The program is suited for a student desiring a career with government agencies, the U.S. State Department, the Department of Commerce, the United Nations, the World Bank, international commerce, foreign trade and international banking. The curriculum is multidisciplinary, drawing from all course offerings of the University of Kentucky, including agricultural economics, finance, marketing management, economics, history, political science, communications, sociology, law and geography. Students may emphasize a particular discipline, area studies, or policy analysis as major or minors. Independent study courses may be arranged with faculty supervision. The curriculum totals 30 credit hours and can be completed in three semesters.
Many students complete and internship in a career related area.
Each student takes a core curriculum of courses in diplomacy, cross-cultural negotiations and bargaining, international science and technology policy, and economic statecraft taught by the permanent Patterson School faculty. Beyond this core, students develop individualized courses of study that draw on other University of Kentucky graduate departments. This flexibility allows for a tailored program that is pivotal to the Patterson School concept. This vision of education draws on the total resources of the University of Kentucky to enrich the basic courses and internships offered directly by the Patterson School and is implemented in an intimate atmosphere in which all the students and faculty come to know each other well. An important component of the Patterson experience is attending lectures, seminars and a variety of opportunities for networking with distinguished alumni, board members and friends of the School.