Welcome Message from ITEP Graduate Assistants

ITEP is a multidisciplinary master’s program that focuses on education both as an instrument of international development and as a means of promoting cross-cultural understanding. Since its inception in 1982, ITEP has been a strong program in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program provides students with a strong theoretical background in the foundations and practice of education coupled with solid knowledge, skills and experiences in policy formulation, program/project design and management, training program design, and adult and intercultural learning. Its practitioner focus and flexible design make ITEP a unique program in the field of international education.

One of the most appealing elements of the ITEP program is the sense of community among graduate students, alumni and faculty. ITEP students bring to the program a broad range of experiences in international education, as many are former Peace Corps Volunteers, while others have worked for universities in international exchange and study abroad or for international or domestic organizations focusing on community-based education and development. ITEP maintains close relationships with its alumni, who pursue careers in such fields as global and multicultural education, foreign student affairs, international student exchange, international development education, consulting and training activities, and grassroots community development in the United States or abroad. The outstanding faculty from various disciplines bring significant practitioner experience to the classroom and encourage student involvement and participation. Through student and professional conferences, brown bag and roundtable speaker series, professional networking events, happy hours, and website, listserv and newsletter communication, students have a chance to enter into a professional network that will last a lifetime.

ITEP’s location in the nation’s capital gives students an ideal opportunity to take advantage of its proximity to a plethora of international organizations. Perhaps no other city in the world offers you more opportunities to participate in cooperative education and internships with government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, and schools. Just a few places where students and alumni work include the World Bank, American Councils for International Education, Creative Associates International, World Learning, the State Department, NAFSA, Teaching Strategies Inc., and USAID, among many others. Another opportunity that Washington, DC offers students is the Consortium of Universities of the Metropolitan Washington Area. As members of the consortium, students take advantage of the courses and library resources offered by the 13 consortium schools.

We hope you will enjoy becoming part of this great community of learners as much as we do!

Sincerely,

Laurie, Maggie, and Courtney
ITEP Graduate Assistants and Merit Fellows