Students complete 32 graduate credit hours to earn the Master of Science in Global Studies (MSGS). Designed for students pursuing careers in government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, business, and data-informed policy and research fields, the degree combines interdisciplinary coursework with applied professional development experiences. All students take three required courses early in the program. These foundational courses provide a common framework for advanced study across all MSGS pathways. Our four tracks include:
Students must also complete at least 4 credit hours of professional development through either a practicum or project experience, providing an opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world professional challenges. The remaining credit hours offer substantial flexibility, allowing students to tailor the degree to their individual interests and career goals within their chosen pathway.
Rolling Admissions: Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible and before the priority deadline for their intended semester. Applications submitted after the priority deadline may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Priority dates
- July 15 for Fall semester
- Dec 1 for Spring semester.
Degree Requirements
| Core Courses | 12 | |
| Global Society | ||
| Methodologies of Global Studies | ||
| Choose one of the following (each student will declare a track upon admission to the program): | ||
| Institutions of Global Governance: required for Global Leadership and Governance track | ||
| Energy and Global Security: required for Global Security and Threat Reduction track | ||
| Gender Relations & International Development: required for Gender, Policy, and Global Development track | ||
| Data Visualization: required for Global Data Analytics and Policy track | ||
| Professional Development Courses | 4 | |
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Global Studies Practicum: Earn academic credit through an approved internship, employment, or professional experience related to your academic and career interests. | ||
| Global Studies Project: Complete a faculty-supervised project that applies Global Studies knowledge to a policy, research, or professional challenge. | ||
| (The advisor may approve a professional development course that includes a written paper on a study as an alternative to a project or practicum.) | ||
| Track Elective Courses (Advisor approval is required for all electives) | 16 | |
Below is a list of pre-approved electives. Additional courses may be eligible and can be identified through the Course Catalog in consultation with the Coordinator. Students are encouraged to meet with the Coordinator to discuss elective options and degree planning. Final approval of elective coursework is subject to MSGS faculty approval. While every effort is made to keep this list current, course offerings and credit designations may change. Students are ultimately responsible for confirming that any course they take fulfills the degree and track requirements of the MS in Global Studies, even if it appears on the list below. (Additional 4 credit hours total of GLBL 572 and GLBL 573 may be applied as a Track Elective.) | ||
| Global Leadership and Governance | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Environment and Development | ||
| Agriculture in Intl Dev | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Development of African Studies | ||
| Case Studies Global Heritage | ||
| Heritage Management | ||
| Class, Culture and Society | ||
| Anthropology and Law | ||
| Cultural Heritage | ||
| Climate Dynamics | ||
| Gender Relations & International Development | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Health Economics | ||
| International Economics | ||
| Development Economics | ||
| Economics of Poverty Alleviation in Developing Countries | ||
| Econ of Development and Growth | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Families | ||
| Foundations of Sustainability Education | ||
| Introduction to Diversity & Equity | ||
| Education and Globalization | ||
| Globalization of Higher Education | ||
| Global Issues in Learning | ||
| Global Youth and Citizenship | ||
| Education and Power in Middle East | ||
| Researching Global Education | ||
| Green Development | ||
| Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Climate & Social Vulnerability | ||
| Global Health: Interventions & Evaluations | ||
| Poverty Interventions and Evaluation | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Perspectives on Global Studies | ||
| Decolonization in Africa | ||
| 20thC Africa Intellectual Hist | ||
| Revivalism and Evangelicalism | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| International Health | ||
| Global Biosecurity | ||
| Env and Sustainable Dev | ||
| Proseminar Intl Rel I | ||
| Intl Political Economy | ||
| International Cooperation | ||
| Cultural Aspects of Tourism | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Intl SW & Development | ||
| Leadership and Social Change | ||
| Inequalities In A Diverse Society | ||
| Community Development in the Global South | ||
| Global Security and Threat Reduction | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Problems in African History | ||
| Contemporary Central America | ||
| Anthropology of Policing | ||
| Modern Europe | ||
| Climate Change Assessment | ||
| Climate Dynamics | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Green Development | ||
| Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Climate & Social Vulnerability | ||
| War, Soc, Politics, & Culture | ||
| History of Brazil from 1808 | ||
| Soc-Econ Hist Modern China | ||
| Prob in Latin American Hist | ||
| Problems in Russian History | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| International Health | ||
| Evolution of Infectious Disease | ||
| Global Biosecurity | ||
| Energy and Security | ||
| Writing on Technol & Security | ||
| Seminar on Security | ||
| GIS in Natural Resource Mgmt | ||
| Europe and the Mediterranean | ||
| Proseminar Comp Politics I | ||
| Comparative Political Behavior | ||
| Topics in Comparative Politics | ||
| Proseminar Intl Rel I | ||
| Topics in Intl Rel | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Gender, Policy, and Global Development | ||
| Environment and Development | ||
| Agriculture in Intl Dev | ||
| Development of African Studies | ||
| Gender & Race in Contemp Arch | ||
| Development Economics | ||
| Economics of Poverty Alleviation in Developing Countries | ||
| Green Development | ||
| Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Climate & Social Vulnerability | ||
| Feminist Theories & Methods | ||
| Topics in GWS | ||
| International HR Management | ||
| Env and Sustainable Dev | ||
| Women in Muslim Societies | ||
| Social Work with Women | ||
| Community Development in the Global South | ||
| Global Data Analytics and Policy | ||
| Environment and Development | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Impact Evaluation | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Development Economics | ||
| Transportation &Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| History of the Global Information Society | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Perspectives on Global Studies | ||
| GIS in Natural Resource Mgmt | ||
| International Cooperation | ||
| Total Hours | 32 | |
| Other Requirements and Conditions (may overlap): | |
| A minimum of 20 credit hours must be taken from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. | |
| A minimum of 12 500-level credit hours. | |
| No courses used to fulfill any degree requirement may be taken using the “Credit/No Credit” option. | |
| The minimum program GPA is 3.0. | |
| Each Global Studies student will be required to demonstrate knowledge of a second language through at least the level of a third year of instruction, with non-native English speakers exempt from this requirement. For students not admitted with this level of second language knowledge, this requirement can be completed through an elective language course and/or reading and writing activities in association with meeting the professional development or professional skills requirement. Language courses will not count toward the degree. |