At the Elliott School, courses on humanitarian action take a multidisciplinary and intellectually rigorous approach, paying particular attention to cultural context, ethics, field-based applied research, and innovative practices. For questions about academic programs related to humanitarian action and international development, please contact esiaacad@gwu.edu.
Courses in humanitarian action will equip students with the necessary knowledge and training to be reflective, effective, and ethical humanitarian practitioners. Students will learn to:
- think critically about and reflect on the humanitarian system
- analyze and deconstruct the historical legacies, narratives, practices, and preconceptions shaping the field
- assess needs; design, implement, monitor and evaluate programs; and formulate effective policy and
- conduct research projects using qualitative and quantitative methods and interdisciplinary approaches.
Humanitarian Action is a specific area of concentration or specialization available under the following Elliott School MA degree programs:
Security Policy Studies Program Conflict Resolution Concentration
Master’s of International Development Studies (IDS): Area of Specialization-Humanitarian Assistance
