New master’s in global studies approved

The College will offer a new master’s degree in global studies, with the first class of students admitted in fall 2014.

The program will combine academic studies with practical global experience, making it attractive to students interested in acquiring knowledge and skills that are relevant to today’s global economy. Undergraduates with significant advance placement credit may be able to obtain their undergraduate and master’s degree in less than five years.

The two-year M.A. program, which will admit about 10 students each year, will cut across geographic regions and countries. Students will choose from three thematic concentrations: global politics, institutions and societies; global economy; or global migration and labor rights.

Jonathan Hartlyn, senior associate dean of social sciences and global programs, said the program takes an “applied research” approach. Students will be strongly encouraged in their second year to do study abroad, field research or an internship to supplement their coursework. In their final semester they will do a capstone policy brief or research paper.

“Global studies provides a framework within which students can examine how economic forces, societies, cultures, international and domestic political institutions, and states interact,” Hartlyn said.

Read more about the new M.A. in global studies.