Curriculum Flow and
Areas of interest

Curriculum Flow

The MCPRI is organized around the offering of 5 mandatory courses of 2 credits each, totaling 10 credits, and 6 elective courses to be chosen by the student, accounting for another 12 credits. There is also a provision for 6 credits for the activities of preparing the Master's Dissertation.

By the end of the course, the student must have completed 28 credits or 560 hours.

Courses H/A Credits
5 Mandatory 220 10
6 Optional 220 12
1. Dissertation Guidance 120 6
Total 560 28

Mandatory Disciplines

The core set of required courses consists of four subjects, which have been structured with the following objectives:

i) To provide the master's student with in-depth knowledge of the theory and application of Political Science and International Relations, with an emphasis on topics such as political institutions, democracy, foreign policy, global governance, state-society relations, and the dynamics of the international system;

ii) To provide students with a solid foundation in fundamental research methodologies and techniques for the rigorous analysis of political and international phenomena, from an interdisciplinary and applied perspective.

The required subjects in the Program are:

  • Research project

  • Political Institutions: Policy Making, Agenda Setting, and the Dynamics of Power in the Republic

  • Foresight: prospective analysis applied to Political Science and International Relations

  • International institutions: foundations, challenges and paradoxes

  • Research Technique

Areas of interest

Additionally, the program offers more than 20 elective courses, organized around 4 areas of interest. This organization aims to provide students with a didactic and intelligible structure that allows them to learn about the diverse perspectives that make up the area's study agenda.

Thus, the proposal is not to tie the student to one of the areas of interest, but, on the contrary, to encourage them to move between them, taking diverse subjects, interacting with professors, and getting a sample of the numerous research possibilities that meet their professional realities and academic expectations.

It can be said, then, that the areas of interest in the Master's program are complementary and interrelated, allowing professors and students to work in an integrated way on various research projects nuanced by these different thematic areas. This structure enables the formation and consolidation of a diverse internal research network, as well as allowing students to move between areas of interest, enabling, for example, a student who is conducting research on the topic of regulation to perfectly deepen their knowledge and take courses on social development.

Divided between the Areas of Concentration – Political Science (areas of interest 01 and 02) and International Relations (areas of interest 03 and 04), the 4 areas are:

01 – Institutional and Governmental Relations, Political Consulting and Public Policies
02 – Election Campaigns and Political Mandates
03 – International Trade, Law and Development
04 – International Politics, Foreign Policy and Institutions

AREA 01

Institutional and Governmental Relations, Political Consulting and Public Policy

This area focuses on the study of interactions between governmental and non-governmental actors and the impact of these relationships on the political and economic environment. Students will learn to identify and manage political risks associated with different geographic and sectoral contexts. The course aims to develop analytical skills to assess how government policies, regulatory changes, and political events influence markets and the global business environment.

Optional Courses:

  • Business-Government Negotiation Strategies;
  • State, Regulation and Competition;
  • Public Policies and Bureaucratic Development;
  • Policy Design Laboratory for Complex Problems;
  • Crisis Management and Strategic Communication;
  • Evidence, Narratives, and Public Policies;
  • Analysis and Implementation of Public Policies;
  • Ethics, Compliance, and Risks in Institutional and Governmental Relations.

AREA 02

Election Campaigns and Political Mandates

This area focuses on understanding recent transformations in electoral processes and the exercise of political mandates, in a context marked by technological advances, social changes, and normative challenges. The course combines theoretical foundations with a practical approach, exploring everything from electoral systems and financing rules to the use of data and artificial intelligence in political communication. The Brazilian experience will be analyzed in dialogue with international models, allowing for a comparative and applied perspective.

Optional Courses:

  • Electoral Systems and Political Parties in Brazil;
  • Election Campaigns: Laws, Regulations, and Strategies;
  • Crisis Management and Political Communication;
  • Financing and Fundraising Strategies;
  • Political Mandates for the Future: Smart Cities, Technology and Innovation;
  • Smart and Sustainable City Management;
  • Data Analytics for Election Campaigns: Mapping the Electorate with Evidence and AI Support.

AREA 03

International Trade, Law and Development

This area of ​​interest is dedicated to the integrated study of the dynamics of international trade and its interactions with law and economic development. Students are encouraged to explore how legal systems influence global trade relations and to analyze development strategies that promote equity and sustainability. Emphasis is placed on understanding international trade mechanisms, transnational legal regulations, and their impact on countries' economic growth.

Optional Courses:

  • Regulation of International Trade, Development of Trade Policies and WTO;
  • International Negotiations: Trade in Goods, Border Measures and Trade Facilitation;
  • Internationalization of Companies: Theory and Case Studies;
  • International Negotiations: Advanced Topics (Services, Investments, Public Procurement and Digital Trade);
  • Trade Defense and Public Interest.

AREA 04

International Politics, Foreign Policy and Institutions

This area focuses on the study of international politics and the foreign policy strategies adopted by states on the global stage. Students will investigate how international institutions and global norms influence the behavior of countries, as well as analyze foreign policy decision-making processes. Special attention will be given to the role of multilateral organizations, diplomacy, and negotiation strategies in an interconnected world.

Optional Courses:

  • Brazilian Foreign Policy: Historical Evolution and Recent Characteristics;
  • European Union: Integration, Disintegration and Resilience;
  • Russia, China and India: Society, Foreign Policy and Relations with Brazil;
  • Low Carbon Economy, Climate Change and International Agreements;
  • Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, National Security and Human Rights;
  • International Systems for the Protection of Human Rights and Conventionality Control;
  • Analysis and Consulting in International Relations.