Seton Hall University, School of Diplomacy and International Relations

To Get in: Do Research, Find Support, and Focus Your Application

“Do not overthink your graduate school application” is the advice of Daniel Kristo, assistant dean of graduate enrollment management at Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations.

“Once you have decided to apply, use the energy behind your decision to complete the application early,” Kristo says. “This may increase your chances for admission and scholarship consideration.”

Seton Hall encourages applicants to research the program details and admission requirements for the School of Diplomacy and International Relations and to identify a school point of contact who can help them throughout their application process and beyond. Applicants also should identify a support team that includes both academic and professional mentors who can write recommendation letters.

Every year, the school’s graduate admissions committee holistically reviews hundreds of applications from a diverse global pool of prospective candidates. There is not a unique applicant profile that fits all. However, the candidates who stand out are focused in their approach and intentional about their graduate studies plans, Kristo says.

A key application requirement is a one-page personal statement, which serves not only as a writing sample, but also as a reflection on the applicant’s readiness for graduate school and overall professional goals.

According to Kristo, one question that helps with the admissions thought process is: How will I leverage this graduate program as a bridge between my past accomplishments and future career goals?

The School of Diplomacy and International Relations has an exclusive alliance with the United Nations Association of the USA, which allows it special access to the UN community.

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Global Health and Human Security

Master’s candidates create a niche professional profile by customizing their graduate studies through 13 functional and regional specializations, including Global Health and Human Security. This academic concentration, which explicitly addresses the international security and foreign policy aspects of health issues, is especially relevant during the ongoing global pandemic.
)))The concentration coursework transcends traditional models of interstate conflict and seeks to develop new tools of analysis in assessing the nature of global health threats and mapping out effective responses to them. It covers topics of biological weapons, new and re-emerging diseases, demographic and epidemiological transitions, and sustainable development. Courses are taught by experts, including Dr. Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. Huang has testified before the US Congress about COVID-19.

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Graduate Degree Program Options
• Master’s programs in diplomacy and international affairs
• Dual-degree options in Asian studies, business, communication, law, and public administration
• Graduate certificates
More information: https://www.shu.edu/diplomacy/graduate-programs.cfm

Deadlines for Fall 2021
Application: Rolling admissions
Financial Aid/Scholarships: Priority, February 20, 2021; regular, March 31, 2021

Standardized Exam Scores: GRE, GMAT, or LSAT test scores are not required, but students have the option to provide them in support of their application, which will be reviewed holistically. International students who speak English as a second language must provide proficiency test scores through TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.

Recommendation Letters: Two letters of recommendation are required, from academic and/or professional contacts. This could include a professor who has taught the applicant or an internship/job supervisor who can write in support of skills and overall readiness for graduate school.

Application Checklist: https://www.shu.edu/diplomacy/graduate-admissions.cfm