The HZB-SIRD’s Foreign Service curricula are primarily designed to help students and professionals achieve their goals: to start a career in diplomacy and international relations or to enhance further the practitioner’s knowledge about the subjects.

For the Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Students (ABFS) students, the first two years are focused on general education subjects, putting emphasis on English, History, Politics and Governance, Western/Eastern Civilizations, Public Administration and Leadership. From these basic foundations, students move on to the core subjects such as International Law, Global Governance, focusing on the United Nations and its Systems, Regional Arrangements such as EU, ASEAN, APEC, etc., Political Geography, International Politics and Economics, Philippine Foreign Policy, Diplomatic and Consular Theories and Practice and Foreign Languages. Subjects in the senior year also include Public Diplomacy, including Cultural Action, Environmental Diplomacy, Philippine Migration, Peace, Security and Diplomacy.

On-the-Job Training (OJT)/Practicum
Students in AB Foreign Service may have their on-the-job training/practicum at the Department of Foreign Affairs, in foreign Embassies and Consulates in Manila, the UN system in Manila, and in other Philippine agencies involved in diplomatic and consular work such as in the Department of Trade, Labor, POEA, DSWD, National Defense, and Tourism under the guidance of a qualified supervisor and in coordination with the School’s Practicum professor. Students are required to complete 200 hours to gain a 3-unit credit. The School has also allowed on-the-job training abroad.

The HZB-SIRD’s Foreign Service curricula are primarily designed to help students and professionals achieve their goals: to start a career in diplomacy and international relations or to enhance further the practitioner’s knowledge about the subjects.

The Graduate School students pursuing an MA in Foreign Service may take the following relevant courses: Theory and Practice of Public Administration; Peace, Security and Diplomacy; Philippine Economic and Social Development Issues; Advance Foreign Language; Statistics with Computer Application; World and Regional Governance; Contemporary Issues in International Law; Migration and Diplomacy; and Contemporary Issues in International Political Economics. In addition to the aforementioned subjects, students take Contemporary Issues on Human Rights and Human Security, and Methods of Research before they embark on writing their master’s thesis in their last trimester.

Career Opportunities
Graduates of HZB-SIRD may seek employment or pursue their profession as:

• Career officials of the DFA such as consuls and ambassadors
• Attachés such as trade, finance, labor, and tourism etc. in various Philippine Embassies and Consulates abroad
• Officers or staff in the UN and its system, in the Philippines and in other parts of the world or in regional organizations such as in the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta or in the office of the Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore
• Personnel in foreign diplomatic establishments based in the Philippines
• Media commentators on international affairs, be it in electronic/social media, films, print, radio or television
• Professors, researchers and academicians in international studies, human rights, peace and security issues, migration courses, etc.
• Leaders/advocators or members as well as staff of national, regional or international NGOs;
• Officers or staff of various corporations and enterprises