Practice Option

GPIA’s Practice-Based Learning components – the International Field Program, internships, and the final project Practice Option – combine skills courses, workshops and on-the-ground experience to give students the knowledge, training and confidence to enter the professional arena.

Read more about the Practice Option on Graduate Program in International Affairs.

Course Descriptions

PIA I Design and PIA II Implementation are the required sequential courses for all students doing the Practice Option. Thesis and non-GPIA graduate students are welcome to take PIA I Project Design as an elective.

PIA I: Project Design (formerly known as Program Development and Project Management, or PDPM)

PIA II: Project Implementation 

Spring 2014 PIA I Information

PIA I Project Design: In PIA I Project Design, students practice skills and tools by forming teams and working on a real project. The team may continue to work on the project in PIA II Project Implementation the following semester, so in choosing your PIA Design project, keep in mind that it will likely be your PIA II Implementation project. You are not, however, locked into your first semester project the following semester; if you wish to change you will be free to do so.
If there is more than one section that semester you should choose your section based on where the project is housed. Two criteria determine this: First, a project could be assigned a given section if that instructor has specific expertise in that project. Second, and primarily, it depends on student interest in each section. If, for example, in Section A four students are interested in a given project, but in section B only one student is interested, then that project will not run in section B and that student must move to Section A to work on that project. You may therefore have to switch sections to get your project. If you have a restricted schedule you may of course simply choose the section that fits your schedule, though your choice of project will then be limited to those housed in that section. Each team must normally have at least four students, and projects will be canceled if too few students enroll.

In Spring semester there is only one PIA I Project Design section:

Section A, Tuesdays 6:00pm-7:50pm, CRN 7788, NINT6960
Instructor: Mona Shomali

Spring 2013 PIA I and PIA II Information

Spring 2013 PIA I Details

Section A (NINT 5004 / CRN 4606) Wednesdays 8:00-9:50
Faculty: Mona Shomali

Spring 2013 PIA II Details

The current PIA II sections and projects are listed below, along with the client organization and associated GPIA Concentration. To read a full description, click on the project title:

Section A (NINT 5961/CRN 4305)
Faculty: Rafat Mahdi
Project: The 2015 Post-MDG Development Agenda
Client organization: Unicef
Associated Concentration: Dev, GR
Meeting time: Wednesday, 3:00-4:20

Section B (NINT 5961/CRN 4306)
Faculty: Rafat Mahdi

Project: Gender Rights Through Women’s Grassroots and National Political Participation
Client organization: UNFPA
Associated Concentration: Dev, GR
Meeting time: Wednesday, 4:30-5:50

Section C (NINT 5961/CRN 4307)
Faculty: Mark Johnson

Project: Project SOAR
Client organization: International Rescue Committee
Associated Concentration: Dev, GR
Meeting time: TBD

Section E (NINT 5961/CRN 4309)
Faculty: Peter Lucas
Project: Amazwi Wethu
Client organization: Equal Education
Associated Concentration: MC
Meeting time: TBD
Project: Rio de Janeiro Favela Pacification
Client organization:
Associated Concentration: MC
Meeting time: TBD

Section F (NINT 5961/CRN 4312)

Faculty: Mona Shomali
Project:
Client organization: Center for Economic and Social Rights
Associated Concentration: Dev, GR
Meeting time: TBD

Section G (NINT 5961/CRN 4310)
Faculty: Mona Shomali
Project: Advocacy, New Campaign Strategies, and Strategic Planning
Client organization: Waterkeeper Alliance
Associated Concentration: Dev, MC
Meeting time: TBD

Section H (NINT 5961/CRN 4311)
Faculty: Chris London

Project: Food Security and Women’s Organizations in KwaZulu Natal
Client organization: Rural Women’s Movement
Associated Concentration: Dev
Meeting time: TBD

Section I (NINT 5961/CRN 7681)
Faculty: Chris London

Project: Colombia projects
Client organization:
Associated Concentration: Dev
Meeting time: TBD

For more information, email instructor Mark Johnson, [email protected]

Practicum Archive

An archive of past practicum projects completed by GPIA students. The projects are organized by semester and the name of the commissioning organization. Each contains a description of the project and links to the reports and presentations completed by participating students.

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