access to nearly 250 study abroad programs.
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
is a professional school in international relations. It is located in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
at the university's Foggy Bottom
Foggy Bottom
Foggy Bottom is one of the oldest late 18th and 19th-century neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. The area is thought to have received the name because its riverside location made it susceptible to concentrations of fog and industrial smoke, an atmospheric trait that did not prevent the neighborhood...
campus.
As a leading professional school of international affairs, the Elliott School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with majors covering a range of global issues and world regions. It is a full member of The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs
The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs
-About APSIA:The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs is a non-profit educational organization composed of graduate level schools of international affairs. Starting as a network of American graduate schools in the mid-1970s, APSIA was incorporated in 1989 and has since then...
, a grouping of the world's foremost academic institutions in the field of international relations.
The school is located opposite to the U.S. State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
's headquarters, the Harry S Truman Building
Harry S Truman Building
The Harry S. Truman Building is the headquarters of the United States Department of State. It is located in the national capital of Washington, D.C.....
. Additionally, it is blocks from the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. More than 2,100 undergraduates and 750 graduate students attend the Elliott School, making it the largest school of international affairs in the United States.
Michael E. Brown
Michael E. Brown (international affairs professor)
Michael E. Brown is Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs and Professor of International Affairs and Political Science at The George Washington University....
has served as the Dean of the Elliott School since June 2005. Brown, who founded and directed the Center for Peace and Security Studies at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, has a background in international security, conflict and conflict resolution, and U.S. foreign and defense policy.
History
The Elliott School traces its roots to 1898, when the George Washington University first started instruction in international affairsInternational relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. The institutional forerunners of the Elliott School began with the School of Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplomacy which lasted only seven years (from 1898 to 1905) and was followed by the School of Politics and Diplomacy, which ran from 1905 to 1907. This school was expanded to include other fields of study and was reconstituted as the College of the Political Sciences, a part of the University that operated from 1907 till 1913. At this point, the College was turned into an academic department within the Columbian College and renamed the Department of International Law and Diplomacy. This iteration of the Elliott School functioned from 1913 until 1928.
Lloyd Hartman Elliott
Lloyd Hartman Elliott was President of George Washington University from 1965 to 1988.He was also a professor of educational administration at Cornell University, and President of the University of Maine.-Career:...
split its faculties into a new School of Government and Business Administration (SGBA) and a new School of Public and International Affairs. Running from 1966 until 1987, it was once again renamed and became the School of International Affairs. It was then in 1988 when, in honor of President Elliott and his wife Evelyn, that the school acquired its present name and became the Elliott School of International affairs. At this point it was it was reorganized to focus exclusively on undergraduate, graduate, and mid-career education in international affairs.
In March 2003, the Elliott School opened its new academic building at 1957 E Street NW. The building was formally opened by then-Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
and GW Alumnus Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
. This building features state-of-the-art lecture halls, classrooms, offices, lounges, and common areas used to host public events. It is diagonally across from the Harry S Truman Building
Harry S Truman Building
The Harry S. Truman Building is the headquarters of the United States Department of State. It is located in the national capital of Washington, D.C.....
, the headquarters of the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
through a small park. The school is across the street from the headquarters of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
.
Notable alumni, reputation, and rankings
In 2007, the Elliott School’s academic excellence was recognized by a survey of scholars published in Foreign PolicyForeign Policy
Foreign Policy is a bimonthly American magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P. Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel.Originally, the magazine was a quarterly...
magazine. The survey ranked the school’s undergraduate program as #10 in the United States and its graduate programs #7.
More recently, a study carried out by researchers at the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
found that the Elliott School had the 8th best terminal master's program in the world for those interested in policy careers in international affairs.
The school is noted for its excellent faculty. Some past and present faculty members include Marc Lynch
Marc Lynch
Marc Lynch is an "Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs" at The George Washington University, where he is also director of both the Institute for Middle East Studies and the Middle East Studies Program. Lynch is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for a New...
, David Shambaugh
David Shambaugh
David Shambaugh is a professor of political science and international affairs at the George Washington University in Washington DC, as well as a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He is regarded as an authority on China’s foreign policy, military and security issues in East...
, Charles L. Glaser, James E. Foster, Michael N. Barnett, James N Rosenau, Martha Finnemore
Martha Finnemore
Martha Gail Finnemore is a prominent constructivist scholar of international relations, and a professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. She is best known for her books: National Interests in International Society and The Purpose of Intervention...
, Harry Harding
Harry Harding
Harry Harding is an American political scientist specializing in Chinese politics and foreign affairs. He is the founding the dean of the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, and had previously served as dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs...
, Edward "Skip" Gnehm Jr.
Edward Gnehm
Edward William Gnehm, Jr., also known as Skip Gnehm was most recently the U.S. ambassador to Jordan and is now a faculty member at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs....
, Leon Fuerth
Leon Fuerth
Leon Sigmund Fuerth is a former diplomat who served as national security adviser to former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. He was succeeded in that capacity by I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby in January 2001...
, Nathan Brown, Cynthia McClintock, Henry Farrell
Henry Farrell (political scientist)
Henry Farrell is an Irish-born political scientist at George Washington University. He previously taught at the University of Toronto and earned his PhD from Georgetown University. His research interests include, trust and co-operation; E-commerce; the European Union; and institutional...
, and Christopher A. Kojm
Christopher A. Kojm
-Biography:Kojm received an AB from Harvard College in 1977 and an MA from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in 1979. From 1979 to 1984 he was a senior editor at the Foreign Policy Association in New York City....
, the new Chairman of the National Intelligence Council
National Intelligence Council
The National Intelligence Council is the center for midterm and long-term strategic thinking within the United States Intelligence Community . It was formed in 1979...
. The school's focus on professional education allows noted professionals in the field of international relations to serve in the school's faculty.
Likewise, many of the school's former students have gone on to distinguished careers in international service. Some of its alumni include Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
John B. Hayes
John B. Hayes
John Briggs Hayes was a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 16th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1978 to 1982....
(MA '64), General John M. Shalikashvili
John M. Shalikashvili
John Malchase David Shalikashvili was a United States Army General who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997. He was born in Warsaw, Poland, to Georgian refugee parents....
(MA '70), and Kurt Volker
Kurt Volker
Kurt Volker is the former United States Permanent Representative to NATO, having served in that position from July 2, 2008 to May 15, 2009....
, the former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and Rose Gottemoeller, the new United States Assistant Secretary of State for Verification, Compliance, and Implementation.
Undergraduate programs
The Elliott School offers undergraduate degrees in the following majors:- Asian Studies
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Latin American and Hemispheric Studies
- International Affairs
International Affairs major
The International Affairs major is further broken down by Regional and Functional Concentrations.Regional Concentrations include:
- Africa
- Asia
- Europe and Eurasia
- Latin America
- Middle East
Functional Concentrations include:
- Comparative Political, Economic, and Social Systems
- Conflict Resolution
- Contemporary Cultures and Societies
- Global Public Health
- International Development Studies
- International Economics
- International Environmental Resources
- International Politics
- Security Policy
Masters degrees
The School offers Master of Arts degrees in a variety of fields. There are two main categories of fields of study. One category is regional studies, which include master’s degrees in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies, Middle East Studies, Asian Studies, and European and Eurasian Studies. The second category is functional studies, which include master's degrees in International Affairs, International Development Studies, International Science and Technology Policy, International Trade and Investment Policy, Global Communication, and Security Policy Studies.There are also two special programs beside the Master of Arts. One is for mid-career professionals, called a Masters of International Policy and Practice (MIPP) while the other is a Masters of International Studies (MIS) granted to graduate students attending Elliott School academic partner institutions abroad.
Joint and dual degrees
There are also three joint and dual degrees programs. The Elliott School and the School of Business offer a Master of Arts and Master of Business Administration program, while it partners with the Law School to grant a Master of Arts and Juris Doctor. The third program is a Master of Arts and Master of Public Health, in partnership with George Washington's School of Public Health and Health Services.Certificates
- Asian Studies
- European and Eurasian Studies
- International Economic Policy
- International Science and Technology Policy
- International Security Policy
- Latin American and Hemispheric Studies
- Middle East Studies
- Political Psychology
- U.S. Foreign Policy
Research centers, institutes and policy programs
As an integral part of its academic focus and mission, the Elliott School runs a large number of research institutes in a variety of issues. All are run by experts in the respective field, who lead each institution's research initiatives, conferences, lectures, discussions and other activities.Centers & Institutes
- Center for International Science and Technology Policy
- Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies
- Institute for Global and International Studies
- Institute for International Economic Policy
- Institute for Middle East Studies
- Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication
- Institute for Security and Conflict Studies
- Sigur Center for Asian Studies
Research & Policy Programs
- China Policy Program
- Culture in Global Affairs
- GW Diaspora Program
- George Washington Cold War Group (GWCW)
- Partnerships for International Strategies in Asia
- Space Policy Institute
- Taiwan Education and Research Program
- US-Japan Legislative Exchange Program
International partners
The school runs an independent study abroad program for its graduate students. As a part of its internationally focused education, it encourages graduate students to add an international component to their studies by living in a foreign country. The school believes that the experience is a key part of an education in international affairs because it increases understanding of the world by providing students with a variety of new and unexpected perspectives. The program functions as bilateral partnerships with a number of schools.Some of these include the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in Australia, the Universidad Torcuato di Tella
Universidad Torcuato di Tella
The Torcuato Di Tella University is a non-profit private university founded in 1991. Located in the Belgrano neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, it has an undergraduate enrollment of 1,200 students and a graduate enrollment of 1,300. The university is focused primarily on social sciences...
in Argentina, the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
Federal University of Santa Catarina is a public university in Florianópolis, the capital city of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil....
in Brazil, Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Canada, Fudan University
Fudan University
Fudan University , located in Shanghai, is one of the oldest and most selective universities in China, and is a member of the C9 League. Its institutional predecessor was founded in 1905, shortly before the end of China's imperial Qing dynasty...
in China, Sciences Po
Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
in France, Freie Universität Berlin in Germany, University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU, is located in New Delhi, the capital of India. It is mainly a research oriented postgraduate University with approximately 5,500 students and a faculty strength of around 550.-History:...
in India, Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
in Japan, Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University
Ewha Womans University is a private women's university in central Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the city's largest institutions of higher learning and currently the world's largest female educational institute. It is one of the best-known universities in South Korea, and often considered to...
in South Korea, The American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
in Lebanon, Universiteit Maastricht
Universiteit Maastricht
Maastricht University is a public university in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Founded in 1976, the university is the second youngest in the Netherlands. The university's founding name was Rijksuniversiteit Limburg and was changed into Universiteit Maastricht in 1996...
in the Netherlands, European University at Saint Petersburg
European University at Saint Petersburg
The European University at St. Petersburg , sometimes referred to as EUSP, is a non-state graduate university located in St.Petersburg, Russia. It was founded in 1994. Today the University is widely recognised as one of the leading academic institutions in humanities and social sciences in...
in Russia, National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
in Singapore, IHEID (Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies is a highly selective postgraduate educational and research institute situated in Geneva, Switzerland...
) in Switzerland, Boğaziçi University
Bogaziçi University
Boğaziçi University is a public university located on the European side of the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul, Turkey. It has five faculties and two schools offering undergraduate degrees, and six institutes offering graduate degrees...
in Turkey, and the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
& Political Science in the United Kingdom. The school constantly looks for new partners and schools are added on a yearly basis.
The undergraduate students also have the option of studying abroad during their time at the Elliott School. However, that program is not run independently by the school but instead undergraduates use the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
's study abroad system. Thanks to that, these students have access to nearly 250 study abroad programs.