MIP Competencies

The student will be able to

1. Apply international affairs concepts

   • Students will be able to apply multiple theories, frameworks, and approaches to analyze specific international affairs policy issues.

   • Assessment: Reflection paper prepared at the end of the student's degree program should demonstrate how the student's engagement with the theoretical concepts studied in their courses has altered their view of a professional challenge they faced or were involved with before entering the program. The reflection should clearly identify a previous event or problem that the student encountered in professional life before entering the program, explicitly reference theoretical and/or conceptual learning from program classes, and provide a self-conscious account of how the student would approach the problem or analyze the event differently as a result of concepts and theories studied in the program.

   • ePortfolio: This reflection may suffice for this outcome.

2. Communicate research findings

   • • Students will be able to present policy-relevant research findings in an organized, clear, compelling, and professional manner.

     • Assessment: written product (e.g., policy memo, research paper, analytical essay) prepared for an MIP course should demonstrate the student's understanding of the target audience and context of the project through appropriate framing of the issues and appropriate style and vocabulary throughout.

     • ePortfolio: The "written product" may be attached as an "artifact" but should be introduced by a reflection about how the paper demonstrates the student's ability to communicate research findings.

3. Construct research plans

   • • Students will be able to construct appropriate research plans and utilize valid data and sources in preparing policy relevant research.

     • Assessment: written product (e.g., policy memo, research paper, analytical essay) prepared for an MIP course should demonstrate the student's ability to use high-quality, credible and relevant sources, including original and/or non-obvious source materials, and their ability to present their evidence in an effective way to support their overall argument.

     • ePortfolio: The "written product" may be attached as an "artifact" but should be introduced by a reflection about how the paper demonstrates the student's ability to construct research plans.