Global Affairs

The University of Notre Dame’s new Donald R. Keough School of Global Affairs offers a 2-year professional Master of Global Affairs degree to prepare highly skilled, effective, and ethical leaders in governments; local, regional, and international nongovernmental organizations; and private sector organizations.

• Students from around the world engage in wide-ranging intellectual exploration and skills training combined with deep specialization and integrated efforts to address global challenges.
• A multidisciplinary faculty of scholars, practitioners, and policy experts teaches, advises and mentors students over two years of study, field work, and professional development.
• A distinctive curriculum integrates academic coursework and extended field experiences with international organizations, policymakers, and practitioners — offering real-world professional experience from start to finish of the degree.
• A global network of University of Notre Dame alumni, scholar-practitioners, and partner organizations around the world provides students with unparalleled opportunities to make career connections and collaborate on global solutions.

All highly qualified applicants are eligible for a full tuition scholarship and stipend for living expenses.

The Master of Global Affairs curriculum gives students options to take courses within the Keough School and throughout the University of Notre Dame. We offer small, diverse, engaged classes and all the resources of a major research university with global connections.

Foundational seminars for all Master’s students address themes central to the mission of the Keough School — including integral human development, ethical reasoning, and commitment to action for the common good.

Core classes in global affairs provide broad knowledge and engagement in critical world issues, while skills and methods classes focus on practical skills needed for success in the global workforce. All students take classes related to their choice of concentration — International Peace Studies, Sustainable Development, or Global Affairs (with various options for specialization).

Integration labs organized around real-world problems draw together theory and practice throughout all four semesters of the program. Working in teams, students engage in close partnerships with leading organizations, practitioners, and policymakers; spend extended time working in the field; and produce a professional-quality project that is presented to professors and students, policymakers and practitioners.

Three ways to approach your Notre Dame degree (choose one)

Global Affairs – International Peace Studies

International Peace Studies builds on the Master’s degree offered for 30 years by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. You’ll join more than 500 master’s-trained strategic peacebuilders — skilled professionals 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. 

Global Affairs – Sustainable Development

You’ll be prepared for a high-impact career focused on development practice and policymaking in governments; bilateral and multilateral organizations; nongovernmental organizations; and the private sector. Your interdisciplinary training will include strong grounding in quantitative and qualitative methods, equipping you to become a skilled and sophisticated problem-solver addressing critical global challenges. 

Global Affairs – [Choose a Specialization]

You’ll receive multidisciplinary training for a wide range of careers in global affairs, as well as deep, specialized training in an area you create in collaboration with a faculty mentor. You’ll customize your degree to focus on an area of interest such as human rights, international law, regional studies, global religion, democratic politics, migration and refugees, or other areas that match your professional goals.

Skill Development

The Master of Global Affairs curriculum places special attention on the practical skills students need for careers of impact and influence. These and other skills are strengthened not only in classes but also in Integration Labs and in professional development workshops.

• Analytical skills 
• Organizational leadership
• Project management
• Mediation and negotiation
• Advocacy and coalition-building
• Conflict analysis and transformation
• Policy formulation and implementation
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Strategic peacebuilding and reflective practice
• Persuasive writing and effective communications
• Cross-cultural and multi-lingual proficiency

• University of Notre Dame Graduate School Application
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of Intent
• Short essay (300 words) for chosen concentration
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts with proof of B.A. or equivalent degree (and English translation if necessary)
• TOEFL or IELTS (for non-native speakers of English)
• Graduate Record Exam (see below for exceptions)
• Application Fee of $75.

Scholarships

All students accepted into the Master of Global Affairs are eligible for a full-tuition scholarship and stipend for living expenses.

When you apply for the Master of Global Affairs, you will be considered for financial support (there is no separate application for scholarships).

The Keough School is committed to attracting the most promising students into the Master of Global Affairs, regardless of their financial background or circumstances, and to ensuring that students do not graduate with debt that would prevent them from having an impact and pursuing their professional calling in public service.