Global Governance (Faculty of Arts)

The Master of Arts (MA) in Global Governance will not normally be offered on a part-time basis. In exceptional circumstances, students may assume part-time status after their formal course work has been completed.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the MA Program in Global Governance include:

• Successful completion of an Honours Degree in Political Science, Economics, History or a related field (including international, environmental or global studies undergraduate degrees) with an overall average of at least 78% in the final 20 courses.
• Successful completion of at least one introductory course in economics at the university level before commencing the program.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate command of the English language with a minimum TOEFL score of 600, or the equivalent on a comparable test. Comparable tests include: CanTEST 4.5, CAEL 70, IELTS 7.0, MELAB 85. See the University of Waterloo Graduate Student Calendar: Admissions Regulations, for further details.
• Demonstration of sufficient academic and/or practical experience and personal suitability as evidenced by letters of reference and a Supplementary Information Form. Experienced professionals in the private or public sectors will be considered for admission, but additional course work may be required.

Application Deadline

Deadline for applications to the Master's program is January 15 of each year.

Degree Requirements

Coursework/Master’s Research Paper Option:

The MA program requirements include completion of 6 courses, an Internship, Program Seminar and Master’s Research Paper (MRP) Milestones. The MA Program in Global Governance is designed to be completed in 4 terms. During the first two terms, students normally take six courses. Students will then spend their third term as an intern working on global governance issues in the public or private sector, at a research institute, or for a non-governmental organization. After the completion of the internship, students will concentrate during their fourth term on the completion of a Major Research Paper (MRP). The MRP provides students an opportunity to pursue a specific research topic of their choosing relating to the study of global governance.

Course Requirements

Core Course component: PSCI 610 Globalization and Global Governance

Economics Component: ECON 637 Economic Analysis and Global Governance

History Component: HIST 605: Global Governance in Historical Perspective

Political Science Component:

One of the following courses:

• ERS/PSCI 604 Global Environmental Governance
• PSCI 639 Global Social Policy
• PSCI 657 International Organizations and Global Governance
• PSCI 658 Humanitarianism and Human Rights
• PSCI 659 Conflict and Conflict Resolution
• PSCI 684 International Diplomacy
• PSCI 688 Governance of the Global Economy
• ERS/PSCI 606 Governing Global Food and Agriculture

Elective component:

Two additional courses chosen from the following list:

• PSCI 639 Global Social Policy
• PSCI 651 Democracy and Development
• PSCI 657 International Organizations and Global Governance
• PSCI 658 Humanitarianism and Human Rights
• PSCI 659 Conflict and Conflict Resolution
• PSCI 681 Power Politics and World Order Studies
• PSCI 684 International Diplomacy
• PSCI 685 International Business and Development
• PSCI 685 Critical Security Studies
• PSCI 688 Governance of the Global Economy
• HIST 604 Theory and Practice of Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
• HIST 606 International Development in Historical Perspective HIST 606 International Development in Historical Perspective
• HIST 610 War and Society in the Twentieth Century I
• HIST 611 War and Society in the Twentieth Century II
• HIST 626 Modern European History I
• HIST 627 Modern European History II
• HIST 632 History of the United States I HIST 632 History of the United States I
• HIST 651 Historians and Public Policy
• ECON 635 International Trade and Development
• ERS/PSCI 604 Global Environmental Governance
• ERS/PSCI 606 Governing Global Food and Agriculture
• Note: Not all courses are offered each year and more courses may be available. Consult the respective departments for information on available courses in any given year. Consult the graduate studies calendar for full course descriptions.

Internship

All students are required to spend the equivalent of one academic term as an intern working on global governance issues in the public or private sector, at a research institute, or for a non-governmental organization. The work-term will normally take place in the third term of the program.  A written report arising out of the internship experience will be required and will be evaluated. This report is distinct from the MRP (or thesis), but could build towards it.

Program Seminar Component

In addition to their six courses, all students must attend the program seminar. The seminar will meet regularly throughout the first and second term. Meetings will include visiting speakers (at both the University and the Centre for International Governance Innovation), guest talks by core faculty members and, during the second term, discussions of the research plans of students for the MRP. Attendance at the Program Seminar is required, but grades will be assigned on a credit/non-credit (or pass/fail) basis.

Master’s Research Paper

The MRP provides students with an opportunity to pursue a specific research topic of their choosing relating to the study of global governance. The minimum length is 40 pages double-spaced and the maximum is 60 pages double-spaced.