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Becoming the right person, with the right mentality.
The Master of Science in Global Studies (MSGS) program offers flexibility through fully online and or on campus courses, as well as accommodating fulltime and part-time students. The program’s professionally-oriented focus prepares students for leadership in international and domestic careers in government, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), business, and other transnational organizations. It combines interdisciplinary coursework with domestic and international practicum opportunities to prepare graduates to meet the intellectual and practical challenges facing today’s global governance and civil society organizations.
Apply by Oct. 1, 2025, for Spring 2026
Choose your track
The individualized, customizable, advisor-based curriculum begins with students choosing one of three general tracks: (1) Global Security, (2) Gender and Public Policy, or (3) Global Governance. Students often then choose a topical or regional area in which to focus and complete their coursework, such as global health, sustainability, or South Asia.
Global Governance
This track prepares students for leadership in international and domestic careers in government, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), business, and transnational organizations. Students gain interdisciplinary and professional knowledge using conceptual frameworks, analytical tools, and proper methodologies from multiple fields. Students integrate these gained specialized skills into the broader intellectual and public policy demands of today’s global challenges confronting the world’s populations.
Topics include environmental issues, human rights, health and food, international development, social movements, and more with careers in political science, humanitarian and international affairs, international and postsecondary education, sociology, policy analysis, diplomacy, environmental policy, public and social affairs, and communications.
Gender & Public Policy
This track prepares students for leadership in international and domestic careers in government and non-profit agencies that focus on gender and policy issues. Students learn interdisciplinary and intersectional approaches mixed with the analytical and empirical skills needed to address global human security and gender equity issues in research and policy analysis.
Topics include development, human resources, family studies, and more through varying perspectives such as gender, culture, economic, legal, moral, political, social, and technologic dimensions. Careers sectors include environmental science, sociology, urban and regional planning, policy analysis, diplomacy, public and social affairs, international development, humanitarian affairs, post-secondary and international education, communication, and international trade.
Global Security
This track prepares students for national, international, and global security leadership positions in government, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and non-governmental commercial or non-profit sectors. Students prepare for work in interdisciplinary settings and on issues related to prevention, conduct, and ameliorating effects of conflicts and potential conflicts.
Topics include conventional and unconventional weapons, environment stresses, natural disasters and disease, and interactions thereof that affect human security, environmental and resource security, and comparative politics and security. Career sectors include political science, environmental science, policy analysis, diplomacy, intelligence, humanitarian aid, post-secondary and international education, and international affairs.
More about the program
What are the requirements for admission?
Simply follow the Graduate Admission Requirements.
Please read the Graduate Admissions closely, as 10+ years of relevant professional work may qualify for full status admission, even without a bachelor's degree or currently working on a bachelor's degree.
How do I apply?
- Complete the Graduate College online application (please note applications open in June 2025).
- Pay the application fee – $70 for US citizens and permanent residents and $90 for international students. Application fee must be paid using a credit card through the online application and is non-refundable.
- Submit unofficial transcripts for all completed university coursework with the Online Application. Official transcripts will be required upon admission and acceptance to the program.
- Submit a Statement of Purpose: All applicants will be expected to upload an academic statement. The length of these statements is chosen by your proposed program of study and range from 500 to 1000 words maximum.
- All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as evidence of English proficiency. Official scores are required to be submitted directly from TOEFL/ETS or IELTS. For more information, please visit English Proficiency Requirements. Please note: TOEFL or IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid. International students may check to see if they are exempt from this requirement based on their country of citizenship.
- Check your status of your application materials to ensure all materials have been submitted prior to the deadline.
- Current University of Illinois graduate students who wish to transfer into this program, please contact the MSGS academic program coordinator.
What is the 5-year program?
- The 5-year program supplements a bachelor's degree with an accelerated-track master's degree in Global Studies.
- It allows students to complete a full master’s degree (32 credits) in one extra year beyond their bachelor’s program.
- Students can apply for this program when they have 60 hours of credit.
- Students interested in this pathway are encouraged to reach out early in their undergraduate career to the Center for Global Studies and or the Academic Program Coordinator Andy Guth at andyguth@illinois.edu.
Can I be a part-time student?
- Yes. The MSGS program is flexible for working professionals and others. We understand the value that working professionals bring to our program. We therefore accept part-time students, provide both fully online and on campus courses, aim to make courses available in convenient timeslots, and are eager to help working professionals meet their goals of a degree, minor, certificate, or other certification that increases their chances of advancement in their profession.
- Please see the Application Submission page and read the Graduate Admissions closely, as 10+ years of relevant professional work may qualify for admission - even without a bachelor's degree or currently working on a bachelor's degree.