On campus

All students should register for on-campus Skills Institutes as you would any other course, through Eagle Service. Space is limited and early registration is strongly recommended. Additionally, students should make all registration changes for Skills Institutes no later than 24 hours before the Skills Institute meets. Students who add a Skills Institute within 48 hours of the Skills Institute meeting must contact the faculty member to confirm your enrollment and obtain any course materials already distributed.

Online

In the event that select online Skills Institutes become available to on-campus students, registration deadlines will be earlier and students will follow a different registration process via the IR Online program. Online students register for online Skills Institutes as you would for any other course, using Eagle Service.

Skills Institutes for certain programs may require prerequisite courses. Check the course description or the program website for information about prerequisites.

Most Skills Institutes are graded pass/fail. Some programs require letter grades for the Skills Institutes they offer. Skills Institutes may not be audited. Students are expected to attend the entirety of any registered Skills Institute and should plan accordingly. Students who miss more than two hours of a Skills Institute may fail the course.

Students will be charged the current tuition rate for one graduate-level credit hour. An additional materials fee may also apply.

SUMMER 2026

 

Expeditionary Civil-Military Interaction

Anthony Wanis-St.John

In Person 5/16, 5/17

 

Organizational Effectiveness

Bob Tomasko

In Person 5/30, 5/31& Online 6/20

 

Culturally Responsive Program Design

Amanda Taylor

Online 6/26, 6/27, 6/28

 

Interviews and Focus Groups

Edward Timke

Online 7/18, 7/19, 7/25

 

FALL 2026

Impact Investing

Lisa Willems  

In-Person     11/07, 11/08

This course covers the core principles involved with investing for societal as well as economic impact. Intended for students interested in pursuing careers in social finance, philanthropy/nonprofit, investment management, or responsible banking, the course provides an overview of the impact investment market as well as the practical application of the core principles of the sector. Students explore the due diligence and deal structuring required for investing in social enterprises, what is involved in developing an investment portfolio for an organization or a fund, and the basic investment decisions behind it.

 

The Art of Interpersonal Negotiation

Alexandra Mislin        

In-Person     09/26, 09/27

Students may consider themselves confident negotiators or doubt themselves, believing that negotiators are born. In fact, the most important interpersonal skills in negotiation are very learnable. In this course, students gain insight into their own skill gaps and growth areas. Through a series of simulations and drills, students improve the outcomes of their daily interactions and build skills to help optimize outcomes in professional and personal settings.

 

Media Skills for International Service

Lynne Weil     

In-Person     11/07, 11/14

The media strongly influence decision-making in the nation's capital; anyone seeking to make an impact needs to understand how to leverage media opportunities, from landing and acing interviews to pitching opinion pieces for publication. While communications teams support policy professionals to create and maximize such opportunities, it is important that everyone involved has a basic understanding of the media environment and how to make the most of it. In this course, for future policy professionals, students develop the savvy to analyze incoming info requests, generate interest among journalists, and navigate potentially rough media waters via contemporary readings, hands-on exercises, role-playing, and self-guided research.

 

Drafting Policy Memos

Robert Hollister          

Online           09/26, 09/27, 10/03

This workshop will focus on preparing effective informational and decision memoranda for busy international affairs policymakers. Drawing on real-world writing samples and high-level case studies from the Department of State, students will gain exposure to a range of writing styles, including action memos, diplomatic reporting, and multi-stakeholder engagement, alongside analytic tradecraft from the intelligence community. Through this course, students will sharpen vital skills that are directly applicable to the demands of fast-paced, high-stakes international decision-making.

 

Planning, Forecasting and Decision-Making

Stephen Kelley            

Online           10/10, 10/11,10/17

This course introduces the art of analyzing decisions, making and updating predictions, framing problems, and developing plans. It exposes students to different approaches to thinking about the future, navigating uncertain decision-making environments, and developing plans to solve complex problem sets. Students apply different approaches to planning and decision making that include linear planning processes, foresight methods, design, and red teaming methodologies. These concepts and methodologies are germane to a wide range of professional settings that include public sector positions (e.g., national security decision making, development and implementation of foreign, domestic, environmental, and cyberspace policy) as well as private sector fields wherein the ability for companies to move beyond simple predictions and make more resilient and strategic decisions in the face of market volatility and unforeseen events is a critical capability. The ability to make sound decisions under conditions of uncertainty can provide one with a comparative advantage in a competitive labor market and in the marketplace of ideas. The course helps students develop this comparative advantage. Course sessions emphasize application (i.e., 'learning by doing') of these approaches in a group setting.

Public Speaking

Ana Gamonal da Navarro     

In-Person     09/12, 09/13

This skills institute focuses on effective public speaking and presentation skills. Students learn to deliver with style, passion, and confidence. The institute focuses on the four key steps to persuasive presentations: defining your purpose, focusing on audience needs, effective presentation writing, and developing a personal delivery style. Students are prepared to develop a well-planned public speech and gain tools to persuade, inform, and inspire.

Finance & Account Fundamentals

Louis Biggie   

In-Person     10/24, 10/25

Finance skills are important to any manager, in any sector, be it development, advocacy, government or for-profit. This course uses a hands-on and engaging Color Accounting system to give students a lasting foundation in the field of finance and reporting.

 

The Local Power Lab: Community-Led Change in Practice

Gunjan Veda 

In-Person     09/19, 09/20

The international development, health, environment, peace-building and humanitarian sectors are experiencing a moment of deep turmoil and reflection. There is growing recognition that communities - be they in the US or abroad - have to be in the drivers seat. But what does this mean in practice? This course draws on the work of hundreds of practitioners - from those in civil society and multilateral institutions to local governments and frontline workers- to share tools and methodologies for community-led work to tackle complex challenges from access to healthcare and education to climate change and inequality. Through simulations and action labs, students will develop skills to tackle power dynamics, enable participation and assess sustainability of change. They will carry out resource mapping exercises, create visibility circles and become familiar with the Participatory CLD Assessment Tool. 

 

Consulting Skills

Stephanie Fischer     

Online           11/14, 11/15/11/21

This course equips students with skills and perspectives to make positive changes from the vantage point of an outside consultant as well as from within an organization. Students learn the basics of consulting, from understanding the needs of a client and developing a scope of work, to building trust and credibility with a client and delivering recommendations that will create