The International Relations Academy is an intensive 1-week pre-college program held on Georgetown University's campus in Washington, D.C. Led by Georgetown faculty including Professor Anthony Arend and Catherine Lotrionte, this academy immerses high school students in the theory and practice of international relations through interactive lectures, simulations, and collaborative exercises.
Topics covered:
- The structure and evolution of the international system
- Instruments of foreign policy and diplomacy
- Intelligence and national security
- Ethics in international affairs
- Public and private international law
- Terrorism and counterterrorism
- Nuclear weapons and arms control
- Environmental policy and global governance
- Global health and international institutions
Students gain hands-on experience analyzing current global events and developing policy recommendations, with direct access to D.C.'s vibrant international affairs community. The program runs as two separate 1-week sessions each summer (typically late June and late July); students apply to their preferred session.
Program fees: $3,095 (commuter) / $3,725 (residential)
Financial aid: A limited number of need-based tuition scholarships are available for admitted students. Scholarship deadline: March 2; decisions announced by late March. Awards cover tuition only and are competitive.