Caitriona, 2024 Summa Cum Laude in International Governance and Diplomacy

An  important strategy that helped me to succeed at PSIA was to work on issues that I am passionate about as much as possible because this motivated me to dedicate my time and energy towards my assignments. I applied this strategy not only to the courses I selected, but also the topics for projects and presentations that I developed within my courses. I think the great thing about the Master in International Governance and Diplomacy is how broad its scope is. For me, I discovered that I am deeply passionate about One Health – the intersection of human, environment, and planetary health. As a result, I tried to incorporate it into my coursework as much as possible; this also helped create a common thread throughout my studies that informed my internship and future job search. 

PSIA’s integration of both theory and practice into its education will be the greatest help in my future career. For one, I feel that its hands-on, real-world focused approach has equipped me with the necessary skills to succeed, including policy-oriented research, analysis, and writing. Having practitioners as professors at PSIA has been invaluable; they provide wisdom, insight, as well as realism about both the subject matter they teach and their careers in international relations. 

My biggest piece of advice is to advocate for, and challenge, yourself! PSIA opens so many doors, so it’s important to take advantage of all of the opportunities it provides. Be sure to make connections with your professors and classmates, attend events about topics that interest you, and push yourself out of your comfort zone.