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Graduate Diploma
School of Humanities and Social Science
Today, there are at least fifty million people forcibly uprooted by war, persecution, civil disorder, and development displacement. The vast majority of these people live in the poorest countries and at least one third of these displaced persons are found in he Middle East and Africa. Egypt stands at the crossroads of both regions. The one-year, multi-disciplinary graduate diploma is designed to meet the needs of persons who currently work in the field of forced migration, are planning to enter it, or whose research interests are issues of forced migration in Africa, the Middle East or the Mediterranean region. In a world of growing economic inequality, aggression and turmoil, the demand for trained professionals and independent researchers will not diminish.
Governance of the Diploma
A Joint Steering Committee (JSC) governs the graduate diploma. The JSC makes decisions concerning the diploma program including, but not limited to, admission of students, curriculum planning, and advising students.
Admission
Applicants seeking admission to the Graduate Diploma in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies must meet the requirements for graduate admission to AUC and must meet the University's language requirements. Information concerning these can be found in the AUC catalog. Special consideration may be given for professional experience.
Curriculum
The involvement of the 'humanitarian regime" creates a unique macro setting: actors include donors, host and receiving governments, foreign and local humanitarian organizations, and the affected populations, both refugees and their hosts. Policy-makers, humanitarians and researchers need to understand "the politics of the causes" as well as "the politics of policies" of both the host and donor states. Those working in this field also must have a thorough knowledge of international human rights standards and refugee law.
Additionally, they must appreciate the unique psychological dimensions of experiences of persecution, torture, loss, flight and adaptation. To meet these educational challenges, specialized courses in sociology, anthropology, human rights/refugee law, political science and psychology are offered.
The diploma requires six courses --four required courses of three credit hours each (twelve credit hours) plus two elective courses (six hours) for a total of eighteen credit hours. The program may be completed in one year but can accommodate part-time students. To ensure a broad comparative understanding of forced migration, students must demonstrate to the JSC or its designate --either through course enrollment or research-- that they have examined issues in the Middle East and in Africa. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue internship.
Requirements
Two sequential core courses POLS/SOC/ANTH 507 (Introduction to Forced Migration and Refugee Studies) offered in the fall, and POLS/SOC/ANTH 576 (Issues in Forced Migration) offered in the spring --are required of all diploma students. In addition, students must complete POLS 518 (International Refugee Law), and PYCH 412/512 (Psychological Issues in Forced Migration).
Electives in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies
Students may select two additional courses from a list of elective courses approved by the Joint Steering Committee on a yearly basis. Students must complete a major research project that focuses upon forced migration and refugee studies in each elective.
Every year, when the teaching schedule of the following year is prepared, the JSC will decide which electives will count towards the diploma. When it is apparent that courses include a sufficient focus upon forced migration and refugee studies, they may be added to the list of electives. Likewise, when courses cease to have adequate content relating to forced migration and refugee studies, the JSC may remove them from the list. A list of courses currently approved for the Diploma is available from the Department of Political Science, the Department of SAPE and from the Director of the FMRS Program. |
