The Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) comprises twenty nine member schools in the United States, Asia and Europe, all with a great commitment to the improvement of the professional education in the international affairs, thus the enhancement of international relations and communication, prosperity, peace and security. A major educational project all professional schools are dedicated to is a realization of the multi-disciplinary approach to the professional education in the international affairs.

What does it mean? The multi-disciplinary approach to the professional education comprises programs that integrate political science, economics, history, law and business, as well as comparative, regional and international studies. Teaching methods and technologies emphasize an application of the theory to practical issues in international relations.

Many APSIA professional schools work out and maintain joint and dual degree programs that combine the study of international affairs with such fields as law, business, public policy, environmental studies, social work or public health. Such approaches help create specialists with broader views on real international relations as well as make education more practical rather than theoretical.

The multi-disciplinary professional education allows APSIA member-schools prepare highly qualified executives and a managerial staff in a variety of specialties. As a result, graduates are often hired to the leading positions in all the spheres of the international affairs, ranging from international banking to public health.

The APSIA students receive both theoretical and practical knowledge about the analysis of international issues. They can communicate this analysis effectively to a variety of audiences. The APSIA graduates work as analysts for international organizations, federal agencies and private firms, working with governments, NGOs and multilateral organizations.

The APSIA students learn to manage international projects, ranging from a famine relief in southern Africa to monitoring elections in Serbia to developing environmental programs in Latin America. The graduates understand the complexity of international projects and are experts at the project management.

The multi-disciplinary approach to the professional education suggests an understanding of changing international economics and challenges of the development. The APSIA graduates work in the United States and across the world for governments and NGOs, managing international efforts to alienate the poverty and promote the growth of mutually productive trade relationships.

The multi-disciplinary approach to the professional education helps students receive extra knowledge, skills and practice in every other sphere of the international affairs whether it is international finance, global communications or advocacy. The schools mix detailed theoretical knowledge with an extensive field practice and achieve the best results in preparing executives and managers, who see international affairs globally and act locally for an efficient effect.