Get your Master's Degree Major in Diplomacy, Security, Commerce, or Development

2024 ISCNE Anne Ngarhasta — Anne Ngarhasta takes charge at the 2024 Crisis Simulation.

Mark Mahan

Masters in Diplomacy and International Commerce

The Patterson School curriculum is carefully designed to prepare exceptional students for careers in international affairs. If you are a high achiever, bring passion to learning, flourish in a rigorous academic environment, and intend to operate on the world stage, this may be your place. Our master's program will provide you with the fundamental skills you need to successfully pursue professional work in either the public, private, or non-profit sectors.

Four concentrations

Diplomacy

International Commerce

International Organizations and Development

International Security and Intelligence

New Cohort Social: The Grove Lexington

Aug 20, 2025, 5:00 – 7:30 PM

Alumni and current students, please join us in celebrating our new student cohort at The Grove Lexington (200 W Main Street) on August 20th from 5-7:30PM. Appetizers will be provided!

Book Club: Dr. Young and Breaking the Engagement

Aug 13, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Please join us for our third and final summer book club meeting at The Cornerstone (401 S Limestone) on August 13th. Dr. Young will be leading a discussion on David Shambaugh's book Breaking the Engagement: How China Won and Lost America.

2025 Summer Reading List

May 27, 2025

Summer Reading

New for 2025 Raj Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War. (2024) David Shambaugh, Breaking the Engagement: How China Won & Lost America. (Expected June 2025) Ernest Scheyder, The War Below: Lithium, Copper and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives. (2024) 2024 Selections

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Upcoming Events

Book Club: Dr. Young and Breaking the Engagement

Aug 13, 2025, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Please join us for our third and final summer book club meeting at The Cornerstone (401 S Limestone) on August 13th. Dr. Young will be leading a discussion on David Shambaugh's book Breaking the Engagement: How China Won and Lost America.

New Cohort Social: The Grove Lexington

Aug 20, 2025, 5:00 – 7:30 PM

Alumni and current students, please join us in celebrating our new student cohort at The Grove Lexington (200 W Main Street) on August 20th from 5-7:30PM. Appetizers will be provided!

Learning beyond the curriculum

Visiting Speakers

Patterson students are frequently visited by special guest speakers: admirals, presidents, intelligence experts, diplomats and leaders of international NGOs. Quite often an international expert is sharing a room with 35 our brightest.

24 10 15 ISCNE Crisis Sim Room, three students discuss

Diplomacy Simulations

Each fall, we host the U.S. Army War College's International Strategic Crisis Exercise team for fast-paced two day simulation of a real world diplomatic crisis. Students form teams, act as diplomats, and try to negotiate a way forward.

2024 ISCNE: Central Asia

2022 Fall ISCNE: South China Sea

2022 Spring Crisis Simulation: Migration Crisis, Latin America

Fall Conference

Patterson brings experts in international issues from around the globe to speak share a room solely with Patterson students and discuss some of the most pressing issues in trade, development, security and the shifting balance of international power in a day long event. Four panels of practitioners, ambassadors, military officials, and global leaders, are up close and personal. Students will meet, mingle, and engage them in this exclusive event.

60 Years of history

Established in 1959, the Patterson legacy is rich and deep.

35 Spring cohort size

At this size, each student has unparalleled access to faculty and resources.

18 Months

Three semesters of coursework, summer reading, travel, crisis simulations, speakers and more.

Get your Master's Degree Major in Diplomacy, Security, Commerce, or Development

Four concentrations

Upcoming Events

Learning beyond the curriculum

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