Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Josef Korbel School of International Studies
Name	Josef Korbel School of International Studies
Established	1964
Type	Public graduate school
Parent	University of Denver
Location	Denver, Colorado, United States
Dean	[Name varies]
Colors	[University of Denver colors]
Website	[official website]

Josef Korbel School of International Studies. The Josef Korbel School of International Studies is a graduate professional school within the University of Denver that focuses on diplomacy, international policy, and global affairs, linking programs in international relations, public policy, and development studies. The school emphasizes practical training for careers in diplomacy, multilateral institutions, and international organizations while maintaining research ties to regional studies, security studies, and human rights. Its curriculum and scholarship interface with transnational organizations, think tanks, and government agencies to prepare graduates for roles in foreign service, humanitarian operations, and global governance.

Overview and Mission

The school’s mission centers on preparing professionals for diplomacy and international engagement through interdisciplinary instruction in international relations, public policy analysis, and conflict resolution. It engages with entities such as the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States, African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, G7, G20, Interpol, International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Labour Organization, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Council, Congressional Research Service, International Crisis Group, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, Chatham House, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Wilson Center, Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, and Atlantic Council.

History

Founded in 1964, the school evolved amid Cold War-era expansion in area studies and diplomatic training, interacting with programs and figures linked to Cold War, Marshall Plan, Truman Doctrine, NATO enlargement, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War, Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact, Prague Spring, Détente, Reagan administration foreign policy, End of the Cold War, Fall of the Berlin Wall, Yugoslav Wars, Rwandan Genocide, Gulf War, and September 11 attacks. It was named to honor Josef Korbel, whose career intersected with the Czechoslovak government-in-exile, Edvard Beneš, Prague University, United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, and later U.S. academic and diplomatic circles connected to University of Denver, Princeton University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, London School of Economics, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University SAIS, and Tufts University Fletcher School through alumni and faculty exchanges. Institutional milestones include partnerships with U.S. Foreign Service Institute, collaborative research with National Endowment for Democracy, and programmatic responses to international crises such as the Balkan conflicts and Syrian civil war.

Academic Programs

The school offers professional degrees and certificates including Master of Arts degrees in international studies, public policy, and development, dual degrees with law schools and business schools, and doctoral training in international affairs, drawing curricular influences from programs at Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Columbia SIPA, Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Yale Jackson Institute, University of Chicago Harris School, London School of Economics, Sciences Po, Graduate Institute Geneva, Johns Hopkins SAIS, Fletcher School, and Australian National University. Students pursue concentrations in diplomacy, international security, international political economy, human rights, and regional specializations tied to the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, South Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and North Africa. The curriculum integrates practicum experiences with placements at U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Agency for International Development, International Organization for Migration, United Nations Development Programme, World Food Programme, Médecins Sans Frontières, United Nations Children's Fund, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Interpol, Amnesty International, and private sector consultancies like McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, and Boston Consulting Group.

Research Centers and Initiatives

The school houses research centers and initiatives addressing conflict resolution, human rights, international development, and security studies, collaborating with external partners such as United Nations University, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Peace Research Institute Oslo, Institute for Security Studies (South Africa), Center for Strategic and International Studies, Carnegie Endowment, and regional think tanks. Centers produce policy briefs, host symposiums, and engage in project-based research on topics linked to the Iran nuclear deal, North Korea nuclear program, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, South China Sea disputes, Russia–Ukraine conflict, European Union enlargement, Brexit, African Union peacekeeping, Latin American migration, Global Health Security, climate diplomacy, Paris Agreement, UN Sustainable Development Goals, OECD, and World Trade Organization.

Faculty and Notable Alumni

Faculty include scholars and practitioners with backgrounds in diplomacy, international law, comparative politics, and security studies who have served in institutions including United Nations, U.S. Department of State, NATO, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, U.S. Congress, European Commission, Inter-American Development Bank, African Development Bank, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Council on Foreign Relations, Carnegie Endowment, Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Chatham House, and major universities like Harvard University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, London School of Economics, Sciences Po, and Australian National University. Alumni populate foreign services, multilateral institutions, NGOs, and private firms, serving in roles connected to U.S. Department of State foreign service, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner, World Bank country director, International Monetary Fund economist, Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary-General of international organizations, Minister of Foreign Affairs posts, and senior positions at Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins Sans Frontières, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, and McKinsey & Company.

Admissions and Student Life

Admissions criteria emphasize academic record, language proficiency, professional experience, and personal statements evaluated against peers from institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, London School of Economics, Sciences Po, Australian National University, and University of Oxford. The student body participates in student government, policy clubs, and journals with links to organizations like Model United Nations, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, Rotary International, Amnesty International student groups, Human Rights Watch student committees, International Rescue Committee, UN Association USA, Fulbright Program, Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Truman Scholarship, Mitchell Scholarship, and practicum placements in Washington, D.C., Geneva, Brussels, New York City, Nairobi, Kigali, Beirut, Bangkok, and Jakarta.

Rankings and Reputation

The school is regularly ranked among U.S. and global programs for international affairs and public policy alongside peers such as Johns Hopkins University SAIS, Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Columbia SIPA, Georgetown School of Foreign Service, Tufts Fletcher School, London School of Economics, Sciences Po, Graduate Institute Geneva, Australian National University, and University of Oxford by publications and assessment bodies that evaluate graduate outcomes, faculty research, and employer reputation across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Category:University of Denver