keough school students walking on street in washington, DC

Governance and Policy

Governance and Policy


Prepare to influence and implement change at the highest levels of power

The governance and policy concentration within the Master of Global Affairs is for students who seek to design and manage broad-scale programs for global change. You’ll explore—and critique—the concepts and theories that underpin contemporary governance and the global system; understand the dilemmas and opportunities faced by top-level decision makers during the policy process; and examine how innovative, evidence-based programs can be brought to scale to instrumentalize positive and lasting change.


One of the best things about the Master of Global Affairs program is that it is personalized—there are so many professors and people in the administration who are looking out for the individual person. I don’t think there is another program that would have given me the international perspective and individualized attention.

– Rachel Gagnon, MGA ’21


Career opportunities

Diplomacy
International consulting
Foreign affairs analysis
Global business analytics
Advocacy
Government relations
Policy analysis
Policy advisor
Program director
Program officer
International development
Management of NGOs
Management of businesses
Research and education
Management of humanitarian agencies

In the classroom and in the field

Coursework focusing on global actors and institutions, politics and economics, research design and data analysis, and policy design—along with extensive hands-on practice through the Integration Lab (i-Lab)—will equip you to work collaboratively with practitioners and policymakers, communities, and the private and public sectors to identify solutions to global challenges.

Curriculum & Courses

Personalize your path

Students in the governance and policy concentration pursue a customized curriculum with at least 25 credit hours of elective coursework. You’ll work with an academic advisor to choose classes and construct an integrated course of study with classes throughout the Keough School and in other schools and departments across the University.