Model United Nations is offered as a class every semester at Pace University’s New York City Campus, by the Political Science department in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences. The class, which is open to people of all disciplines and backgrounds, introduces students to aspects of international relations, particularly global institutions, through preparation for and participation in a simulated Model UN conference. The class teaches a variety of policymaking skills, including research, public speaking, diplomatic practice, team-work, negotiating within formal rules of procedure, influencing others and drafting resolutions. It also offers an inside look at the UN system, international politics and the foreign policy of the country students represent in the simulation. For more information about Model UN as an experiential education methodology, click here.
In the fall semester, students usually participate in a regional conference, while in the spring semester the class takes part in the prestigious National Model UN (NMUN) conference here in New York City, which gives students the opportunity to conduct a simulated meeting in the actual UN building. In addition, high-performing senior delegates are often given the opportunity to travel in the spring semester to an international conference.
The class is taught through a unique mix of simulation, lectures, joint research and group activities by the Faculty Advisor in collaboration with student Head Delegates, who play the role of co-facilitators, mentoring and leading their classmates.
In the fall semester the Model UN class appears in the schedule as POL303A Politics Workshop: International Organization; in the spring semester it is called POL303C Politics Workshop: United Nations. Students may take both POL303A and POL303C for credit, which may count toward the workshop requirements of the Political Science major as well as the Peace and Justice Studies minor. As 300-level classes, the Model UN courses are time-intensive and demanding, requiring active and rigorous participation. Assessment is based on participation in the conference and class sessions, in-class quizzes, a position paper written jointly by a small team and a final reflection paper.
Before signing up for POL303A or POL303C you must complete the prerequisite, POL114 Introduction to International Relations, which is offered by the Political Science department every semester. This will sometimes be waived if a student has taken Model UN or Model Congress at another university or in high school.
If you want to learn more about the class, contact Dr. Matthew Bolton at mbolton@pace.edu or (212) 346 1828.