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Fields in International Affairs

New Fields – Fall 2026!

We’re streamlining our program so you can focus on what matters most: building expertise, exploring your interests, and graduating with confidence in your skill set.

For students admitted in Fall 2026, the number of NPSIA fields will be reduced from EIGHT (8) to FOUR (4) — merging overlapping areas to create stronger, more coherent options. 

The Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University is proud to offer four fields of study and these are described below. Led by expert faculty in the area, these fields provide students with specialized interdisciplinary training and skills which provide further expertise for jobs in the public, private or non-governmental sector, or to take further postgraduate or professional degrees.
Students who wish to obtain the Field designation are required to complete the minimum number of field courses as outlined by their program requirements, and their required economics field course.

infographic showing how 8 fields went down to 4

Four NEW Fields:

International Trade and Economic Policy (ITEP)

Provides students with a foundation in basic international economic theory;

Examines policy questions and applications to institutional arrangements in areas of trade, foreign direct investment, finance, international economic law, and other international economic relations. 

Diplomacy, International Organisations and Foreign Policy (DIFP)

Examines the theories and practices of diplomacy, foreign policy, and global governance.

Analyses the role of states, including Canada, and other policy actors in addressing global policy problems. 

Examines the role of international law, the formal UN system of international organizations, and non-state actors in shaping global governance. 

Conflict, Fragility and Development (CFD)

Examines the theories of economic and social development, displacement and humanitarian crises, and fragility and violent conflict.  

Examines policy responses to conflict, fragility and development, including humanitarian engagement, official development assistance, the role of non-state actors, and regional and international institutions.

National Security, Intelligence and Defence (NSID)

Provides students with an in-depth understanding of the core theories, concepts, challenges and controversies in security, intelligence and defence studies.

Examines applied policy issues such as defence policy, civil-military relations, intelligence collection and analysis, and arms control and disarmament.

edited Nov 2025

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