Global Affairs

The Master of Arts in Global Affairs (MGA) program, a joint effort between the Baker Institute for Public Policy and the School of Social Sciences, offers graduate students a professional Master of Arts degree that simultaneously requires high standards of scholarship and offers practical training for global affairs careers in government, the private sector, and international organizations.  

The MGA program is a two-year, 36-credit hour degree program.  The first-year core curriculum is offered in four 7-week terms, with two terms run in each semester. There is also a required one-week pre-term math boot camp.  The second-year is reserved for pursuit of an Area of Study, participation in a required internship, and completion of a capstone project.

Students pursuing the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree must complete:

• A minimum of 36 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
• The required Internship.
• The required Capstone project.

 FIRST-YEAR CORE REQUIREMENTS
During their first year, students must complete the following 12 courses (18 credit hours) to satisfy the Master of Arts in Global Affairs degree program's Core Requirements:

• GLBL 501 Global Systems I [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 502 Institutions and Development [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 503 Introduction to Statistics for Masters Students [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 504 Quantitative Applications in Global Politics and Policy [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 505 Macroeconomics and the Global Economy [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 506 Macroeconomics for the Global Economy [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 507 Decision Making Under Uncertainty [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 510 Cultural Directions in International Affairs [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 512 International Conflict [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 513 International Cooperation [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 514 The Middle East Cauldron and United States Policy [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• GLBL 515 International Security in a Multipolar World [ 1.5 credit hours ]

SECOND-YEAR AREA OF SPECIALIZATION ELECTIVES 
Students must complete 3 courses (a minimum of 9 credit hours) from one area of specialization. Students will choose their electives according to their individual academic interests and career goals.  No more than 3 credit hours at the 400-level (one course) can be used toward the Area of Study.

International Political Development 

• GLBL 531 Conflict, Cooperation, and Change in World Politics [ 3 credit hours ]
• GLBL 541/POST 501 Energy Policy [ 3 credit hours ] 
• GLBL 553 International Crisis Management in a Multi-Risk, Inter-Connected World [ 3 credit hours ]
• HIST 372 Immigration and the State [ 3 credit hours ]
• HIST 436 America and the Middle East [ 3 credit hours ]
• HIST 572 America in the Middle East [ 4 credit hours ]
• POLI 354 Latin American Politics [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 459 Gender and Representation in Latin America [ 3 credit hours ]
• POST 530 The Shaping of Health Policy [ 3 credit hours ]
• SOCI 368 Sociology of Disaster [ 3 credit hours ]

International Political Economy 

• GLBL 531 Change in World Politics [ 3 credit hours ]
• GLBL 541/POST 501 Energy Policy [ 3 credit hours ]
• GLBL 542 International Macroeconomic Policy [ 3 credit hours ]
• ECON 435 Industrial Organization [ 3 credit hours ]
• ECON 437/ENST 437 Energy Economics [ 3 credit hours ]
• ECON 483 Public Finance [ 3 credit hours ]
• HIST 372 Immigration and the State [ 3 credit hours ]
• HIST 436 America in the Middle East [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 335 Political Environment of Business [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 354 Latin American Politics [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 374 Strategic Interactions in International Relations [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 466 Parties and Voting Behavior [ 3 credit hours ]

International Security 

• ECON 437/ENST 437 Energy Economics [ 3 credit hours ]
• GLBL 551 Cyberpolitik: International Affairs in Technology & Information [ 3 credit hours ]
• GLBL 552 International Security [ 3 credit hours ]
• GLBL 553 International Crisis Management [ 3 credit hours ]
• HIST 436 America in the Middle East [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 373 War and Politics [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 374 Strategic Interactions in International Relations [ 3 credit hours ]
• POLI 478 US - China: Conflict and Cooperation [ 3 credit hours ]

NOTE: Courses vary. Some listed courses may not be offered every year, and others may be offered that satisfy the requirements with pre-approval. Students should consult their academic advisors before enrolling and check for any course pre-requisites.

GLBL 519 MASTER OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS INTERNSHIP (6 CREDIT HOURS)
Students are required to complete a minimum eight-week extensive field experience in which they intern at one of a variety of internationally-based or internationally-focused governmental and nongovernmental organizations, international commissions, embassies, agencies, or corporations. The internship will provide students valuable real-world application of their degree with the goal of facilitating their employment in these organizations. 

GLBL 520 GLOBAL AFFAIRS CAPSTONE (3 CREDIT HOURS)
In the second year, students must select a topic of concentration and pursue in-depth research which delves into the real-world, policy aspects of the topic.   

Foreign Language Proficiency
Students who expect to complete their degree program with a particular regional focus in mind are expected to be proficient in one of the primary languages of that region.  Proficiency is defined as the ability to read and speak the language.  This requirement can be met in one of three ways:

• By passing a language proficiency exam administered by the Rice Language Center.
• By achieving a grade of B+ or better in an intermediate language course at Rice.  Taking this class does not count toward the 36 credit hours total for degree completion.
• By graduating from a high school or university where a language other than English was the primary language of instruction.

• B.S. or B.A. degree from an accredited four-year college or university (except Rice students enrolling in their senior year as described HERE)
• Excellent critical thinking skills, communication skills, and leadership skills
• Superior quantitative skills as evidenced by GRE scores, prior coursework, or relevant work experience 
• Application fee: $85
• Statement of purpose
• Professional resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• Approved scores from the Graduate Record Examinations
  • Rice University Code 6609
• Approved TOEFL scores for applicants whose native language is not English and who did not receive a degree from a country in which English is the official language of communication
  • (Rice University Code 6609)