Master of Arts in Global Governance and Policy

Current Students

Spring 2026 was the final intake for the Middlebury offering of this program. Currently enrolled students will complete their degrees by summer 2027. We are committed to supporting all of our students through the completion of their degrees with rigorous academics, experiential learning opportunities, and career planning. Learn more.

Degree Program

Our Master of Arts in Global Governance and Policy (GGP) gives you the knowledge and skills in policy and program design, implementation, and analysis to govern sustainable development initiatives locally and globally. You will gain real-world experience before you graduate, culminating in a semester-long practicum.

What is Global Governance?

One government alone cannot solve the challenges that affect multiple nations. Global Governance is the coordination of efforts, resources, and relationships between and among governments, intergovernmental agencies, NGOs, private firms, and individual citizens to address the world’s shared problems.

Transform Your Career

Advising

Your career advisor will work with you to clarify your career objectives, communicate your strengths, and assess your career readiness. They will help you craft your resumes, cover letters, and online presence, developing your professional network to access the hidden job market. You’ll learn how to interview effectively and negotiate offers. Your advisor will personalize your strategy to align with your unique background and advance your career goals.

Practical Experience

Our graduates are often hired before they complete their program, leveraging real-world projects from their classes and internships to showcase their relevant experience.

• You will gain the equivalent of multiple years of professional work experiences to add to your resume during your master’s degree.
• Your classes will often feature work with real clients, allowing you to develop practical skills.
• You can earn your degree in 12 consecutive months to accelerate your return to the workforce or in 16 months giving you the flexibility to gain more practical experience via summer internships.
• The Institute has partnerships with organizations like UNICEF, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the City of Monterey for unique internship opportunities.
• Our Middlebury in DC office provides the entire Middlebury community with a wealth of resources.
• The annual Career Exploration Week in the nation’s capital gives you facilitated and direct access to D.C.-based employers.
• Our large and influential alumni network in Washington, D.C., and other centers of global policy are eager to mentor and help you prepare for your next steps.

Careers

You’ll be prepared to work at intergovernmental agencies like UNICEF and the WHO; national government agencies, like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and State Department; international NGOs like Amnesty International and Save the Children; nonprofit foundations; university research centers; state and local government; and social entrepreneurship firms.

Curriculum

Build your expertise in: 

• Sustainable Development
• Public and Non-Profit Management
• Human Security
• Policy and Program Analysis
• Sustainability and Climate Resilience
• International Trade

You can customize your degree with electives that build on core competencies and develop skills for your chosen career path.

See curriculum for more details.

Related Programs

The MA in Global Governance and Policy is related to several other programs at the Middlebury Institute:

• MA in International Policy and Development: Launch a career in development leveraging expertise in conflict transformation, migration, economics, data analysis, and program management.
• MA in Environmental Policy and Management: Become a leader in addressing the world’s toughest sustainability challenges, including climate change, ocean health, and environmental justice.

Faculty: Professors and Practitioners

While other graduate schools rely on teaching assistants, our students have direct access to our faculty, who combine academic expertise with years of professional experience in major international organizations, including UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), USAID, the World Bank, and the U.S. State Department.

Your professors are committed to your success and, together with your career advisor, will become your mentors and colleagues throughout your career. 

Meet your faculty.

Customize Your Global Governance and Policy Degree

Our flexible curriculum means you can customize your degree:

• Focus your coursework on international trade, human security, sustainability, policy and program analysis,public and nonprofit management, and/or applied analysis methods.
• Pursue a career-related specialization (optional) in financial crime management, intercultural competence, or language studies for professional purposes.
• Put theory into practice through a semester-long practicum in the field (in the U.S. or abroad).
• Complete your degree in 12 or 16 months.
• Study a second language and/or intercultural competence.

Research and Practice

Build valuable professional experience while earning your degree through our research centers, labs, and initiatives:

• CoLab cultivates relationships between neighboring universities and communities to address complex local problems collaboratively.
• The Mixed-Methods Evaluation, Training, and Analysis (META) Lab addresses the growing need for data-savvy professionals across various fields.
• The Monterey Initiative in Russian Studies enables students with advanced Russian language skills to professionalize their interest in Russia and Eurasia.
• Team Tandem is an intercultural exchange program, connecting our Spanish language studies students with English learners in Salinas.
• The Digital Learning Commons is your campus hub for technology, creative problem-solving, exploration, and peer-to-peer teaching and learning.