Global Master of Arts Program well underway

DISAM Journal, Summer, 2004

In March 2003, recognizing the need to provide its key international affairs personnel with the political, economic, and cultural tools they need to find better, more innovative solutions to the challenges in global security, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University launched a special section of the Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) for Department of Defense's civilian and military staff. Global Master Arts Program combines three two-week long residencies with 33 weeks of internet-mediated study. The current class is represented by participants from the Air Force, the Navy, and the Army. Understanding that real solutions to any problem require the collaborative effort of all interested parties, DSCA also asked Fletcher to open the program to foreign government officials, aid workers, development specialists, defense contractors, and other professionals whose work is related to or affected by issues of security.

Lieutenant General Tome H. Walters Jr., former Director of DSCA, spearheaded this initiative. The memorandum of understanding, signed by General Walters and the Fletcher School's Dean Stephen Bosworth, describes the anticipated result:

   The goal of this educational approach will be a cohesive team of
   international affairs professionals from various organizations,
   backgrounds and cultures working, learning, and networking to reach
   their combined goal of earning an advanced degree in International
   Affairs. The benefit to the international affairs community as a
   whole will be employees with better knowledge, skills, and personal
   networks leading to more efficient and effective solutions to
   challenges facing their respective organizations.

The Global Master of Arts Program II's interdisciplinary curriculum includes courses in Leadership and Management, International Negotiation, International Politics, International Finance, Transnational Social Issues, International Trade Economics and Investment, Security Studies, and International Organizations.

The Global Master of Arts Program II draws its faculty from the same world-class group of thinkers and practitioners that lead GMAP I and the Fletcher School's on-site degree programs. Their experience and expertise in the fields of law, politics, economics, and security studies is unsurpassed.

The current GMAP II students, began their academic year with a reading period in March 2004. During the initial residency on the Tufts campus, they balanced intensive classroom time with lectures by General Dr. Klaus Reinhardt, the Former Commander of Kosovo Force, His Excellency Daniel Ayalon, Ambassador of Israel to the United States, and Robert Kaplan, correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly. Since then, they have alternated two-week residencies with internet-mediated coursework. They will complete their program requirements and thesis by March 2005.

Current students had the following to say about the program:

   The GMAP II experience made an interminable impact on my perception
   of the world past, present, and future. The residency and calibre
   of guest speakers, the readings, lectures, videos and discussions
   all opened my eyes and caused me to view world events as well as
   job-related policy changes and directives differently. Seeing how
   the different areas of international studies relate to each other
   really brought the global perspective together for me even in my
   daily work. Every sacrifice was worth the reward of global
   education, friendships, and a broadened viewpoint. I formed
   friendships some of which I know will last a lifetime, and I have
   already called on some of them for job-relation issues. Dean Nutter
   and The Fletcher School have broken the code for this type of
   distance learning program. GMAP II is exceeding abundantly above
   anything I could have imagined, and I am honored to have been a
   participant.

   Program Management Department Head,
   Naval Education and Training Security
   Assistance Field Activity

   GMAP II will enable me to anticipate and respond to the
   uncertainties of a changing social, political and economic world.
   The in-depth understanding of the international arena acquired
   through GMAP will assist with effective decision-making in just
   about every realm.

   Program Manager for the U.S. European Command

   GMAP II, with its DoD specific component, is providing me with an
   invaluable education and network to help support my role at Pratt
   and Whitney. The interaction between public and private sector
   professionals is enhanced through the phenomenal academic leadership
   of the Fletcher School. The program's focus on real world issues
   like "transformation," and "globalization," is providing immense
   benefit. The investment and return to my company is well served by
   my enhanced knowledge and understanding of our shrinking world, not
   to mention the contacts and resources, that will continue to make an
   impact after the program's completion.

   Pratt and Whitney,
   Military Aftermarket Services Specalist

   We have not yet completed the first term but already the diverse and
   thought provoking program content, faculty that are world class yet
   extremely easy to talk to and, most importantly, learn from and the
   superb caliber of my classmates--especially my teammates have
   provided a perspective that has already proven useful in my advice
   to senior principals within the United States government. This
   program empowers one to use a multi-disciplinary macro-view approach
   to many of the issues facing those of us in government service
   today. My previous military experiences and training were extremely
   valuable but relatively tightly focused. GMAP has put many more
   tools in my toolkit.

   Deputy Chief, Pacific Division, Deputy
   Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs