Center for Global & International Studies

Student Perspectives

Thoughts of various students on the Master of Arts in Global and International Studies program:

• “This program had the flexibility I needed to shape my academic path with access to Political Science, regional studies and Economics courses. I have been able to craft an academic background that would have been impossible in another department, where requirements often trump the academic goals of the graduate student.”
  
  – Carlos Centeno




• “I enrolled in the INTL Master’s program to learn more about the macro-level political, economic, and social issues that make up our world.  My basic career goal is to work in international humanitarian assistance, and I believe that this program gave me a good ‘bird’s-eye-view’ of many important global issues and the way that governments and societies handle them.”
  
  – Daniel Chapman


• “I am a 42 year-old police commander. What started as a career enhancement strategy has turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  The International Studies Program has rejuvenated my sense of intellectual curiosity and deepened my thought towards the world we live in.  This program helps students to understand and process information about world events that affect us all.  The expanding and global nature of the job market makes the degree a valuable and logical choice. The program is flexible enough to fit into my demanding professional and personal life.  The professors are excellent and understand the special needs of part-time students with full-time jobs.  Further, I chose the MAIS program because I knew that a graduate degree from the University of Kansas carried clout and prestige.”
  
  – Vince Davenport, ‘06


• “My educational experience in the program shaped my thinking, allowing me to take a more global perspective to a regular day’s work.  Learning how different societies approach business, economics and policy taught me to further appreciate others’ perspectives.  That increased sensitivity has made me more effective in the business world. Gaining a historical perspective on global integration has been invaluable when conducting business in an ever-increasingly interdependent world.”
  
  – Kimberly Gencur ‘05



Major Joe Hall talking about his experiences serving in the Middle East for a fall 2006 MISO program


• "The master's program is a unique opportunity for me to apply my military experiences to a classroom setting.  I'm enjoying the diversity and energy from the KU students in the Edwards Campus classrooms.  What has proven the most helpful is the core course, International Studies 701: Approaches to International Studies - this class has made me take a serious and deliberate approach to developing a thesis."
  
  – Major Joe Hall


• I work for a large U.S. corporation that has operations in several countries. I saw a course offered this spring called Business in Latin America that was exactly right for my focus in the Global and International Studies Program, but the course met during the day so was impossible for me to take since I work.  I contacted our advisor and she put me in touch with the professor, Dr. Birch. She offered me the opportunity to take her class as an independent study class and even made a few modifications to the syllabus to tailor it to my interests. The class has been instrumental in guiding me through learning about what U.S. businesses need to be aware of if they are interested in doing business in another country.  This class will help me better understand the factors that our executives will have to consider when putting together business plans and strategies as we move into a new market, China. 
  
  – Mary Perez


• “I entered KU’s MAIS program hoping to more definitively enhance my understanding of how the world works. From history to political science to anthropology to economics, the pieces of the puzzles that make up international relations, cultures, conflicts, and untapped possibilities are much more defined.  The professors and classes are great and I have met amazing people from all corners of the planet.  I consider the experience and knowledge gained in this program invaluable.”
  
  – S. Ryan Roberts