Model United Nations Program
Northeastern State University
Instructor: Dr. Ron Becker
Office Location: Seminary Hall 313
Email: beckerrw@nsuok.edu
What is the Model United Nations?
The Model United Nations (MUN) at NSU is a one-credit, pass/fail course that meets once per week throughout each semester to discuss global issues and to prepare for Model United Nations conferences and competitions. Model United Nations conferences and competitions are realistic role-playing simulations of the actual United Nations (the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Committee, the Security Council, the International Court of Justice), and other international organizations, such as the Arab League and European Union.
At the Model United Nations conferences, NSU students compete with hundreds, or thousands, of students coming from colleges all across the United States, in addition to a significant number of foreign students coming from abroad. Each student participates as a member of a delegation, with each college delegation representing assigned countries, and each country sending delegates to various bodies, committees, and councils. Individual students, as well as their colleges, compete for highly valued awards, recognition, and honors, based upon how well they have represented the interests of their assigned countries.
In the Fall semester, NSU sends a delegation of students to join approximately 350 college students and faculty from 30 colleges and universities at the American West Model UN Conference (AMWEST MUN) in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the Spring semester we prepare a delegation for participation at the National Model UN Conference (NMUN) in New York City. At the national conference our students will join over 3,500 students from all around the world. Less experienced students who do not qualify for the NMUN in NYC may be invited to attend the Midwest Model UN (MMUN) in St. Louis.
By providing an ethnically and culturally diverse group of informed participants a forum for debate concerning global issues in a context that closely parallels the real world, the Model UN is a very effective form of active learning and a highly efficient method for teaching students the dynamics of multilateral diplomacy, international relations, and world affairs.
Why is Model UN useful to me?
Of course, Students from all academic majors are encouraged to participate, and anyone interested in political science, international business, social studies education, geography, history, or simply current events, will find the Model UN
especially educational and rewarding. Parliamentary procedure, public speaking, debate, research, writing, active listening, networking, leadership, diplomacy, and negotiation are a few of the valuable skills one practices while participating. Furthermore, potential employers and graduate or professional schools acknowledge that extra-curricular activities such as the Model UN enhance one’s candidacy for admission or employment. Most of all, Model United Nations encourages the study of issues of international concern. In MUN we learn about the history, operation, and theory of the United Nations, and study the perspectives of foreign nations in the world that we represent at the intercollegiate conferences. Model UN is usually exciting, sometimes addicting, and always an excellent opportunity to learn about international affairs and foreign cultures.
Course Description:
How do the nation-states of the world cooperate to manage international issues and problems? How do international organizations work? This course will introduce students to the philosophy and principles of international organization. We will examine specialized agencies and regional organizations, and we will address the broad range of issues with which these organizations try to deal. Typically, we’ll focus on four general issue-areas: collective security (war & terrorism); global and regional economic integration and social welfare; management of the global ecology; and human rights. We will also investigate how modern international organizations attempt to accomplish peacekeeping and nation building. To this end, students will research global issues and engage in country studies of the countries NSU will represent at the AMWEST MUN, NMUN, or MMUN Conferences.
Of course, students will be expected to keep track of current events. To facilitate participation, every student should read on a regular basis a major national newspaper (easily available on the Internet), and tune in to public broadcasting services such as
“The News Hour with Jim Lehrer” broadcast by PBS television, or “All Things Considered” broadcast by National Public Radio.
Course Requirements:
Students will engage in the study of an assigned country, and based on this research (which is not to be limited entirely to the Internet), write position papers from the perspective of their assigned country on the issues specified in the conference agenda. Each student will then revise a position paper into a draft of a UN Resolution proposal to submit at the AMWEST, MMUN, or NMUN Conference. Based upon participation in class discussion, and the quality of one’s research, position papers, and draft resolution, students selected by the instructor will be invited to attend the AMWEST Las Vegas, RMMUN, or NMUN Conference. Invitations may include funding for expenses. Students do not have to attend the Conference to receive credit for the course, but students must take the course in order to attend the Conference. Finally, upon return from the conference each student must submit a one page report summarizing the Model UN Conference experience.