Master's Degree in Global Development
Georgia Tech’s one-year multi-disciplinary Master of Science in Global Development provides an understanding of global development challenges and the data analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills required to address them head-on.
Through courses in Georgia Tech’s Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, the School of Economics, and the School of City and Regional Planning, you’ll learn how to approach the field from a variety of perspectives, communicate effectively, and shape policies and practices that drive lasting change.
- Develop data visualization, statistical inference, GIS spatial software, project management, and impact assessment skills to set you apart in the job market.
- Conduct fieldwork and gain real-world experience working with clients and communities through capstone projects in Atlanta or Puerto Rico.
- Deepen your STEM expertise through additional elective options at Georgia Tech’s world-class College of Sciences, College of Engineering, and College of Computing.
- Build regional knowledge through courses focusing on the United States, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Study abroad on faculty-led trips to East Asia, South America, and the European Union.
- Connect with the Atlanta-based global development community through opportunities to intern and work with organizations such as The Carter Center and C.A.R.E.
- Tailor your curriculum to prioritize economics, international affairs, or planning, or pursue coursework that draws from all three disciplines.
“A lot of global development work in the modern era is very data-based, and you need computer skills to succeed. For example, monitoring, reporting, and evaluating, known as MRE, is a growing field in global development.
This program taught me the computer skills to work with data for global development, including statistical analysis, empirical research methods, and geographic information systems."
— Ana Santos, M.S. Global Development, 2024
Read more about her experience in the program.
Prepare For Your Career
Georgia Tech’s Master’s in Global Development explores timely topics such as resilience, sustainability, emerging technologies, infrastructure, innovation, social and economic inequality, and the complex intersections of development with conflict and security. Courses emphasize global and cultural contexts as well as engaging locally within communities.
The unique blend of humanities and STEM skills translates across fields, preparing students for flexible and varied careers in areas such as policy, consulting, and project management in national or local governments, non-profits, community organizations, private development firms, foreign aid agencies, and international development banks.
Whether you want to complement your humanities background with data analysis, mapping, and statistical skills or broaden your STEM degree with a deeper understanding of global contexts and challenges, Georgia Tech’s Master of Science in Global Development offers an ideal bridge, leaving you well prepared to navigate and create change in today’s globalized world.
Apply via the Graduate Education website or attend an online info session to learn more.
Admissions
Students will take classes in Georgia Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning, the School of Economics, and the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. The program begins in the Fall semester each year and has two deadlines. To be considered for merit-based financial aid such as fellowships and graduate assistantships, you must apply in full by Jan. 15. All other applications should be submitted by the deadline set by each School.
- School of City and Regional Planning: Feb. 15
- School of Economics: April 1
- Sam Nunn School of International Affairs: April 1
Financial Aid
Global Development M.S. students are eligible for fellowships and for appointment as Graduate Research Assistants and Graduate Teaching Assistants in the schools of City and Regional Planning, Economics, and International Affairs. Those applying by the Priority Application Date are automatically considered for these appointments, with decisions based on credentials and skills, subject to available funding. These financial aid offers are then made in conjunction with admissions offers. In rare instances, GRA or GTA appointments may be made later in the student’s studies.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible for need-based financial aid and should consult the Georgia Tech Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Application includes completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, as well as an additional Georgia Tech form.
Foreign nationals should note that employment off campus is regulated by the U.S. immigration authorities and is usually precluded during the first year of graduate study.
Students may also be interested in the Habitat-USAID/BHA's Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements fellowship and Payne International Development Fellowship.
Capstone Projects
The Capstone is a required project-based course in the Global Development curriculum. Students have the option to choose between an Atlanta-based Global Development Capstone or a City and Regional Planning Studio with travel to locations such as Puerto Rico or Japan. Capstones are led by faculty and often involve projects for clients, completed in partnership with governmental agencies, NGOs, or think tanks.
Advising
Applicants can apply for the program through any of the three Schools.
Click on the links below to contact one of the Schools' advisors.
