From South Orange to Geneva, Diplomacy Students Pursue an Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program

The Graduate Institute of Geneva’s Master’s in International and Development Studies (MINT) program offers Seton Hall University students a unique opportunity to broaden their academic and professional prospects. Combining rigorous coursework, cultural immersion, and access to global institutions, the program gives students interested in international cooperation, non-governmental organizations and research on global issues a unique opportunity for immersive study. Through a dual-degree pathway, students in the MINT program can earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years.

This accelerated timeline allows them to dive into advanced studies while gaining invaluable experience in the heart of international diplomacy. Three students from the School of Diplomacy currently studying in Geneva—Andrew Travis, Maria Lugo and Sofia Diaz—shared their insights into their experience in the program so far.

The MINT program is a special B.S./M.A. experience available to Seton Hall students. Travis explains, “The program is an interdisciplinary master’s in international and development studies. I spent the fall semester at the institute, and I’m back at Seton Hall for spring 2025 to finish up here before heading back for one more year of grad school.”

While there is a clear five-year path for students, the program has flexibility, allowing students to tailor their education to specific areas of interest using different tracks. Lugo is on the human rights track, Travis is following the conflict, peace and security track, while Diaz is focusing on migration.

The students agree that one of the program’s most rewarding aspects is exposure to a global environment.

Travis shares, “The most rewarding part of the program so far has been the opportunity to learn in an environment heavily saturated by professors and scholars who have so much influence and experience in all sectors of the international relations field.” He also highlights the frequent events at the Graduate Institute, featuring global leaders and experts. “Being in that environment has been highly stimulating. It has expanded my perception of what is possible in the field of international affairs.”

Lugo echoes this sentiment, noting the impact of the Swiss-based school’s international atmosphere. “The most rewarding part of this program is being surrounded by the world... literally. It is truly an international environment,” she says. As a MINT student, Diaz attended the UN’s annual Peace Week, hosted within her classroom walls. “This experience demystified the dynamic of international bodies and the nuance required to work on such a vague concept—peace.”

For Diaz, living abroad has been a life-changing experience. “The most rewarding part of this program for me has been to experience living abroad for the first time. I’ve also gained an international perspective not only on diplomacy but on daily life, and I’ve immersed myself in a new culture.”

The program’s location in Geneva, Switzerland, a global hub for diplomacy and international organizations, offers unparalleled access to unique experiences. The students emphasize the relationship between the Graduate Institute and the UN, with students being granted access to important places and events such as the Geneva Peace Week Conference, UN events and the UN library. Lugo highlighted, “When the Graduate Institute says they’re linked with the UN, they mean it. Events and opportunities that seemed out of reach are now a regular part of my life.”

The MINT program provides students with more than just a degree—it offers a gateway to the world of international diplomacy and development. By combining academic excellence with real-world exposure, the program prepares its graduates to lead and innovate in a globalized world. For students interested in an education that extends beyond the classroom and into the heart of international affairs, the MINT program at the Graduate Institute of Geneva is an opportunity not to be missed.

Categories: Nation and World