LUISS Guido Carli University

General course presentation

An interdisciplinary approach projected in an international arena: this is the distinctive profile of the master’s programme in International Relations.

The possibility of input from top public executives, representatives of institutions, and managers who hold positions of strategic and operational importance in the sectors of human resources and in organisational and communications offices represent an added value in this programme. The degree thesis plays a key role and requires specific characteristics of originality and in-depth study, with a potential connection with the job market.

The master's degree programme provides specialised and applied know-how and skills: the study plan is divided into a series of lectures that will allow graduates to conduct in-depth and specialised analyses of the legal, economic, historical and political aspects that affect international phenomena.

A traditional teaching approach is combined with methods that get students more involved, and they will be expected to improve their public-speaking skills, carry out in-depth research, and organise and manage work. Graduates will be in a position to face problems analytically but with a systemic approach, identify their effects – including collateral and involuntary ones – and implement highly significant solutions within an appropriate time frame.

The course structure calls for mandatory attendance of a workshop (on the analysis of the sociopolitical-institutional dynamics of globalisation) or an internship with international and EU organisations, diplomatic delegations, and private companies working on an international and/or EU level.

The two years of the course revolve around areas that, at LUISS Guido Carli, have always been the subject of research in the historical and sociopolitical sciences, and represents its strong points: the study of international politics in its theoretical dimension and, empirically, of the relations among the leading players in the international system; European political systems; history of globalisation; international economics; economic policy; sustainable development; comparative public law; the study of Islamic, Indian and Asiatic cultures; geopolitics; game theory; contemporary history. However, the aspects of ethics and human rights in international relations are also examined.

Naturally, there is a strong focus on linguistic studies. By the end of the study cycle, graduates must have improved their knowledge and mastered three foreign languages (written and oral), and must also have learned and mastered the languages specific to the area that they major in.

All students must learn and master IT instruments such as the main office-automation systems, corporate and regulatory (Italian and EU) databases, and communication and remote-employment instruments. In addition to the traditional professional opportunities of a diplomatic career and positions with international organisations, there are also broader possibilities of employment with public and private companies with an international orientation. Public administrations – both central and local – represent a significant opportunity, as do consultancy positions with companies, businesses and law offices dealing with commerce, foreign investments and commercial arbitration. Last but not least, there is also the prospect of research activities and a university career.

Specific educational objectives

The aim of the master’s degree programme in International Relations is to offer professional training characterised by an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of phenomena, typical of Political Science graduates, combined with an ability to monitor the internationalist dynamics of problems, in what has now become a global perspective of relations. Graduates in International Relations must thus combine solid basic training – both methodological and cultural-professional – with the ability to conduct in-depth research into the connections that can be established among the various juridical, economic, historical and political phenomena, and the capacity to manage and organise work in multicultural and multi-linguistic areas. This specific professionalism must thus be supplemented and supported by the mastery of several languages – not only those spoken in Europe – for the purpose of both technical and relational communication.  

The teaching approach combines traditional forms (lectures) with methods that require greater student participation and responsibilities. Students will be expected to improve their public-speaking skills (through the organisation of case simulations, the presentation of papers, participation in debates coordinated by outside experts, etc.); organise and manage work groups (stimulating proactivity, the coordination of resources, work supervision and time-management techniques, the assumption of responsibility, the search for innovative problem-solving, flexible reasoning, the ability to adapt to multi-thematic, multi-linguistic and multicultural settings, a rapid response to change, and an aptitude for negotiation). The testimony of international officials, diplomats and corporate executives constitute an added value in the approach to teaching.

Employment and professional opportunities for graduates

In addition to the traditional professional opportunities of a diplomatic career and positions with international governmental organisations (particularly European organisations in which Italian officials are still under-represented today) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), there are also broader possibilities of employment with public and private companies that have an international outlook, including those working in the banking and financial industry, as well as public administrations on both a central and local level that conduct activities (e.g. in the sector of environmental protection, immigration, public contracts, etc.) in which a knowledge of the internationalist dimension of problems and potential solutions has become indispensable. Other employment opportunities include consultancy positions with companies, businesses and law offices dealing with commerce, foreign investments and commercial arbitration.

Research and university careers in the areas of history and political studies, economics and law that require such professional skills represent another option that should not be overlooked.

Master’s Degree in International Relations

Major in International Relations

I YEAR

Subject

ECTS credits

European Political Systems

8

Theories of Globalisation

8

Distributive Justice

8

International Economics

8

Comparative Constitutional Law (advanced)

8

Behavioural Psychology and Economics

8

II YEAR

Subject

ECTS credits

History of Globalization

8

Sustainable Development

6

Islamic Culture

8

Indian Studies

6

Elective courses

12

Final thesis

18

Language/s

8

Computer skills

Other activities

4

 TOTAL N. ECTS credits

120