Air Force International Affairs Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) II Guidelines

Transcription

1 D E P U T Y U N D E R S E C R E T A R Y O F T H E A I R F O R C E I N T E R N A T I O N A L A F F A I R S Air Force International Affairs Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) II Guidelines September 2006 INTEGRITY SERVICE EXCELLENCE

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 BACKGROUND AND OVERALL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT PURPOSE THE FLETCHER SCHOOL AND THE GLOBAL MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM GMAP II DOD-SPONSORED PROGRAM DETAILS GMAP II PART-TIME STATUS FOR AIR FORCE STUDENTS CURRICULUM Details on Foreign Language Requirement Levels of Proficiency Examinations Thesis Academic Calendar GMAP ANNOUNCEMENT DSCA LETTER SAF/IA CALL AF POINTS OF CONTACT APPLICATION PROCEDURES APPLICATION SCHEDULE GMAP II APPLICATION FOR USG SPONSORED PERSONNEL ACCEPTED STUDENT INFORMATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION/VOUCHER LAPTOP POLICIES APPENDICES APPENDIX A APPENDIX B...13 i

3 TABLE OF TABLES Table 1: GMAP II Academic Calendar for Table 2: GMAP II Application Timeline...8 TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Memorandum Clarification of Laptop Turn-In Policy...10 Figure 2: Memorandum Laptop Acquisition for GMAP II...11 Figure 3: Student Acknowledgment Statement...12 Figure 4: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 1 of 11)...13 Figure 5: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 2 of 11)...14 Figure 6: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 3 of 11)...15 Figure 7: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 4 of 11)...16 Figure 8: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 5 of 11)...17 Figure 9: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 6 of 11)...18 Figure 10: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 7 of 11)...19 Figure 11: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 8 of 11)...20 Figure 12: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 9 of 11)...21 Figure 13: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 10 of 11)...22 Figure 14: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 11 of 11)...23 ii

4 1.0 BACKGROUND AND OVERALL PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1.1 DOCUMENT PURPOSE This document provides information about the Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) II. It provides information critical to potential applicants and addresses general guidance about the program s purpose, content, and schedule. This document is not intended to be an inclusive source of information. It is inevitable that aspects of the program will change between document updates. Therefore, interested parties should reference the Air Force International Affairs (IA) Workforce Initiatives website to supplement their research. The site is located at The Fletcher School website also provides program details at THE FLETCHER SCHOOL AND THE GLOBAL MASTER OF ARTS PROGRAM When The Fletcher School opened in 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, it was an act of hope in a time of despair and a boost to internationalism in a time of isolationism. Today, as the oldest exclusively graduate school of international affairs in the United States, The Fletcher School continues to meet the demands of a world in which the only constant is change. The primary aim of The Fletcher School is the same as it was when conceived by its founders: to offer a broad program of professional education in international relations to a select group of graduate students committed to maintaining the stability and prosperity of a complex, challenging, and increasingly global society. Today s IA professionals must master business across cultures, policies beyond business, and diplomacy among diverse organizations. As key players in government, corporations, and multilateral organizations, they set and execute today s global trends. As economic, legal and political pressures continue to shape the complex challenges they face, possessing a deep and nuanced understanding of these frameworks becomes essential. GMAP was specifically designed to provide busy professionals with the opportunity to master the disciplines necessary to have this 360-degree perspective of global affairs. GMAP delivers a rigorous and dynamic education that is unique in form and content, by integrating the strength of The Fletcher School s cross-disciplinary curriculum with today s innovative technologies, and having a culture focused on teamwork and close collaboration among participants, faculty and staff. GMAP II provides a 360-degree approach to understanding international relations: a rich interdisciplinary curriculum, team-based collaboration, and class composition designed to ensure a broad range of geographical and professional perspectives. GMAP II helps participants understand the complex and nuanced intersections among the worlds of international business, international organizations and NGOs, and governments. It primarily comprises professionals interested in security from ministries around the world, as well as NGOs international organizations and corporations. They learn how economic, political, and legal forces, including 1

5 development and humanitarian concerns, shape security issues. GMAP II runs from March to March. 1.3 GMAP II DOD-SPONSORED PROGRAM DETAILS In 2003, The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and Tufts University s The Fletcher School signed a memorandum of understanding that allows Department of Defense (DoD) civilian and military personnel to participate in GMAP II. This document may be viewed or downloaded at DSCA s executive agent for professional training and development is the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM), which is responsible for administering this program with The Fletcher School. It also has DoD oversight of the program and will coordinate the funding and activities of the departments and agencies wishing to participate in this program. GMAP II is an extremely challenging 12-month, part-time, advanced academic degree program that culminates in a Master of Arts degree from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. The program is designed to deliberately develop the skills of mid-career civilian and military personnel serving in international affairs positions. GMAP II makes an investment in the IA workforce by providing selected students an opportunity to participate in a world-class program that will improve the quality and professionalism of the IA workforce, grow the leadership of tomorrow, and build personal relationships among mid-level management throughout DSCA, the Military Departments, other federal agencies, international FMS customers, and defense industry organizations. DoD sponsorship of GMAP II is for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funded mid-level civilian and military managerial and professional personnel. The ideal candidate for GMAP II will be in an FMS funded position with international focus, have at least eight years professional experience, hold a Bachelor s degree, and be generally proficient in a second language. Students whose native tongue is English are required to pass oral and reading language exams in a foreign language of their choice. DoD personnel selected for GMAP II will participate in the program alongside international affairs professionals from various countries, backgrounds, and cultures. The intent is improve the knowledge, skills, and personal networks that will facilitate quick, effective solutions to problems of ever increasing complexity with which international cooperation professionals will be faced. GMAP II combines three two-week residency sessions with state-of-the-art internet-based courses of study. The one-year program is presented in trimester form with three courses presented the first and second trimesters, and two courses plus a thesis in the third trimester. Two mandatory two-week sessions in residence will be conducted at the Fletcher School outside Boston, MA and one other two-week residency will be conducted in Washington, DC. PCS travel will not be required. Students will continue to work from their home stations/countries. 2

6 1.4 GMAP II PART-TIME STATUS FOR AIR FORCE STUDENTS GMAP II is a part-time program for all Air Force-sponsored students. Part-time means that Air Force students are expected to continue to perform their duties, in the outstanding manner that earned them their nomination, while receiving a degree of flexibility in their schedule to ensure program success. Sponsoring commands are obligated to provide the time necessary for the student to attend the three residencies. Typically, students must devote approximately 40 hours a week to their studies in addition to their regular workload. Since GMAP II is purposefully structured to be a part-time program, each student takes on a personal responsibility to develop a balance between work and school and makes a commitment to dedicate personal time to successful completion of the program. Sponsoring commands and commanders/supervisors should allow GMAP II participants enough flexibility to develop a reasonable balance between work and academic schedules. In addition to the mandatory residency periods, students should be allowed 30 days of alternative duty over the course of the academic year to complete GMAP II requirements. Previous GMAP II students report that course demands fluctuate throughout the year. The workload normally increases around residency periods, examinations, and class projects. This guidance ensures that education demands are met and organizational workloads are appropriately managed. A copy of the memorandum that issued this guidance may be downloaded at All prospective students must agree to respect this part-time status for their applications to be complete. A sample of the Student Acknowledgement Statement is included as Appendix A. 1.5 CURRICULUM GMAP II follows a trimester system (3/3/2 course load). All GMAP II students take the following courses: _ Leadership & Management _ International Negotiation _ International Politics _ International Trade Economics & Investment _ International Finance _ International Organizations _ Security Studies _ Transnational Social Issues: Human Security & Labor Issues Detailed information about the specific curricula can be found at In addition to the course requirements, students write a Master s Thesis in the third term. Also, students whose native tongue is English are required to pass oral and reading language exams in a foreign language of their choice. 3

7 1.5.1 Details on Foreign Language Requirement All students receiving degrees from The Fletcher School must possess the ability to speak a foreign (second) language sufficiently well to exchange ideas in conversation with a native speaker and the ability to read and restate into English primary materials on contemporary topics involving foreign affairs. GMAP II students whose native language is not English and who have received a substantial portion of their education in their native language may have English accepted as their second language. For students whose native language is English, proficiency in a foreign language is demonstrated through reading comprehension and oral examinations. The Fletcher School routinely offers proficiency exams in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. More information on Foreign Language study is available at GMAP II students can elect to take these examinations during any of the three residency sessions. Subject to the approval of the Fletcher School s Committee on Student Academic Programs, degree candidates may offer languages other than the ones listed above to fulfill the foreign language proficiency requirement. In those cases, it is the student s responsibility to identify a qualified individual to serve as their examiner. That person should have credentials as an instructor of the foreign language being offered. Students who wish to offer languages other than those given by Fletcher should speak with the Fletcher School Language Coordinator upon their arrival at Fletcher Levels of Proficiency The level of language proficiency required for all three Fletcher School degrees (MA, MALD, and PhD) is the same: Limited Working proficiency on the oral exam and General Professional proficiency on the reading examination. Students taking Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean may meet the language requirement in reading with Limited Working proficiency. For purposes of establishing consistent standards of language proficiency, The Fletcher School employs the definitions of reading and speaking proficiency employed by the interagency language roundtable (ILR) of the U.S. government. The following levels of language proficiency are provided to place in context the requirements for the Fletcher degree. A more detailed description of these proficiency levels can be found on the web at: _ Limited Working (ILR Level 2) Speaking: Able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements. Can handle routine work-related interactions that are limited in scope. Reading: Sufficient comprehension to read simple, authentic written material in a form equivalent to usual printing or typescript on subjects within a familiar context. Limited Working proficiency on the reading comprehension exam is only an option for students offering Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Korean. _ General Professional (ILR Level 3) 4

8 Speaking: Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics. Reading: Able to read within a normal range of speed and with almost complete comprehension on a variety of authentic prose material on unfamiliar subjects. _ Advanced Professional (ILR Level 4) Speaking: Able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional needs. Reading: Able to read fluently and accurately all styles and forms of the language pertinent to professional needs. _ Functionally Native (ILR Level 5) Speaking: Speaking proficiency is functionally equivalent to that of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker and reflects the cultural standards of the country where the language is natively spoken. Reading: Reading proficiency is functionally equivalent to that of the welleducated native reader Examinations Oral examinations are offered regularly throughout the academic year by designated faculty members from the language departments at Tufts University. The oral exam is a minute conversational interchange between the student and the examiner. The Fletcher Registrar s Office maintains a list of approved oral examiners with their contact information. Reading Comprehension exams are offered during the residency periods. Entering students are strongly encouraged to attempt the reading comprehension exam when they first arrive at The Fletcher School. The language exam guidelines (approved and implemented in April, 1990) reflect a consensus that the Fletcher foreign language reading exam should test students' abilities to read, comprehend and restate in written English primary materials on contemporary topics involving foreign affairs rather than test students' abilities to translate with precision foreign journals, newspapers, and scholarly works on international relations topics. Students will be required to restate the text into English but their work should not be judged on the basis of exact translation, specialized vocabulary, or elegance of English expression. However, the meaning of the passage must be accurately and coherently conveyed. The ability to convey meaning accurately is more important than testing knowledge of specific vocabulary items. Students who are unable to pass the language proficiency exams cannot be allowed to graduate. However, continuing or reinstated students may continue to take the language proficiency exams after leaving Fletcher Thesis The Master's thesis is completed in the third term. The thesis is twenty-five to forty pages in length. Students defend their thesis before two faculty and team members. The topic is on an issue of the student's choosing covered in the program. Time is spent discussing requirements 5

9 and topics at the mid-year residency. DISAM maintains a research topics database to assist students in identifying viable research topics. Selected Thesis Topics: The Importance of Domestic Private Investment for the Long Run Economic Development of the U.A.E. Preventing Escalation of Crisis Situations through Mediation of OSCE: Lesson from Estonia The Potential Peace Dividend for the Gaza Strip Macroeconomic Policies and Economic Growth in Transition Economics Financial Engineering and the Restructuring of the Korean Economy Greece's Economic Interests in the Balkans Trade Policy and Development: The Case of Nigeria and Korea Paradigm for Environmental Issues: Multilateral Treaties vs. Industry Agreement? The Implementation Regime under the Kyoto Protocol to the Climate Change Convention Academic Calendar The table below shows the academic calendar for the academic year. Future class calendars are not published, but will follow a similar schedule. Table 1: GMAP II Academic Calendar for GMAP II ACADEMIC CALENDAR First Term: Reading Period: 06 March 01 April 06 March 2006 Initial Residency Session: 02 April (9am) 14 April (5pm) 16 July 2006 Break: 15 April 24 April Internet-Mediated Instruction: Inter-session Break: 25 April 10 July 11 July 16 July Second Term: 17 July November 2006 Reading Period: Mid-Year Residency Session: Break: Internet-Mediated Instruction: Inter-session Break: 17 July 19 August 20 August (9am) 1 September (5pm) 2 September 4 September 5 September 20 November 21 November 27 November Third Term 28 November March 2007 Internet-Mediated Instruction: Holiday Break: Internet-Mediated Instruction: Break: Final Residency Session: Graduation: 28 November 18 December 19 December 1 January 2 January 26 February 27 February 28 3 March 4 March (9am) 16 March (5pm) 17 March (10:00am) 6

10 1.6 GMAP ANNOUNCEMENT Annually, DSCA produces a World Wide Message announcing the call for GMAP II applications. The most recent World Wide Message is available in PDF form at DSCA LETTER In August 2004, DSCA and the Military Departments (MILDEPs) established a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Administration of the GMAP II. Appendix B contains the GMAP II guidance that was issued at that time. Applicants will find this information helpful as they look at the program in general and prepare their applications. 1.8 SAF/IA CALL The Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (SAF/IA) annually publishes a Memorandum For Record to reinforce the program each recruitment period. The most recent SAF/IA Recruitment Memorandum is available at AF POINTS OF CONTACT Ms. Angela M. Kravetz SAF/IAPC angela.kravetz@pentagon.af.mil Phone: (DSN ) For all TDY issues contact: Ms. Sandy Harding SAF/IAPC sandy.harding@pentagon.af.mil Phone: (DSN ) 7

11 2.0 APPLICATION PROCEDURES The section contains the GMAP II application information. Interested candidates will find this section useful as they prepare their package for consideration. 2.1 APPLICATION SCHEDULE The table below contains the GMAP II application timeline for a typical academic year. Table 2: GMAP II Application Timeline GMAP II TIMELINE 1 December: Completed AF Application packages are due to: Ms. Angela Kravetz SAF/IAPC 1500 Wilson Blvd, Suite 900 Arlington VA January: February: March: March: August: November: AF students selected by AF Selection Board Final student selections made by Tufts University Students and organizations notified of selection; ESA signed Term One begins Term Two begins Term Three begins 2.2 GMAP II APPLICATION FOR USG SPONSORED PERSONNEL The Fletcher School updates the application for GMAP II annually. Interested candidates should download the current application online at The application is available in PDF format only. All applications must be complete in full for consideration. No exceptions will be made. 8

12 3.0 ACCEPTED STUDENT INFORMATION This section contains information that is pertinent to students who have been accepted for the program. Section contents include travel authorization/voucher instructions and DISAM laptop polices. 3.1 INSTRUCTIONS FOR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION/VOUCHER All students will use the Defense Travel System (DTS) to process travel orders. The Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Planning and Operations Division (SAF/IAPC) will provide students with a fund cite authorization memorandum, and the student will input all information into DTS. Students will send a copy of their authorized travel orders and a copy of the final travel voucher to Ms. Sandy Harding by fax to or by to sandy.harding@pentagon.af.mil. If you have additional questions or need additional information, please contact Sandy Harding directly at sandy.harding@pentagon.af.mil or

13 3.2 LAPTOP POLICIES Due to program funding, GMAP II student laptop computers are the property of the student s home organization. Following completion of the program, each student must contact their unit equipment custodian for instructions. The following memorandums specify the policies for the laptops that are issued as part of GMAP II tuition. Figure 1: Memorandum Clarification of Laptop Turn-In Policy DEFENSE INSTITUTE OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT 2475 K STREET WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO March 2005 MEMORANDUM FOR ALL GMAP II (DoD) STUDENTS MILDEP WORKFORCE POCs FROM: DISAM/CC SUBJECT: Clarification of Turn-In of Tufts -Provided Laptop Computers After consulting with DSCA General Counsel, it has been determined that the laptop computers utilized by GMAP II students, are the property of their home organization. As these laptops were purchased as part of the GMAP II tuition with government/fms Administrative funds, they are not the property of the individual students. Each student should contact their unit equipment custodian for proper disposition of the laptop computer. This does not preclude the student from requesting continued use (signed out on a hand receipt or other appropriate document) of the computer in accordance with their organization policy. RONALD H. REYNOLDS, DPA, GS-15 Commandant 10

14 Figure 2: Memorandum Laptop Acquisition for GMAP II DEFENSE INSTITUTE OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT 2475 K STREET WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO MEMORANDUM FOR ALL MILDEP WORKFORCE POCs UNIT EQUIPMENT CUSTODIANS FROM: DISAM/CC 16 March 2005 SUBJECT: Laptop Computers Acquired By Personnel Attending GMAP II Program (AY ) This letter is to be used in lieu of a receipt for the acquisition of laptop computers by DoD GMAP II students. A laptop, (IBM Thinkpad T41, Model HU) was procured and provided within the tuition (to taling $52,500) for each DoD student funded by DSCA to participate in the program. Thus, FMS Administrative funds purchased tuition, including the laptop computer. The approximate cost of the computer when purchased new was: $2, Item was procured on 15 April Because the student's tuition was funded by a USG source, the laptop is government, not personal, property. Instructions were provided to each student to turn in the laptop to their respective equipment custodian, rather than send them all to one centralized location. Each laptop will now become the property of the unit sponsoring the student. Upon final disposition, for DD Form A purposes, appropriate action is: "Item initially procured with Foreign Military Sales Administrative Fun ds (11X8242). Disposition of amounts collected from successful bidders must be deposited to XDM _S IAW DODI , Enclosure 3, 5b." Any questions concerning this issue may be addressed with DISAM. Our primary phone number is DSN /Comm: Again, this letter is provided to you due to the absence of a receipt for the equipment. RONALD H. REYNOLDS, DPA, GS-15 Commandant 11

15 4.0 APPENDICES 4.1 APPENDIX A Figure 3: Student Acknowledgment Statement 12

16 4.2 APPENDIX B Figure 4: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 1 of 11) 13

17 Figure 5: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 2 of 11) 14

18 Figure 6: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 3 of 11) 15

19 Figure 7: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 4 of 11) 16

20 Figure 8: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 5 of 11) 17

21 Figure 9: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 6 of 11) 18

22 Figure 10: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 7 of 11) 19

23 Figure 11: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 8 of 11) 20

24 Figure 12: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 9 of 11) 21

25 Figure 13: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 10 of 11) 22

26 Figure 14: DSCA GMAP II Guidance (Page 11 of 11) 23