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The MIA curriculum

The MIA curriculum combines and integrates perspectives from political science, economics, business administration, and law.

Our compulsory subjects teach theoretical and empirical foundations of International Affairs at an advanced level.

Moving beyond the classic distinctions of the four core disciplines and promoting integrated thinking, critical analysis and holistic learning, our multi-disciplinary programme is centred around four arenas, in which change-making individuals meet and decisions are taken. Through innovative graduate courses, you will be prepared for your role as future leaders in these arenas.

  • Polities: This arena comprises political systems or organisations (e.g., nation-states, non-governmental organisations, public administrations, transgovernmental networks), that are equipped with varying degrees of political authority. 
  • Markets: This arena comprises various markets at the sectoral, local, regional, economy-wide, or global level where resources are (re-) allocated.
  • Firms: This arena comprises corporate agents within the private business sector, including industries, establishments, and enterprises.
  • Courts: This arena comprises the places where legal disputes are settled at different levels (i.e. (constitutional, federal and transnational) and with varying competences (e.g., criminal, civil, constitutional) but also legislative bodies such as human rights commissions.

The MIA programme is structured along three pillars, i.e. thematic, methodological, and professional, and comprises six compulsory subjects, covering central concepts, issues, and skills in International Affairs.

MIA Core Elective

The MIA offers a diverse and flexible range of elective core courses that allow you to pursue your personal interests and develop your own academic and professional profile. The MIA’s courses electives (24-36 ECTS) are again structured along the three pillars and serve to deepen the thematic, methodological and practice-oriented subjects taught in the compulsory courses.

The independent electives (up to 8 ECTS) can be fulfilled with courses from other Master’s programmes or with additional MIA core electives.

Core Studies

The two core courses combine theory and empirical research with a focus on investigating challenges in international affairs. They are designed to provide you with a common scholarly orientation in the four arenas Polities, Markets, Firms, and Courts.

Course ECTS Lecturer Language Semester
International Politics and Market Economy
Lecture + Tutorials
6

Prof. James Davis, PhD.

Prof. Dominik Sachs, PhD.

EN Autumn
International Law and Business Strategy
Lecture + Tutorials
6

Prof. Winfried Ruigrok, PhD.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Burri

EN Autumn

This course offering corresponds to the current planning status. You can find the entire course offering in the official Course Catalogue Online.

The two core courses cover social science research techniques (qualitative and quantitative) and teach relevant data science tools. You acquire critical expertise regarding their relevance and the quality of data used.

Course ECTS Lecturer Language Semester
Data Analytics and Causal Inference
Lecture +  Tutorials
6 Prof. Beatrix Eugster, PhD. EN Autumn
Strategies of Social Science Inquiry
Lecture +  Tutorials
6 Prof. Dr. Patrick Emmenegger EN Spring

This course offering corresponds to the current planning status. You can find the entire course offering in the official Course Catalogue Online.

The two core courses focus on the practical application of the material studied in the first two pillars. They combine academic and practitioner perspectives and help you make connections between disciplines. With case-based and problem-oriented teaching, you develop skills in analytical and integrated thinking as well as reflective judgment.

Workshops offered in the format of the «MIA Mornings» allow you to gain specific skills and competences, closing potential disciplinary, methodological and professional gaps. Examples of workshop topics include “Legal Thinking”, “Data Handling” or “Foundations of Project Management”.

Course ECTS Lecturer Language Semester
Cases in International Affairs 4 Prof. Elsa Massoc, PhD. EN Spring

MIA Mornings: Skills and Competencies*

2 various EN Autumn & Spring

*See online course listing at MIA/Specialized Studies/Compulsory/MIA Mornings: Skills and Competences.

This course offering corresponds to the current planning status. You can find the entire course offering in the official Course Catalogue Online.

Core Electives

This cluster focuses on traditional International Affairs topics such as conflict prevention, peace enforcement, nuclearization, trade wars, humanitarian intervention, international criminal tribunals, and refugee crisis management but also on foreign policy of nation-states and external action of regional or international organizations. Topics such as diplomacy but also the (global) private security market and cybersecurity are included, too. 

Course ECTS Language Semester
From Moral to Leading Power: Contemporary India in World Politics 4 Kumar Manali,  Dr. Autumn 
The Second Nuclear Age 4 Davis, James, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Introduction to Cryptography and Cyber Security Horlemann  Anna-Lena, Prof. Dr. & Newman, Marc Autumn 
Foreign Policy of the European Union 4 Lehmkuhl Dirk, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Gender and Armed Conflict 4 Sjoberg, Laura, PhD.
The Law of the Sea 4 Papanicolopulu Zini, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Asia Compact: Rising China in Developing Asia 4 Huang, Chin-Hao, Prof. PhD. Spring
Fundamentals of Arms Control 4 Davis, James, Prof. PhD. Spring
International Governance of Conflict Management 4 Smidt, Hannah, Prof. PhD. Spring
Cybersecurity Policy 4 Wolff, Josephine Prof. PhD. Spring
How does Law Protect in War 4 Khan, Daniel-Erasmus, Prof. Dr. Spring
The Law, the Economics and the Politics of Migration Böhm, Andreas, Dr., Haidar, Mahmoud Spring
International Human Rights in Practice 4 Burri, Nina, Dr. Spring
International Law in Swiss Practice 4 Portmann, Roland, Dr. Spring

This cluster seeks to understand the foundations of democratic and responsive decision-making at various levels, be it in the realm of politics or business. Courses tackle related topics, such as authoritarianism, corruption, digital democracy, corporate management, electoral integrity, citizenship, arms trade, and (global) justice. 

Course ECTS Lecturer Semester
Failed States and Nation Building 4 Hodler, Roland, Prof. Dr. Autumn
From Moral to Leading Power: Contemporary India in World Politics 4 Kumar, Manali, PhD. Autumn
Business Regulation and Advocacy Gava, Roy, Prof. PhD. Autumn
The Future of Work 4 Emmenegger, Patrick, Prof. Dr. Autumn 
Comparing Political Cultures 4 Bertsou, Eri, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Political Economics  4 Hodler, Roland, Prof. Dr. Autumn
The Second Nuclear Age Davis, James, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Foreign Policy of the European Union 4 Lehmkuhl, Dirk, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Topics in Industrial Organization 4 Bühler. Stefan, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Economics of Central Banking 4 Kondziella, Markus, Prof. PhD. Spring
Advanced Corporate Tactics 4 Evenett, Simon, Prof. PhD. Spring
International Governance of Conflict Management 4 Smidt, Hannah, Prof. Dr. Spring
Dynamics of Government and Non-Government Organisations 4 Schedler, Kuno, Prof. Dr. Spring
Selected Topics in Swiss Public Finance 4 Schaltegger, Christoph, Prof. Dr. Spring
Silk Roads, Old and New: China, Europe, and Central Asia in Historical, Economic, Sociocultural, and Geopolitical Contexts 4 Frei, Christoph, Prof. Dr.
Van Drongelen, Wesley
Spring
International Human Rights in Practice 4 Burri, Nina, Dr. Spring
The Law, the Economics, and the Politics of Migration 4 Böhm, Andreas, Dr., Haidar, Mahmoud Spring
International Law in Swiss Practice 4 Portmann, Roland, Dr. Spring
Comparative Constitutional Design 4 Ginsberg, Tom, Prof. PhD. Spring

This cluster addresses the complex nexus of economic conditions and trends, international and national politics and institutions, business and financial interests and civil society. It focuses on international trade relations and more specifically on the international flow of goods, services, and production factors, which capture migration and international capital flows. Public policy issues such as tax competition and evasion are also addressed. 

Course ECTS Lecturer  Semester
Business Regulation and Advocacy Gava, Roy, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Industial Policy and Sustainable Transition 4 Massoc, Elsa Clara, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Political Economics Hodler, Roland, Prof. Dr. Autumn
Topics in Industrial Organization 4 Bühler Stefan, Prof. Dr. Autumn
Debt and Fiscal Policy 4 Mankart, Jochen, PhD. Autumn
Climate and Energy Governance 4 Rinscheid, Adrian, Phr. PhD.  Autumn
Managing Collaborative Innovation for Net-Zero 4 Zobel, Ann-Katrin, Prof. Dr.  Autumn 
The Future of Work 4 Emmenegger, Patrick, Prof. Dr.  Autumn
Asia Compact: International Management in the New Asia Pacific 4 Ambos, Björn, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Grand Challenge: Corporate Sustainability Management 4 Ströhle, Judith, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Advanced Corporate Tactics Evenett, Simon, Prof. PhD.  Spring
Economics of Central Banking 4 Kondziella, Markus, Prof. PhD. Spring
Politics of Financial Regulation 4 Gava, Roy, Prof. PhD. Spring
Blockchain Markets 4 Haefner, Samuel, Dr. Spring
Economics in Practice 4 Keuschnigg, Christian, Prof. Dr.

            Andritzky, Jochen, Dr.

            Jost, Adriel, Dr.
Spring
Selected Topics in Swiss Public Finance 4 Schaltegger, Christoph, Prof. Dr.  Spring 
Dynamics of Government and Non-Government Organisations 4 Schedler, Kuno, Prof. Dr. Spring
Drivers and Consequences of Trust 4 Weibel, Antoinette, Prof. Dr.  Spring
Financial Business Planning and Controlling Mitterlechner, Matthias, Prof. Dr.  Spring 
Beyond Homo Oeconomicus 4 Kolmar, Martin, Prof. Dr. Spring
International Macroeconomics 4 Sachs, Dominik, Prof. PhD.

            Wolf, Martin, Prof. PhD.
Spring
International Trade 4 Föllmi, Reto, Prof. Dr., Legge, Stefan, Dr.  Spring
Public Policy, Taxation and Inequality Sachs, Dominik, Prof. PhD. Spring 
Climate Change Course and Model UNFCCC 5 (!) Müller, Adrian, Dr.

            Schneider, Nina, PhD.
Spring 
Transnational Governance and the Green Transition 4 Seabrooke, Leonard, Prof. PhD. Spring
The Political Economy of the Car 4 Rinscheid, Adrian, Prof. PhD. Spring
Asia Compact: Social Entrepreneurship in Singapore and South-East Asia 4 He, Vivianna Fang, Prof. Dr., Tietz, Matthias, Prof. Dr. Spring

 

 

 

This cluster considers the economic, political, social and environmental dimensions when addressing development and sustainability issues, including (economic) growth, environmental problems such as climate change, health, fair trade, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, foreign aid, and sustainable consumption. Issues pertaining to intellectual property are viewed as an integral part of development, too. 

Course ECTS Lecturer Semester 
Global Environmental Politics 4 Hofmann, Benjamin, Dr. Autumn 
Industrial Policy and Sustainable Transition 4 Massoc, Elsa Clara, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Failed States and Nation Building Hodler, Roland, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Climate and Energy Governance 4 Rinscheid, Adrian, Prof. PhD. Autumn
The Law of The Sea 4 Papanicolopulu Irini, Prof. Dr Autumn
Climate Change and Inequality 4 Rinscheid, Adrian, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Debt and Fiscal Policy Mankart, Jochen, PhD. Autumn
Globalisation and the Environment 4 Eisenbarth, Sabina, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Managing Collaborative Innovation for Net-Zero 4 Zobel, Ann-Katrin, Prof. Dr.  Autumn
Grand Challenge: Corporate Sustainability Management  4 Strohle, Judith, Prof. PhD. Autumn
International Macroeconomics 4 Sachs, Dominik, Prof. PhD., Wolf, Martin, Prof. PhD. Spring
Drivers and Consequences of Trust  4 Weibel, Antoinette, Prof. Dr.  Spring 
Beyond Homo Oeconomicus 4 Kolmar, Martin, Prof. Dr. Spring
Public Policy Taxation and Inequality 4 Sachs, Dominik, Prof. PhD. Spring
Climate Change Course and Model UNFCCC 5 Müller Adrian, Dr. , Schneider Nina, PhD. Spring 
International Trade 4 Föllmi, Reto, Prof. Dr., Legge, Stefan, Dr. Spring
Environmental Economics  4 Essenbarth, Sabrina, Prof. PhD. Spring
Fighting Global Poverty 4 Caprettini, Bruno Prof. PhD. Spring 
Development Economics: Past and Present 4 Caprettini, Bruno, Prof. PhD. Spring
Asia Compact: Social Entrepreneurship in Singapore and South-East Asia 4 He, Vivianna Fang, Prof. Dr., Tietz, Matthias, Prof. Dr. Spring
The Political Economy of the Car 4 Rinscheid, Adrian, Prof. PhD. Spring
Political Economy of Natural Ressources in Africa 4 Hodler, Roland, Prof. PhD., Schaudt, Paul, Dr. Spring
Grand Challenge: Climate Solutions als Wettbewerbsvorteil 4 Loock, Moritz, Prof. Dr. Spring
Transnational Governance and the Green Transition 4 Seabrooke, Leonard, Prof. PhD. Spring

Strengthening your methodological competencies to equip you with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world, these courses focus on advanced data science and research design skills. You may complete up to four courses in this pillar, but there is no minimum requirement. 

Course ECTS Lecturer  Semester 
Big Data Analytics 4 Heiniger, Sandro Autumn
Data Handling: Databases 4 Venturini, Marco, PhD. Autumn
Introduction to Methods and Thinking of Law Riznik, Donald, Dr. Autumn
Qualitative Research: Design, Methods and Analysis 4 Nentwich, Julia, Prof. Dr. Autumn
Quantitative Text Analysis  Gava, Roy, Prof. Dr. Spring
Quantitative Analysis: Statistical Learning 4 Vergioglou, Loannis, Dr. Spring

Courses in this pillar are designed in the innovative format of a "Consultancy Course" and allow you to work on real-life problems and translate your disciplinary knowledge into practice while cooperating with relevant practitioners and potential future employers. You attend between one and three professional courses. 

Security and Conflict
Course ECTS Lecturer  Semester
Rebuilding Security in Europe 4 Hänggi, Heiner, Prof.Dr., Greminger, Thomas, Dr. Autumn
Energy in Transition - Challenges and Opportunities in the Gulf Region 4 Frei, Christoph, Prof.Dr., Schaller André, Dr. Autumn
Tackling the Transnistria Problem Davis, James, Prof. PhD., Heusgen, Christoph, Prof. Dr. Spring
Democracy and Governance
Course ECTS Lecturer  Semester
Political and Regulatory Monotoring with AI 4 Gava, Roy, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Innovative Service Models im öffentlichen Sektor                            4 Schedler, Kuno, Prof. Dr., Guenduez, Ali, Prof. PhD. Spring
Business and Public Policy
Course ECTS Lecturer  Semester
Political and Regulatory Monotoring with AI 4 Gava, Roy, Prof. PhD. Autumn
Economic Crisis and Crisis Management Andritzky, Jochen, Dr. Autumn
Innovative Service Models im öffentlichen Sektor                            4 Schedler, Kuno, Prof. Dr., Guenduez, Ali, Prof. PhD. Spring
Social Start-up Creation 4 Stroe, Silvia, Prof. Dr. Spring
Sustainability and Development
Course ECTS Lecturer  Semester
Economic Crisis and Crisis Management 4 Andritzky, Jochen, Dr. Autumn
Energy in Transition - Challenges and Opportunities in the Gulf Region 4 Frei, Christoph, Prof.Dr., Schaller André, Dr. Autumn
Social Start-up Creation 4 Stroe, Silvia, Prof. Dr. Spring

Contextual Studies

The Contextual studies complements your specialized studies and is compensated with 18 ECTS credits.

The Contextual studies is another strong factor of the programmes' curriculum. It integrates knowledge across disciplinary boundaries and strengthens the social and cultural competencies of our students in a special way. They will holistically "think outside the box" and take courses in focus areas as well as in the skills area. The contextual studies also teaches skills such as presentation and negotiation techniques or programming languages. The cross-cultural and cross-social science programme courses offered in the focus areas are extremely diverse and can be tailored to the MIA degree programme. In the skills area, you will learn complementary competencies and practical skills for success in the public and private sector.

Language and Duration

The MIA is taught in English.

The MIA is designed as a full-time programme with a standard duration of three semesters. The study time can be extended up to eight semesters. In doing so, you will acquire a total of 90 ECTS credits. The study programme can be taken up exclusively in the fall semester.

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Contact

Dominik Sachs

Prof. Dr.

Economics

SIAW-HSG
83-4220
Rosenbergstrasse 22
9000 St Gallen

Daniela Engelmann

Dr.

Executive programme director

International Affairs / SEPS
Büro 52-5062
Müller-Friedberg-Strasse 6/8
9000 St. Gallen
north