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With a tradition of leadership and innovation, and a commitment to excellence, the Patterson School is keenly focused on what will be required to prepare international policymakers to meet the demands of the 21st century. We continue to be guided by James Patterson’s visionary approach to the integrated study of diplomacy and international commerce. We constantly refine our curriculum to ensure that we are effectively educating future global leaders in both fields. As one of the nation’s leading masters programs in international affairs, we are building upon a very solid foundation.

Our people make the difference.

Fall 2023 Graduating Cohort @ Spindletop — Fall 2023 graduating cohort celebrating the successful completion of their comprehensive exams!

Group Photo Crisis Simulation Fall 2023 — Army War College International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise (ISCNE) - Fall 2023

Fall 2023 cohort — The Patterson School's Fall 2023 new student cohort!

Crisis simulation group photo spring 2023 — Crisis Simulation Spring 2023

Patterson Students at Islamic Center of America — Patterson students at Islamic Center of America during their 2023 spring break trip

Patterson students at US Institute of Peace — Patterson School students visited the U.S. Institute of Peace during their trip to Washington DC in October 2022

Fall 2022 Cohort — The Patterson School welcomes its 2022 student cohort!

Patterson Students in Doha, Qatar — Patterson School students from the 58th and 59th cohorts visited Doha, Qatar in December 2018

Patterson Students at Turkish Ambassador's Residence — Students had the opportunity to visit the Turkish Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C.

Patterson students in Japan — Patterson School students in Japan

Latest News

2024 10 18, Fall Conference, Joseph Cain speaking

2024 Fall Conference: Latin America. Una conversación increíble.

Nov 29, 2024

Students engaged panelists discussing the major issues of diplomacy, international security, commerce and development in a full day session. They also had the chance to meet with panelists directly during lunch and after session casual break. For details of the event see the announcement post: 2024 Fall Conference: Latin America

Meet the new Director of the Patterson School

Nov 1, 2024

The Patterson School would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Director Dr. Joe Young! Dr. Young is coming to us from American University where he has held a number of leadership positions over the past 14 years in several different schools.

Room with seated students watching opening announcements about ISCNE.

2024 Negotiation Simulation: Central Asia was a success!

Oct 13, 2024

Students, faculty, alumni and special guests, the U.S. Army War College's ISCNE team gathered in Patterson Hall Friday afternoon to begin this year's negotiation simulation. The exercise actually begins a few days ahead of the kickoff as teams are assembled, mentors recruited, and packets of background material are distributed. Students quickly must come to understand the region and the issues that the region faces as they prepare their strategies for tackling real-world international issues.

2024 Summer Reading List

Jan 27, 2024

Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives, Siddharth Kara, (2023) Pacific Power Paradox: American Statecraft and the Fate of the Asian Peace, Van Jackson, (2023) The Edge of the Plain: How Borders Make and Break Our World, James Crawford, (2023) Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency, Andy Greenberg, (2022) Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy, Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman, (2023)

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. John Charalambakis

Nov 27, 2023

Dr. John Charalambakis is the Managing Director for the BlackSummit Financial Group Inc. He advises organizations, corporations, families, non-profits and government entities operating in several countries. His knowledge has resulted in him assisting the Congressional Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission with research on the causes of the financial crisis.

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Upcoming Events

Robert Edwin Kelly, and his daughter Marion

Guest Speaker: Robert E. Kelly

Dec 2, 2024, 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Dr. Robert E. Kelly is a professor of political science and diplomacy at Pusan National University in South Korea. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Ohio State University in 2005, with a focus on international relations and political theory. His research and teaching interests include international relations theory in East Asia, U.S. foreign policy in Asia, Korean foreign policy, and international financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF.