Master of Global Affairs

Rice University's Master of Global Affairs is a two-year Master of Arts degree co-sponsored by the James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy and the School of Social Sciences. Students complete rigorous coursework that compels high standards of scholarship and offers training for careers in government, the private sector, and international organizations thus producing graduates with a broad global perspective requisite of leaders for the next century. The program is considered full-time with classes offered in the evening.

Career Resources

The Master of Global Affairs graduated its charter cohort in May 2017. Our graduates have accepted positions in a wide range of industries including consulting, government, energy, commodities, and media, as well as continuing education to other advanced degree programs. Although the program provides assistance with career counseling, employer visits, and networking events throughout the academic year, it is the sole responsibility of each Master of Global Affairs students to obtain his or her own internship and employment. All Master of Global Affairs students have full access to Rice’s Center for Career Development (CCD) and receive a one-year complimentary membership to the James A. Baker, III Institute for Public Policy Young Professional Roundtable (RYP).

Master of Global Affairs students are encouraged to begin supplementing their academic tenure with professional development opportunities, networking, and taking advantage of the multitude of resources available as soon as they matriculate at Rice. Whether students are looking for entry-level positions or for upward mobility within their current organization, successful students have found it essential to maintain a systemic approach to efficiently balance the program’s academic rigor and an effective job search.

Our School

Rice University's School of Social Sciences is a vibrant, inclusive community of scholars, students, and educators committed to connecting our teaching and research with policy for the betterment of society. We are seven departments with one mission: to tackle society's greatest challenges with an unconventional vision toward shaping a future that we can all thrive in, both individually and collectively.

Our Students

Rice University’s School of Social Sciences is located on a 300-acre forested campus in the heart of Houston, Texas. Rice University boasts the amenities and expertise of a large research university, but our modest size means true interdisciplinary collaboration and close working relationships between faculty and students.

We are renowned for our research and academics, but you’ll find that Rice is more than a place of study. It’s a diverse academic community, where our exceptional faculty takes a personal interest in your intellectual growth, the quality of your education, and your future. We inspire each other to be our best and work across traditional boundaries to increase our foundational knowledge of the world, as well as develop interdisciplinary, innovative solutions to the problems facing humanity.

Our location in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States and one of the most diverse, means that you’ll have plenty of opportunity for interaction with industry in a hospitable city that has no shortage of things to do.

Our Faculty

Social Sciences faculty are finding evidence-based strategies and solutions to society's greatest challenges. Our faculty understand that their research has the potential to improve the lives of others through partnerships with the government, public schools, and local hospitals. Our faculty are creating opportunities for social entrepreneurship where none existed, discovering innovative approaches to reducing discrimination, and designing interventions to encourage educational opportunities for everyone. One of the many reasons students choose Rice is because of faculty who take an interest in students and enjoy teaching. Nowhere on campus is that more evident than the School of Social Sciences, where our faculty consistently exhibit their student commitment by winning teaching awards and creating a fascinating learning environment that engages students to think critically.