PARIS, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy at the American Graduate School in Paris now includes optional area studies concentrations in Africa and in the Middle East.

These options are designed for students of International Relations wishing to have a specific expertise to serve them in their careers in inter-governmental organizations, NGOs, government, international business, journalism, academia, or other branches of international affairs.

"Africa and the Middle East are increasingly important subjects for whoever wants to understand interactions between states at a global level. We strongly believe that having these additional areas of expertise can be of great benefit to our students' international careers in the long term," states Eileen Servidio, President of the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at the American Graduate School in Paris and Professor of International Law.

The Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy is a two-year program taught in English in Paris, France and accredited in the United States as an affiliated program of Arcadia University, Pennsylvania (www.arcadia.edu).

Upon graduation, students who have opted for one of these two specializations will receive a Certificate of Concentration along with the Master of Arts diploma.

In addition to the requirements for the Master's degree, the specific requirements to obtain a Certificate of Concentration are the following:

    --  Take two courses in the chosen area of concentration within their
        curriculum
    --  Complete the specific reading list provided, under the supervision of
        their Concentration supervisor
    --  Pass a comprehensive exam on the subject
    --  Write their Master's thesis on a topic related to the area of
        concentration
    --  Students are encouraged (not required) to do an internship in their area
        of concentration

Additionally, extracurricular meetings, events and visits around the topic will be organized.

These two concentrations are compatible with other offerings in the Master of International Relations and Diplomacy, such as the dual programs (http://www.ags.edu/international-relations/degree-programs) and the possibility to spend one semester in the United States.

The African Studies concentration will be headed by Professor Douglas Yates, Ph.D., and the Middle Eastern Studies concentration will be headed by Professor Mariam Habibi.

Prof. Yates comments: "France is an ideal location for studying African politics because of the strong links between the French government and its thirteen former African colonies. The large number of colonial archives and other documentation resources on Africa in France, and the great attention that the French media devotes to Africa are both useful to students in their research."

The American Graduate School in Paris envisages additional optional concentrations in other area studies in the future.

The American Graduate School in Paris is a not-for-profit institution offering U.S. higher education in France to students from around the world. It has a School of Business and Economics and a School of International Relations and Diplomacy.

SOURCE The American Graduate School in Paris