Bard Globalization and International Affairs Program

BARD GLOBALIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM NEW YORK CITY

Experience international affairs firsthand in New York City, through a semester or summer of intensive study and a professional internship.

BGIA students get the best of both worlds. It’s a rigorous educational program where students learn from top academics that have hands-on experience in organizations such as the United Nations, the Council on Foreign Relations, the BBC, and International Women’s Health Coalition. Students have a unique chance to advance a senior thesis, prepare for graduate school, or lay the foundation of an exciting professional career.

—Walter Russell Mead, Academic Director of BGIA, James Clarke Chace Professor of Foreign Affairs and the Humanities at Bard College, and editor-at-large of The American Interest

Bard College Globalization and International Affairs Program (BGIA) BGIA provides a unique opportunity for college students and recent college graduates from around the world to take specialized courses in international affairs while working in carefully selected internships based on individual interests. The program’s diverse and motivated students spend mornings at their internships around New York City, and afternoons studying with leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

A semester or summer at BGIA also includes talks by high-profile guest speakers and exciting cultural events—all while experiencing life in Manhattan, the island at the center of the world.

Academic Program BGIA offers international affairs courses in an intimate teaching environment. Semester participants take up to four seminar-style courses, while students in the summer program enroll in two courses. BGIA’s Core Seminar provides the academic framework to contextualize students’ professional internships within the sphere of international relations. Our faculty’s experience in the field of international affairs and at prestigious universities brings real-world expertise into the classroom.

Recent courses include: Realism Reconsidered: Ethics in International Affairs; Issues in Global Public Health; Grand Strategy from Sun Tzu to Clausewitz; Trends in Terrorism and Counterterrorism; Writing on International Affairs; and The Development of the U.N. System. Language courses can be arranged.

Applying to and participating in BGIA was a great decision. Transitioning from college to the “real world” can be tough. Having had an experience working for a nonprofit in New York City before graduating from college prepared me well for my postgraduation life and made that transition much easier. As an alumna, I find that the BGIA network is invaluable. I feel lucky to forever be a part of a community of passionate intellectuals who envision a better world.

—Elizabeth L., Lafayette College

Professional Internship Students at BGIA put ideas into action through participation in a substantive internship that is selected to match their academic and professional goals. With an internship commitment of 20 or more hours per week, students become integrated into the daily workings of their organization. Student responsibilities have ranged from interviewing political asylum seekers from Central America to analyzing the efficiency of microfinance loans in Mongolia. Through exposure to the international affairs community, students hone their interests, develop professional skills, and expand their networks.

Recent internships include: Human Rights Watch; Council on Foreign Relations; Global Kids; International Crisis Group; Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict; Control Risks; and Oxford Analytica.

Guest Speakers and Preprofessional Workshops Supplementing the academic program, the James Clarke Chace Memorial Speaker Series features leading figures in international affairs discussing timely issues of global concern, and is cosponsored by Foreign Affairs magazine.

Workshops help students smoothly transition into professional life through sessions covering résumé and cover-letter development, interview skills, workplace etiquette, and networking, among other topics.

Additional panels provide candid discussions of various career paths and advice from young professionals.

New York City is an important component of the program, whether you explore it on your own or take advantage of the BGIA organized social events. The program gives you a taste of the authentic cultural scene beyond famous Broadway shows. Also, the social events were a fun way to unwind with friends after a day of work.

—Madina D., American University of Central Asia

New York City and Student Life BGIA students live in dorms on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, close to the city’s major museums and Central Park. Classroom and event spaces are centrally located in Midtown Manhattan—near Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. BGIA arranges evenings at the Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet Theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway shows, baseball games, jazz and comedy clubs, and concerts at venues ranging from Yankee Stadium to Webster Hall.

Networking and Continuing Engagement Through internships, faculty contacts, and BGIA’s extensive alumni network, students develop a community that extends beyond the duration of the program to provide excellent support to recent graduates. BGIA hosts alumni/ae mixers and professional workshops, and maintains an active alumni/ae-only electronic mailing list for job openings and other professional opportunities. BGIA alumni/ae work at leading international organizations such as the United Nations and International Rescue Committee, major media outlets including the Associated Press, Vice Media, and BuzzFeed, as well as think tanks and nonprofits from Eurasia Group to Global Kids.

How to apply For more information on BGIA’s semester and summer programs, please visit bard.edu/bgia. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Generous financial aid is available.

Bard College Globalization and International Affairs Program 108 West 39th Street, Suite 1000-A, New York, NY 10018 646-839-9262 | bgia@bard.edu | bard.edu/bgia

108 West 39th Street, Suite 1000-A New York, NY 10018 646-839-9262 bgia@bard.edu bard.edu/bgia

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