School of International Studies

MAIR Program Design

The MAIR program is geared toward both qualified individuals who are in the early phases of their careers, and seasoned mid-career professionals who wish to earn an advanced degree while maintaining employment or other commitments. The program involves limited- residency and is designed to be completed in a two-and-one-half to three-year period. Students can complete the core courses in 18 months, including attendance in three 2-week residencies held in the Portland area every six months in January and July. Combining a graduate education with work, family, and community responsibilities is a significant challenge, but to help students meet this challenge, a wide variety of learning strategies and support systems are provided:

• Residencies offer intensive seminars that initiate each core course.
• Directed studies for each core course are completed at home, and can be focused on students' work or volunteer experiences.
• Significant on-line library research support and access to professional databases through the internet is provided.
• All electives can be targeted toward students' special interests as part of our commitment to personalize the program in practical ways.
• Courses and advising are provided by a highly qualified and experienced faculty representing the world of intercultural consulting as well as universities across the U.S. and abroad.

• Learning Objectives:
  • The MAIR program will help you develop the intercultural competence to:
  • Reflect on your own culture and its impact on intercultural interactions
  • Analyze cultural patterns both domestically and internationally
  • Synthesize interdisciplinary perspectives for professional applications
  • Comprehend strategies for adaptation to cultural differences
  • Solve complex problems in intercultural settings
  • Foster inclusive organizational cultures
  • Design culturally appropriate interventions for creating individual, organizational, and social change

Students and graduates of the MAIR program work in areas such as business, government, nonprofit organizations, education, tourism, and human services. Their occupations include positions in human resources, communication, teaching, diversity training, international transition assistance, consulting, marketing, counseling, program development, administration, health care, and many others.