Co-Curricular Activities

MSFS provides a wide variety of co-curricular activities, focusing on leadership, professional skills, and expertise, which complement and enhance what students learn in the classroom. Co-curricular activities are intended to encourage MSFS students explore interests both within and beyond their fields of study by attending a variety of offered clinics and lectures.

Clinics

Clinics are a vital part of the MSFS co-curriculum. These sessions focus on a single skill or topic that is vital to practitioners in the field of international relations. Some clinics are concentration-specific, while others explore subjects that are relevant to students across multiple concentrations. MSFS recruits subject-matter experts to teach the clinics through hands-on training sessions incorporating current and relevant material. Previous clinics include a Chevron communications clinic, in which leaders from MSFS partner Chevron helped students to hone the communication skills essential to leadership in international affairs, and a Civil Rights Movement clinic designed for students interested in ethical leadership, human rights, democratic reform, nonviolent resistance, social movements, and conflict resolution.

Practitioners in Residence

The Practitioners in Residence initiative promotes interactions between MSFS students and leading practitioners in international affairs in order to advance students’ professional development. Every year, leading professionals in global affairs are selected to be MSFS Practitioners in Residence. These Practitioners mentor students and offer career guidance and advice through activities such as skills clinics, seminars, and career sessions.

Lectures and Other Events

Smaller events are regularly held on campus for MSFS students to attend outside of the classroom. Faculty and staff invite prominent practitioners and academic experts to speak on topics of regional and global importance. Lectures also include more informal conversations with practitioners, where leading professionals in international affairs discuss their work with MSFS students.

Career Development Activities

MSFS prepares its students to become not only academic experts in their international fields of interest but also experienced practitioners . Both co-curricular and extracurricular activities are designed to equip students with knowledge and skills that can be applied over a lifetime. Click here to learn more about career development activities.