Eager to understand complex global issues and local dynamics? Want to help to make a difference? The Master of Arts in Global Studies program at the University of Oregon offers you the opportunity to do both, through a rigorous, engaged and highly individualized course of graduate study. With your degree in hand, you will be well prepared for employment in a wide array of professional settings or to pursue a doctoral degree.
Master’s Degree
Our faculty and students draw pragmatically from a variety of fields and perspectives to find the best mix of approaches to address evolving, complex global issues. Our work emphasizes power, inequality, and identity in scholarship, with a common focus on the impact of global social change on communities and individuals.
We are committed to promoting:
- Cross-cultural understanding
- Social and environmental justice
- Sustainable development
- Gender and racial equity
- Indigenous rights
- Access to education
Connecting Experience Abroad to Current Research
“My experience of living in a remote village in Nepal, teaching in a local school, and growing close with a host family over a year has given me insight into some of the struggles that students in Nepal face. Ultimately, the purpose of this research is to shed light on Nepali student and family experiences to better understand how students can be supported on pathways of upward mobility, particularly the ethical dimensions of maintaining strong connections to their home communities.”
—Grace Wright, MA in Global Studies, ‘22
Specialization Opportunities
Global Studies master’s students can choose from four degree areas of focus: geographic, international education, diplomacy and international relations, and international development.
Explore Specialization Opportunities
Courses
The University of Oregon course catalog offers degree plans and a complete list of undergraduate and graduate courses in the Global Studies Department.
Funding Your Graduate Studies
Global Studies is able to offer many of its admitted graduate students two years (6 academic terms) of funding, which provides full tuition, health benefits, and a .40 FTE salary, in exchange for GE (Graduate Employee) teaching assistance. We also regularly inform students of other GE opportunities across campus.
Prepare for the Professional World
Our alumni are employed in more than 20 countries around the world. All Global Studies MA students undertake a field experience, such as an internship or research, for a minimum of ten weeks. Students work closely with faculty to identify an internship that furthers their professional aspirations while serving underserved American communities. They will have access to our faculty's extensive nationwide networks and assistance in their efforts to contact organizations and present the best possible case for acceptance as an intern.
Career and Professional Development
Finding Community in Global Studies
“The Global Studies master's program was the ideal start to my academic career. The close mentorship provided by program faculty combined with challenging coursework, and the opportunity to conduct meaningful independent research made my transition to a PhD program in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota seamless. I am so thankful for the time I spent at the University of Oregon and still count as close friends some of the people I met while there.”
—Elisabeth E. Lefebvre, MA in Global Studies, ‘12
Our Graduate Students
Our MA program offers students the opportunity to study critical global issues in a supportive interdisciplinary environment. Rather than completing a standard curriculum, students work closely with their faculty mentors to tailor their program to meet their own unique goals during their time at the UO.
Resources for the Graduate Community