These degree requirements are for students enrolled in the GGPS program聽starting in Fall 2025. View the聽requirements for students enrolled prior聽to this.
Degree Options
In addition to the standard master's degree, you can earn a dual master's degree through our partnership at 小蓝视频.
Master of Arts
The Global Governance, Politics, and Security curriculum combines specialized knowledge with professional experience and the methodological training necessary to turn your individual passions into rigorous analysis in the service of practical action and a meaningful career. Our聽core courses聽provide a foundational knowledge in global politics and international economics, and allow students to choose amongst four concentration areas, offering enhanced specialization and flexibility.
MA/MBA
The School of International Service (SIS) offers a dual master's degree program with Kogod School of Business, giving students the opportunity to acquire expertise in both regional studies and business. This combination of skills is particularly valuable to international organizations trying to increase productivity through better business practices and to businesses adjusting to the global market. Graduates will receive an MA through SIS and an MBA through Kogod.
Generally, dual degree students will spend their first year taking core curriculum courses at Kogod, then spend their second and third years taking courses at both SIS and Kogod. Students must complete 31 credit hours at Kogod and 39-42 credit hours at SIS, with the option to count up to 9 credit hours from Kogod degree requirements towards SIS degree requirements.
Prospective MA/MBA students must separately apply to and be accepted by each school. The admissions committees from each school do not collaborate on the decision-making process.
View Kogod School of Business dual degree admissions requirements and MBA coursework.
Specializations
The coursework in your specializations will give you a long-term advantage in your career. GGPS students hone their expertise with a primary specialization, then can select a secondary area of focus to further align with their passions and allow for additional flexibility.
Global Security
- SIS 708 Foundations of Global Security
- 6 other credits hours from approved Global Security coursework
Multilateral Diplomacy and Global Governance
- SIS 709 Foundations of Global Governance
- 6 other credits hours from approved Multilateral Diplomacy and Global Governance coursework
States, Society, and Politics
Students in the State, Society, and Politics concentration聽explore how political systems, state institutions, and societal forces shape governance and policy outcomes across one or more regions. This concentration equips you with the analytical skills to understand and address complex global challenges in government, international organizations, and the nonprofit sector.
- SIS 672 Frameworks of Comparative and Regional Studies
- 6 credit hours from approved State, Society, and Politics coursework
International Economic Policy
The International Economic Policy concentration integrates international economics and political economy. Students choosing this concentration learn the foundations of the international political economy before taking specialized courses in functional fields such as international trade, finance, or economic development.
- SIS 75 International Political Economy
- 6 credit hours from approved International Economy Policy coursework
Capstone
All Global Governance, Politics, and Security students complete a student research requirement for their capstone. Students can choose from three different options to fulfill their capstone.
Practicum Program
Our signature Graduate Practicum Program is designed to give second-year students real-world experience in project management and consulting. Students who choose this one-semester, pre-professional option collaborate in teams to support the work of actual clients such as U.S. and international government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses conducting policy and program analysis. Students, working under a site supervisor and a faculty advisor, draw on their substantial research, as well as qualitative and quantitative skills, to prepare final oral and written analysis and recommendations.聽
Master's Thesis
The Master's Thesis is an original research project appropriate for students looking to complete a longer and more academically rigorous research paper. It is an independent research project intended to integrate and apply knowledge from the field to a final scholarly project and is particularly useful for students who plan to go on to a PhD program.
Substantial Research Paper
The Substantial Research Paper (SRP) is an independent research project that is intended to integrate and apply knowledge from the field to a final scholarly project. By completing the SRP, students not only develop their expertise in an issue of primary concern to the field of global governance and global security, but also demonstrate their ability to conduct informed, analytical research or policy analysis.
Application At a Glance
View a detailed admission and degree requirements listing for your degree of interest.
- Entrance Semester
- Fall and Spring
- Application Deadline
- January 15 for the fall semester
- October 1 for the spring semester聽
- Additional Requirements
- Undergraduate degree
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- TOEFL/IELTS score if international applicant
- Application
- Completion of online application