- Students should be able to communicate in academic language about American politics and foreign policy using historical and theoretical concepts.
- apply knowledge in a variety of professional settings or in the form of further study, including at the doctoral level.
- demonstrate an ability to communicate in writing and in public speaking with a variety of specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- develop sophisticated judgments about American politics and foreign policy that encompass domestic and international/comparative perspectives.
- learn skills that will enable them to accumulate further knowledge in this or other subjects in an autonomous manner.
American Politics & Foreign Policy
This course is available through the following application route(s)
- Duration:
- 1 Year
- Attendance:
- Full Time
- Delivery:
- NFQ Level:
- 9 (60 credits)
- Level:
- Graduate Taught
- Award:
- Graduate Diploma
- Next Intake:
- September
- Country Specific Entry Requirements:
- Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
- Other School Leaving Requirements:
- See www.ucd.ie/admissions
- Duration:
- 2 Years
- Attendance:
- Part-Time
- Delivery:
- NFQ Level:
- 9 (60 credits)
- Level:
- Graduate Taught
- Award:
- Graduate Diploma
- Next Intake:
- September
- Country Specific Entry Requirements:
- Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
- Other School Leaving Requirements:
- See www.ucd.ie/admissions
This Graduate Diploma was the first of its kind to be established in Europe and North America providing students with a sophisticated understanding of the United States, its foreign relations, and domestic politics.
Key reasons to join this program:
- Learn from and engage with top experts in the field. Eugenio Lilli is an influential scholar of US foreign policy, the Middle East, and emerging technologies. Eugenio was invited by United States Strategic Command to discuss his work on cyber deterrence. Scott Lucas has been at the forefront of analysis and commentary on American politics and foreign policy for more than three decades. Scott is a frequent guest of outlets such as CNN, BBC, Ireland's RTE, Canada's CBC, Al Jazeera, France 24, Deutsche Welle, and channels throughout India. Liam Kennedy is an authority in the areas of US-Irish relations, public diplomacy and soft power. On the former topic Liam has advised the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.
- Avail of our internship and mentorship opportunities. To know more about this, contact us via the form on this page or write to the program director eugenio.lilli[at]ucd.ie
- Participate in unique events. Past events organized for our students featured Bill Clinton (42nd president of the United States), Jake Sullivan (National Security Advisor to US President Biden), Christopher Painter (1st US cyber ambassador), Noam Chomsky (scholar and intellectual) and many other leading politicians, diplomats, policymakers, scholars, and journalists.
- Contribute to our flagship media outlets. Our students have the opportunity to contribute with their analysis to American Unfiltered and EA WorldView; two media outlets run by our own Liam Kennedy and Scott Lucas.
- Take advantage of the benefits of an exclusive venue. All the core modules of this Diploma take place in the exclusive Clinton Institute located in UCD Belfield Campus. Our core modules consist of small cohorts of students therefore allowing you to benefit from high levels of interaction with your instructors.
- Study an incredibly topical and fascinating subject. In the 21st century the United States remains the most influential country in the world. Whether you look at climate change, the covid-19 pandemic, or the war in Ukraine, decisions taken in Washington DC have an impact on the rest of the world. However, a number of challenges in recent years have called into question the sustainability of American leadership abroad and prosperity at home. This includes, but is not limited to, the notion of American decline in relation to rising powers such as China and resurging ones like Russia, a political system that appears to have entered an extended period of dysfunction, recurring problems in race relations, and rising economic inequality.
This Diploma is designed for those people planning, or already engaged in, a career in the diplomatic service, journalism, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations. This Diploma will also prepare you for a career in politics, political risk analysis, academia, and think tanks.
About This Course
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
Trimester | Credits | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Core Modules |
AMST40310 | Challenges in US Foreign Policy | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
AMST40590 | Trump's America | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
AMST40480 | Research Skills Seminar | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
AMST40560 | The Global Politics of Cyber Security | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
AMST40570 | The U.S. and the Middle East | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of: Students must select one option module. |
AMST40580 | News Media Today | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of: Students must select one option module. |
GEOG40450 | Critical Geopolitics and Diplomacy | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of: Students must select one option module. |
GEOG41050 | Globalization, Empire and Race: Economic Geography | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of: Students must select one option module. |
AMST40650 | Politics and Digital Storytelling | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of: Students must select one option module. |
HIS42840 | Modern Asia | Spring | 10 |
An upper second class honours degree, or the international equivalent in the subject areas such as the humanities, politics or international relations but not exclusively.
- Standard of English required it is expected that students will normally have reached an overall 7 in the IELTS with no individual band less than 6.5 or equivalent.
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: No
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
This Diploma is designed for those people planning, or already engaged in, a career in the diplomatic service, journalism, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations. This Diploma will also prepare you for a career in politics, political risk analysis, academia, and think tanks.
This is an academic programme but is also suited to practitioners/professionals in a related field who wish to gain a broader understanding of processes, policies, and outcomes in the area of American politics and foreign policy, both domestically and within the context of international affairs.
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to American Politics & Foreign Policy:
ROWCLASS | Apply to |
---|---|
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z236 American Politics & Foreign Policy Graduate Diploma Full-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z237 American Politics & Foreign Policy Graduate Diploma Part-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |