2020 Applying to Graduate School in International Affairs
THIS GUIDE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. For the current FP Guide, click here.
University of Notre Dame, Keough School of Global Affairs
Advice to Applicants: Showcase Professional Experiences to Demonstrate Your Value
Candidates for the Keough School of Global Affairs should highlight their professional experiences and demonstrate how this master’s degree in global affairs would be a natural stepping-stone in their overall career plans.
“Be candid and transparent about your professional experiences during the application process, so that others may recognize the value you bring to the program,” says Becca Méndez, associate director of the Keough School Master of Global Affairs program.
She recommends that applicants to the Master of Global Affairs program have at least two years of previous work or volunteer experience, because its curriculum focuses on the intersection of theory and practice. Students must be able to weigh academic theories taught in the classroom against their own experience.
Admissions candidates also should be proficient in English, have proficiency in a language other than English, and possess strong academic skills.
“This global pandemic underscores how urgently our world needs talented and compassionate people who are willing to dedicate themselves to the formidable task of ‘repairing the world’ and alleviating human suffering. We are more dedicated than ever to supporting students in their pursuit of a meaningful vocation.” –Becca Méndez, Associate Director, Master of Global Affairs program, Keough School of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame
It is important that candidates identify with the Keough School’s mission of integral human development—the flourishing of whole communities and the whole person. The school’s scholars and practitioners are committed to addressing global problems from many different perspectives and disciplines and with a sensitivity to the cultures, religions, and histories of the communities where they engage.
Furthermore, the Keough School strives to create a diverse student body that includes all international, linguistic, socioeconomic, and disciplinary backgrounds. Admitting a large portion of international students always has been—and will continue to be—a priority for the school. Therefore, it continues to work with admitted international students to overcome the challenges of traveling to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anti-Racist Vocabulary and Global Health Specialization
The Keough School brings together and builds upon the expertise of nine global institutes, many of which focus on today’s most urgent challenges. This academic year, the school’s Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights is presenting Building an Anti-Racist Vocabulary, a lecture series and course featuring preeminent scholars, thought leaders, and leading intellectuals to address systemic racism and racial injustice.
)))In partnership with the university’s Eck Institute for Global Health, the Keough School also allows students to pursue a global health specialization while working toward a master’s degree in global affairs. Students blend coursework from the Master of Global Affairs program with the Eck Institute’s Master of Science in Global Health program. This customized approach, grounded in the social sciences, prepares students for careers that address global health from a policy perspective.
Graduate Degree Program Options
• Master of Global Affairs
• Master of Global Affairs and JD
• Master of Global Affairs and MBA
Each degree offers three concentrations: Sustainable Development, International Peace Studies, and Global Affairs, with opportunities to specialize.
Deadlines for Fall 2021
(Master of Global Affairs)
Application: December 15, 2020
Financial Aid/Scholarships: December 15, 2020
Applicants to the dual-degree MGA/JD and MGA/MBA programs must apply separately to each program, and they will be evaluated independently by each program. For detailed application requirements, see https://keough.nd.edu/mga.
Standardized Exam Scores: The GRE will not be required for those applying to start the Master of Global Affairs in fall 2021. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, unless they have studied at least two years at a university where instruction is in English.
Recommendation Letters: Three letters of recommendation are required for the Master of Global Affairs. At least one letter should speak to the candidate’s academic ability, and one to their professional abilities. Letters attesting to the applicant’s character also are valued, as they provide a more well-rounded view of the student.
Application Checklist: https://keough.nd.edu/master-of-global-affairs/apply
Contents
- 2020 Applying to Graduate School in International Affairs
- UC San Diego, School of Global Policy and Strategy
- Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
- Virginia Tech, School of Public and International Affairs
- Seton Hall University, School of Diplomacy and International Relations
- University of Denver, Josef Korbel School of International Studies
- University of Notre Dame, Keough School of Global Affairs
- University of Kent, Brussels School of International Studies
- American University, School of International Service
- George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government
- Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
- Arizona State University, Thunderbird School of Global Management
- Princeton University, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
- Indiana University, Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
- Yale University, Jackson Institute for Global Affairs