Bill of Rights 1789
Overview
The International Communication Program in the School of International Service is the oldest specialized degree program in this field in the United States. The program was established in 1968, and the first M.A. degree in International Communication was offered in 1970. Since its inception, the program has pioneered professional curricula in international communication and remains a leader in the field. In 2007, it created another Masters degree option, the M.A. in International Media (joint degree with the School of Communication).
The distinctive mission of the IC Program is a focus on the role of communications in the international system, and analysis of the relation between international communication and international relations. This mission is increasingly relevant to many critically important international developments in the 21st century. With cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary depth and breath, the IC Program explores the cultural, geopolitical, economic and technological dimensions of international communication. The program links theory to practice in building ideas that shape research, policy and professional practice.
The program preceded the great majority of institutions with international communication courses by creating a program of study, new directions in research, and cutting edge professional training. Located within the School of International Service, the IC Program is able to draw upon strong expertise across the spectrum of international studies, including international relations and international politics, international development, regional studies, foreign policy, international economic policy, international environmental policy, international peace and conflict studies, and international law and organizations. The integration within the context of international relations in SIS contributes to the historical role played by the IC Program in the growth of the field.
The objective of the program is to encourage students to make specialized academic and professional contributions to the field and to prepare for a variety of professions at both the national and international levels in diverse arenas of private industry, consultancy, government, media and information sectors, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and educational and cultural organizations. Increasingly, international communication is at the core of the debate on issues such as the global knowledge economy, information technology and international development, culture and global communication, international journalism, human rights of information and expression, global communication and democracy, economics of information, international negotiation, cross-cultural communication, and global conflict and cooperation.
The IC Program draws on relevant research and thinking from the humanities and social sciences, including political science, economics, social psychology, sociology, cultural studies and information sciences. The program’s interdisciplinary approach is grounded in the assumption that global society in general and international relations in particular can be better understood through analysis of the information and communication systems that shape the evolving global geopolitical environment---and that the new international relations is comprised of geopolitical, technological, economic and cultural relations among peoples, societies, nations and communities.
IC Strategic Plan for the 21st Century
The IC Strategic Plan for the 21st Century expands the areas of concentration in which students may specialize. An enhanced curriculum affirms the program’s leadership role in pioneering the field of international communication studies through cutting-edge research and curricula. The new and revised curriculum also allows for better flexibility in tailoring students’ professional interests.
The program offers six principal areas of concentration:
- Communication & Development
Role of communication networks and information technologies on socio-economic development of regions, nations and communities - Geopolitics of Information
The role of information technology networks and strategic communications on international relations, public diplomacy, foreign policy, and geopolitical/strategic interests. - Global Media Studies
Global, transnational and comparative media systems and their cultural and social influence on societies worldwide - Information Technology & Global Communication
Economics and political economy of information technology in comparative and global context - Intercultural Relations
Communication between and among cultures at the interpersonal and group levels - International Media & Communication Policy
Comparative national and international communication policies for the information society, telecommunications, the Internet, intellectual property rights, cultural policy, media law, content regulation, audiovisual & multimedia policy, competition policy in the communications sector, and rights of freedom of speech, press and expression. - Individually tailored concentration in IC
Designed in consultation with faculty
Plus
Besides the core curriculum, students are encouraged to pursue multiple specializations to achieve a well rounded, interdisciplinary breadth of knowledge and expertise in the field. IC students work closely with the faculty to design their own concentrations.
Special Opportunities
The International Communication faculty and students are active in conducting field research worldwide and in presenting the results of their work at international conferences. IC students publish their work and contribute solutions to problems in international communication theory and practice. Faculty work closely with students at both the MA and PhD levels in advancing research and promoting professional development through publications, professional associations, and a variety of academic conferences. Over the past several decades, the IC Program has hosted and organized a number of international conferences and has been the headquarters of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR).
Located in Washington D.C., one of the world's leading centers for international policy and interaction which also serves as a global laboratory for the program, students enjoy access to an array of unique internships and mentoring opportunities in the field of International Communication.
Two distinctive and acclaimed features of the IC Program are: (1) the skills institutes or workshops, and (2) the internship program. The skills institutes allow students hands-on experiential learning. Distinguished scholar-practitioners and professionals in the field design and teach these workshops. The highly regarded internship program integrates direct professional experience into the curriculum through internships in the Washington, DC area and in organizations around the world. In addition, the IC Program offers several internships each year within the program itself in global digital media journalism, publishing, production and publicity.
Associated with the IC Program is the Intercultural Management Institute which offers a forum for business, education and training professionals and provides a number of skill workshops in such areas as cross-cultural training, global business management, with global organization development, and conflict management. Students are encouraged to participate in the many conferences and workshops.
Students may elect to publish their own research and serve as editors of the “Intercultural Management Quarterly” in addition to the School of International Service student journal “Swords and Ploughshares.”
Internships and Career Opportunities
International Communication graduates find diverse employment opportunities in the public and private sectors. Although government and public institutions remain important sources for employment, the growth of the information technology and information services sectors, media and multimedia enterprises, consulting companies, the importance of international and intercultural education, and the increasing significance of communication policies have generated expanding opportunities for private sector and non-governmental jobs. Employment opportunities include financial institutions, trade associations, telecommunications firms, multinational corporations, international and non-governmental organizations, media, communication and consulting firms, research institutions, and a range of cross-cultural and international exchange programs.
The International Communication Program organizes forums for debate and discussion, career development, and opportunities in international communications in which alumni, representatives of government, industry, and other institutions are invited to participate. These provide students with firsthand information and contacts with key professionals involved in the field of international communication. A dedicated Career Center team supports IC students with their professional goals.