The information provided below is intended only as a general guideline, providing broad descriptions of the eleven fields of study offered under the 2000 Muskie/FSA Program. It is important for applicants to understand that within the United States, a wide variety of graduate programs are offered in each major field described below. The curricula, course content, types of degrees offered, and the lengths of degree program vary greatly at different U.S. universities. Because a number of factors are involved in placing fellows at host universities, finalists are not guaranteed their preferred program length. The university that may be deemed most appropriate for a particular finalist may not offer the length of program for which the applicant has applied. It is critical that each applicant select his/her field of study carefully and his/her specialization within that field thoughtfully. Applicants are encouraged to further research these fields, and the different graduate programs offered by U.S. universities in these fields before selecting a field of study on the application. Information is available at local U.S. educational information centers, on the Internet, and through other resources. It is the responsibility of the applicant to select the appropriate field of study and specialization within that field. The selection committee makes placement decisions based on information provided by the applicant, therefore it is in the applicant’s best interest to research thoroughly that field and to write a statement of purpose which accurately reflects his/her understanding of, and interest in the field.
Business Administration - Prepares individuals to plan, organize, and direct the operations of a firm’s or organization’s resources, including personnel, money, materials, and technology. Generally includes instruction in management theory, financial management, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, marketing, and business decision making.
Economics - The study of the production, conservation, and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. The analytical skills of economics are useful in evaluating alternative methods of achieving society’s goals and objectives and in formulating strategies and policies that will help to achieve these objectives.
Education -
Primary or Secondary School Teaching and Curriculum provides a set of courses geared toward the preparation of primary or secondary school teachers. Areas of focus include pedagogy, curriculum design, and educational assessment. These programs often include practicum teaching under the supervision of a master teacher. Secondary school teachers must indicate their subject area (history, mathematics, etc.).
Primary or Secondary School Administration focuses on the management and leadership of primary or secondary schools. Coursework can include budgeting, facilities management, planning, organizational theory, leadership, strategy, negotiations, and fundraising.
Special Education, generally a specialization for those intending to work in primary or secondary education, provides educators with special skills for the instruction of children who are mentally or physically challenged and do not perform at the average of their age group. These programs often include a practicum teaching under the supervision of a master teacher.
Higher Education Administration provides a set of courses which prepares individuals to work in a variety of administrative positions at an institution of higher education. Courses may include budgeting, finance, history of higher education, and student personnel administration.
International and Comparative Education provides students with coursework related to the international and transcultural dimensions of education. Students in this specialization may be required to further narrow their comparative study of education through subspecialization in an academic discipline (economics, history, philosophy, etc.) or professional educational field (adult education, bilingual education, higher education, etc.), or by focusing on a particular geographic region.
Environmental Management - Includes analysis of the effects of human activities on the environment from the perspectives of the natural and engineering sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities. Includes instruction in environmental, natural, and social sciences: biology, chemistry, geology; environmental economics; and regional, national and global environmental problems. Environmental Management encompasses a wide variety of possible specializations including environmental engineering which prepares students to plan and design environmental management structures and systems such as pollution control facilities; natural resource management which provides instruction on how to manage, utilize and protect valuable natural resources; and environmental policy which prepares students to analyze, form and implement governmental, private, or non-governmental policy related to the environment.
International Affairs - The study of international politics and institutions and the conduct of diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy. Includes multi-disciplinary coursework which examines peoples, events, movements, institutions, societies, cultures, and issues, with instruction in history, international economics, law, politics, sociology, anthropology, and political geography.
Journalism and Mass Communications - The study of journalism and mass communications encompasses all types of modern mass communications media -- newspapers, magazines, publications, periodicals, books, radio, television, photography, corporate video, and satellite transmissions. As a diversified field of study, journalism and mass communications attracts individuals interested in reporting or editing for publications, wire services, radio and television; advertising; photojournalism; public relations; production, direction, and editing for television and film; writing in special fields such as business, economics, education, medicine, politics, and science; radio broadcasting and production; broadcast sales; audience research; and administration and management of the editorial, advertising and business functions of publications, broadcast stations and other mass communications services.
Law - The law degree program offered through the Muskie/FSA Program leads to an LLM degree (Master of Law), which offers lawyers an opportunity to engage in extensive specialized study and research in a particular area of law. Students undertake intensive analysis of issues with specialists in the field and are provided with additional skills necessary to practice or teach that area of law. An undergraduate degree in law is a prerequisite for application to this field.
Library and Information Sciences - Library and information science is the study of the organization, storage, dissemination, and management of information in a variety of formats, such as books, documents, manuscripts, machine-readable databases, and filmed and recorded materials. A graduate program in library and information science imparts the skills necessary to deal with an increasing diversification of electronic sources of information, as well as the more traditional print forms.
Public Administration - Prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive branches of local, state, and federal government, as well as in private and non-profit organizations, such as museums, foundations, and charities which serve public interests. The field of public administration is based on the social sciences and draws on economics, political science, and sociology. It includes coursework which trains individuals to analyze, manage, and deliver public programs and services. Public Health - Prepares specialists to monitor and evaluate potential and actual health hazards, and to plan and manage health programs. Public health can be defined as population-based health. Public health professionals assure the conditions necessary for people to live healthy lives through community-wide prevention and protection programs. They prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, prevent injuries, promote and encourage healthy behavior and mental health, respond to disasters and assist communities in recovery and assure the quality of health services. Public health professionals include epidemiologists, biostatisticians, health policy specialists, health planners, environmental health specialists, health program administrators, nutritionists, health educators, and behavioral scientists.
Public Policy - The systematic analysis of public policy issues and decision-making processes. Includes instruction in the role of economic and political factors in public decision making and policy formation, microeconomic analysis of policy issues, resource allocation and decision modeling, cost/benefit analysis, and statistical methods. Public policy analyzes the content and effects of policy with the goal of improving it or developing new policy.
