Bard College's Globalization and International Affairs (BGIA) Program provides a unique opportunity for university students and recent graduates from around the world to engage in the study and practice of: international law; international relations theory; global public health; political economy; international reporting; and other aspects of international affairs. BGIA is a small and highly selective program for 30 students each semester and 20 students each summer.
The Curriculum
BGIA merges advanced coursework in international affairs with substantive professional experiences in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and provides a new generation of young leaders insight into careers at organizations such as:
the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs;
Human Rights Watch;
Oxford Analytica;
the Open Society Foundations;
International Crisis Group;
Amnesty International,and many more. During the fall and spring semester, which run 15 weeks, students typically intern 25 hours a week; during the summer program, which runs 8 weeks, students intern 40 hours or more a week.
Student Internships
Over the past ten years, BGIA students have interned at over 140 organizations in New York. Their responsibilities have ranged from interviewing political asylum seekers from Central America to analyzing the efficiency of microfinance loans in Mongolia. The internship is an unparalleled opportunity for students to advance a senior thesis, prepare for graduate school or transition into a job in New York City.
Course Work
Classes are convened in the evening and are taught by leading practitioners and academics in a variety of fields of international affairs, offering students a unique lens through which to analyze the subject matter. Through the internship and coursework, the program ensures a deep understanding of not only international relations theory, but also its practical applications.
Academics
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. The courses, covering a breadth of international fields, are based on student discussion, research, and writing. Courses earn four credits each, and are based on an academic calendar. They meet in the late afternoon and early evening to accommodate daytime internships.
BGIA’s Core Seminar: Non-State Actors in International Affairs 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.
- Transcripts and Certification
Upon completion of the program, students are awarded a certificate in intensive academic study of international affairs and globalization, recognized by the state of New York. Transcripts for the program are issued by the Registrar's Office of Bard College.