Fordham University

Fordham University's Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development is internationally known for its academic excellence. Consistently more than half of our graduates routinely win distinguished awards such as Fulbright, Boren, and US Presidential Management Fellowships. We have achieved this success by offering a unique and innovative interdisciplinary approach to analyzing contemporary global economic relations and international development issues. Our curriculum, as well as our location in New York City, is ideal for anyone who wishes to be at the center of the world economy.

Our students come from diverse backgrounds but share a common enthusiasm for international and development issues. About 35% of our students come from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, while most of our US students have several years of overseas experience.

Our fellowships allow us to recruit an extremely talented and diverse student body. Ricci Fellowships are for students actively involved in international affairs, usually from the UN diplomatic community. Global Markets Assistantships are for individuals interested in the analysis of international commercial and financial markets. Arrupe Fellowships are for students who seek to pursue a career with non-profit international relief and development organizations. Public Service Assistantships are for students committed to leadership and management of US international public policies and programs. And, the Fordham University's Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development is internationally known for its academic excellence. Consistently more are for highly talented Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and our Salesian Fellowships are for returned international volunteers with faith based organizations.

About 39% of our alumni are employed in the business sector, usually as analysts in the financial services and management consultancy industries. About 23% of our alumni work in the public sector as either analysts or managers in national governments or the United Nations. Around 27% work in the non-profit sector usually as project managers with international humanitarian organizations.

To receive information directly from the Admissions Department, click here.

Aug 15, 2018

Understanding the Global Economy Through Interdisciplinary Lenses

as seen in the September/October 2019 issue of Foreign Affairs

Professor Henry Schwalbenberg

Director
Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development
Fordham University

What sets Fordham University’s Graduate Program in International Political Economy and Development (Fordham IPED) apart from other international affairs programs?

Fordham IPED offers a unique, rigorous, and innovative approach to analyzing contemporary global economic relations. Issues in international economic relations and development are understood from both the political and economic perspectives. Furthermore, we provide a strong quantitative methods foundation, which allows our students to develop robust analytical skills in data analysis, project assessment, and computer programming. We also stress professional experience outside the classroom.

How does Fordham IPED prepare its students for a changing international affairs landscape?

Our core curriculum, consisting of economics and political science foundational courses, provides our students with an advanced interdisciplinary knowledge of economic relations. Our electives allow students to specialize in the fields of international banking and finance, international development studies, international and development economics, or global environmental and resource economics.

Through our summer intern fellowship program, we fund a number of internships for our students to gain practical field experience with international businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, not only here in New York but also in Washington, DC, as well as in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

What unique advantages are available for students in the Fordham IPED program?

Our curriculum and our location in New York City are ideal for anyone who wishes to be at the center of the world economy. Our location affords our students a wealth of internship opportunities, ranging from the United Nations to international nonprofit organizations, international policy institutes, and Wall Street.

We also complement our classes with a weekly lecture series and career trips in New York and Washington, DC, that feature a broad range of professionals highlighting the practitioner perspective on contemporary issues in international affairs.

We have a small class size of roughly twenty-five students, providing the opportunity for close interactions with our supportive and distinguished faculty of experts. Our students come from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. We draw our students from among the top 40 percent of all applicants to U.S. graduate programs. We offer generous scholarships to exceptional students and provide funding for students’ participation in internship placements, language immersion programs, and international fieldwork overseas.

Lastly, we have a strong alumni network and close association with various international organizations. Our placement record is strong, with about 40 percent of alumni in the private sector, 25 percent in nonprofit, 22 percent in government, and the remaining 13 percent in academia.