i-Lab

Curriculum & Courses

Connect theory, practice, and policy

 

The Master of Global Affairs offers a two-year curriculum that connects theory, practice, and policy through a combination of coursework and practical experiences. You will develop critical skills needed to build your career while pursuing your choice of concentration and elective courses within global affairs.

Core Courses: Build your foundation

 

You will take several foundational courses that present an integrative understanding of global affairs. These courses will provide you with a breadth of knowledge on approaches and topics in global affairs, while also enabling you to view issues from multiple perspectives and to work across disciplines.

YEAR 1 

Fall 

Integral Human Development — Clemens Sedmak

Economics of Growth & Development — Lakshmi Iyer

Global Policy Seminar — Sara Sievers, Francis Taylor, Maura Policelli, & invited guests

Innovative Approaches (i-Lab) — Steve Reifenberg & Tracy Kijewski-Correa

(or)

Developing a Peacebuilding Practice I — Susan St. Ville

 

Spring

Global Actors & Institutions — Tamara Kay & Susan Ostermann

Preparing for the Field (i-Lab) — Steve Reifenberg & Tracy Kijewski-Correa

(or)

Developing a Peacebuilding Practice II — Susan St. Ville

Research design or methods course

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YEAR 2

Fall

Analysis & Strategy (i-Lab)
— Steve Reifenberg & Tracy Kijewski-Correa

(or)

Extended field placement

 

Spring

Ethics, Leadership & Change — Ray Offenheiser & Caroline Hughes

Global Policy Seminar — Sara Sievers, Francis Taylor, Maura Policelli, & invited guests

Amplifying Impact (i-Lab) — Steve Reifenberg & Tracy Kijewski-Correa

(or)

International Peace Studies Capstone — Rashied Omar

Concentration coursework: Develop your expertise

 

As a Master of Global Affairs student, you will choose an area of concentration. Within each concentration, classes are designed to take you deeper into a specific field, giving you the professional skills and knowledge to address issues about which you are the most passionate.

International Peace Studies

 

Foundations of Peace Studies — Ann Mische

Strategic Peacebuilding & Reflective Practice — Susan St. Ville

Developing a Peacebuilding Practice (in lieu of i-Lab) — Susan St. Ville

Elective/skills courses

Sustainable Development

 

Foundations of Sustainable Development — Ray Offenheiser & Sandra Polanía Reyes

Quantitative Methods for Global Affairs (or Elective) — Thomas Mustillo

Policy Evaluation — Kasey Buckles

Applied Microeconomics (or Elective) — Sisi Meng

Environmental Policy — Lakshmi Iyer, Sara Sievers, & invited guests

Elective/skills courses

Global Affairs + Specialization

 

Foundations of Global Affairs — Gary Goertz & Sara Sievers

Quantitative Methods for Global Affairs (or elective)

Policy Evaluation — Kasey Buckles

Applied Microeconomics (or Elective) — Sisi Meng

Elective/skills courses

Electives: Customize your experience

 

With direction from faculty advisers and concentration directors, students choose elective courses from Keough School offerings and classes across the University of Notre Dame. The courses provide you with opportunity to specialize further, gaining the knowledge and skills that will be most directly connected to your professional goals. Courses vary by semester but fall into general thematic and professional skills areas:

Thematic Areas

 

  • Environment & Climate Change

  • Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution

  • Global Education

  • Global Religion

  • Migration & Refugees

  • Human Rights & International Law

  • Global Health

  • State, Society, and the International Order

  • Courses with a regional focus

Professional Skills Areas

 

  • Policy

  • Management & Leadership

  • Negotiation & Mediation

  • Methods for Research & Project Design

  • ICT4D (Information Communications Technology for Development)

Gaining practical experience

 

Building on your coursework, the Master of Global Affairs incorporates immersive practical experiences throughout the program, enabling you to take your classroom learning into the field and work alongside seasoned policymakers, global organizations, and renowned academic experts. Students in the Sustainable Development and Global Affairs concentrations participate in the two-year Integration Lab (i-Lab) program, while students in the Peace Studies concentration complete an extended, custom-designed field immersion.  All students participate in the Global Policy Seminar.

APPLY your skills and knowledge with the Integration Lab

LEARN from experts in the Global Policy Seminar