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Model United Nations
Pleasantville Model UN
Interested in the United Nations? Debate? Learning more about different cultures and governments? Model UN great is a stimulating, and simultaneously innovating, experience that challenges students to think critically and analytically, expand their horizons, and enhance their collegiate experience. These outcomes are facilitated by participating in academic competitions where students learn about diplomacy, international relations and the United Nations. The competitions range from the Southern Regional Model United Nations in Atlanta, to the National Model United Nations in New York City. Pace Pleasantville’s MUN team has developed a reputation for excellence at these distinguished conferences and stands competitive among some of the highest caliber schools - nationally and internationally.
Students who are interested need not be politically savvy, or even political science majors. The team is always comprised of a variety of majors and individuals with varied backgrounds. Past teams have included participants from major programs such as communications, nursing, biology, computer science, philosophy and religious studies.
Learn more about Model United Nations Pleasantville
Model United Nations Pleasantville, also known as MUN, is a class and extracurricular activity housed within Pace University Pleasantville’s Economics, History and Political Science department. The Model United Nations team is comprised of politically aware students who are interested in testing their knowledge and limits by participating in simulated United Nations debates.
Students who participate in MUN simulate the United Nations’ various committee sessions as delegates representing a designated country or member state. While role-playing delegates of their assigned country, students make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with other delegates, resolve conflicts, and attempt to remain in character, while following the conference’s rules of procedure. Through MUN, students learn about diplomacy while addressing topics concerning peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, and economic development. Throughout the course of an academic year, students will prepare to attend MUN conferences held in the fall and spring semester.
Pace University’s Model United Nations is a collegiate team that partakes in national competitions each year. Pace’s MUN Team dedicates itself to understanding the importance of the United Nations, as well as focusing on international relations, diplomacy, lobbying, and essential communication skills while representing a key member state.
Contact
Paul Londrigan, PhD
Professor, Political Science
Email: plondrigan@pace.edu
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New York City Model UN
Located only two express subway stops from the iconic United Nations complex on the East River, Pace University’s New York City Model UN team has a 60-year history of excellence in regional, national, and international competitions. In October 1950, Pace fielded its first Model UN team, representing Ecuador at the ‘Intercollegiate Model Meeting of the United Nations Security Council’ at the UN headquarters just a year after the building was built.
Model UN at Pace is uniquely integrated into the Political Science curriculum. We believe that Model UN fosters students’ familiarity with world politics, cross-cultural awareness, leadership capacity, public speaking abilities, knowledge of legislative rules of order and problem-solving skills. Model UN is thus offered both as a class, in which students are exposed to lectures, exercises and simulations designed to prepare them to participate in conferences, as well as a student club. The class – POL303A Politics Workshop: International Organization – is offered every semester and can be taken three times for credit.
New York City Model United Nations Blog
Class Enrollment Details
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 policy making 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. View our Model United Nations handbook for information about Model UN as an experiential education methodology.
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.
Model UN class appears in the schedule explorer as:
- In the fall semester, POL303A Politics Workshop: International Organization
- In the spring semester, 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.
Contact
Paul Londrigan, PhD
Professor, Political Science
Email: plondrigan@pace.edu