Political Science

Model United Nations is a series of simulations run as conferences where participating teams of students from different universities learn about the inner workings of various IGOs such as the United Nations. Students gather in groups of 15 to over 1,000 to represent different member states' foreign policies and tackle various current issues throughout negotiation and debate.

Team History and Awards Won

BW's Model United Nations (UN) and Model African Union (AU) teams has been active at BW since the mid-1970s, attracting some of the brightest students on campus who regularly attend these conferences. Over the years, the team and individual members have won every award at Harvard Model UN, Model NATO, Model AU, and LEIMUN, including Best Delegation.

2011-12 Awards & Recognitions

---Scott Simmerer, "Leadership Award" for effective work on moving committee deliberations forward representing Tunisia in the Peace and Security Committee at the 2012 National Model African Union conference hosted by Howard University.
---Matt Kusznir, "Leadership Award" and "Best Delegation Award" representing Ghana in the Social Affairs Committee at the 2012 National Model African Union conference hosted by Howard University.
--RaeAnne Pina, "Excellence Award" for representing Columbia in the UN Security Council I at the 2011 Lake Erie Model United Nations conference. RaeAnne is a second year "Excellence Award" recipient (she won the same award last year representing Mexico in the Security Council II).
---"Best Small Delegation" Team Award at the 2011 Lake Erie Model United Nations conference.

What is the Value of Being a Member of BW's Model UN and Model AU Teams?

Model UN/AU offers a way to learn about the processes of international diplomacy and the way problems are solved on a global level.  Learning to function as part of a team provides an excellent pre-professional experience for students who work mostly on papers and tests in college but need to function as team members in a work force.

The communication, negotiation, and public speaking aspects of Model UN and Model AU additionally make it very relevant for students of all majors.  Indeed, Model UN and Model AU is not a program limited only to International Studies or Political Science students.  The broad nature of the skills learned cut across all majors and the experience is valuable for any major if the student has an interest in the functions of international negotiations and policymaking. Finally, Model UN and Model AU also offers students the opportunity to meet and interact with others with similar interests from across the globe, as many of the conferences are international in nature and attract students from dozens of countries each year.

Course Requirements for Participating in the BW Model UN and/or Model AU

To participate in the BW's Model UN and/or Model AU teams, students must take the prerequisite course POL 215 (a two-credit course offered during minimester A in fall 2012) one time.  Students must then take POL 216 ( a one or two credit course offered during minimester B in fall 2012 and spring 2013) if they wish to participate in any conferences that semester.  Students who desire to participate in the LEIMUN conference would take POL 216 in the fall with POL 215; students who desire to participate in the African Union Model  and/or the HNMUN conferences would take POL 215 in the fall and POL 216 in the spring.  Participation in all conferences is a possibility if students take POL 216 throughout the year.

For more information about the BW Model UN & AU experience, please contact Dr. Javier Morales-Ortiz at jmorales@bw.edu or Dr. Judy Krutky at jkrutky@bw.edu (Model UN & AU faculty advisors).