Center for Global & International Studies

About the Program

The Master of Arts in Global and International Studies is designed to provide an analytically sophisticated understanding of the contemporary global arena. Our students are able to pursue their interests in global politics, society, and culture across a broad range of courses in both the humanities and social sciences. By incorporating courses in Political Science, Sociology, History, Economics, Anthropology, Theater and Film, and Business into our curriculum, we promote thinking across and beyond disciplinary boundaries.

This diversity of course offerings and intellectual perspectives is particularly appealing to our students who are working professionals or who are interested in public sector work; such students seek a graduate degree that gives them the broadly-based knowledge about the world that we can offer them. The program is based at KU's Edwards Campus in Overland Park but students normally complete courses both at Edwards and at KU’s Lawrence Campus.

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some are recent college graduates, often from foreign universities; others work in the private sector or for non-profit agencies in the greater Kansas City area; still others are members of the armed services. We view the diversity of our student body as a particular strength of our program. Our students bring a wealth of personal experiences and diverse academic backgrounds to the program, which makes for lively and thought-provoking seminars. We also have a very engaged student body. The student organization, MISO (Masters in International Studies Organization), has been highly active over the past two years, sponsoring lectures, workshops, and community service projects.

Some of our current students are profiled here.