Master of Global Affairs
Master of Global Affairs
This 2-year professional degree will prepare you for skilled, effective leadership and careers in government, nongovernmental and civil society organizations, and the private sector.
The Master of Global Affairs integrates rigorous professional training, close engagement with policymakers, multi-disciplinary faculty and students from around the world, and extended fieldwork alongside partners — in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Washington, DC — working to address global challenges.
Governance and Policy
Prepare to influence and implement change at the highest levels of power. Learn about institutional design, organizational behavior, macro-level policy analysis and critical thinking, and the management of international and non-profit organizations.
Sustainable Development
Prepare for a high-impact career in development practice and policymaking. Your training will include strong grounding in quantitative and qualitative methods, equipping you to become a skilled problem-solver addressing critical global challenges.
International Peace Studies
Join the ranks of strategic peacebuilders working at all levels of society to build sustainable peace and justice through policy analysis and political change, government and organizational leadership, and conflict analysis and transformation.
A global curriculum for the 21st century
Foundational seminars address themes central to the mission of the Keough School—including integral human development, ethical reasoning, and commitment to the common good.
Core classes in global affairs provide broad knowledge and engagement in critical world issues while engaging you deeply in the language, culture, and religion of at least one global region.
Skills and methods classes focus on practical skills needed for success in the global workforce, including:
- analytical skills
- organizational leadership
- mediation and negotiation
- project management
- policy formulation and implementation
- advocacy and coalition-building
- conflict analysis and transformation
- monitoring and evaluation
- strategic peacebuilding and reflective practice
- persuasive writing and effective communications
Practicum / Internship
Every MGA student supplements classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience. This is a core part of the Keough School curriculum, essential to building the skills you’ll need to be a changemaker.
If you focus on Sustainable Development and Governance and Policy you will participate in a practicum through the Integration Lab (i-Lab); if you choose International Peace Studies you will participate in a Peace Studies Internship. No matter which path you are on, your experiential learning is fully funded
Explore the Peace Studies Internship
POLICY ENGAGEMENT
In the classroom, you’ll engage with a range of government officials, leaders of nongovernmental organizations, business and religious leaders, advocates and activists from civil society and social movements, journalists, and scholars with expertise in global issues.
Frequently Asked Questions about the MGA
Dual JD/MGA option
An additional program is available for students interested in both law and global affairs.
Dual MGA/MBA option
An additional program is available for students interested in both business and global affairs.
We seek a globally diverse community, where people of all nationalities and religious, secular, and philosophical traditions are welcome. Informed by the University of Notre Dame’s “Spirit of Inclusion,” the Keough School welcomes all people, regardless of color, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, or nationality, and works to sustain an inclusive environment.