A perfect blend of international relations & management
Your full-time Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Management is designed to provide you with the political, economic and cultural training to thrive in international affairs and global relations. The MA in Global Affairs and Management features coursework in international relations, political economy and area studies taught by world-class multinational faculty members. The curriculum also includes accounting, finance, marketing, management and entrepreneurship – all from a global perspective – with a breadth of additional global affairs electives for specialization.
Your studies begin with Foundations Week, an interactive and engaging course covering key aspects of leadership, team-building, motivation, ethics, cross-cultural communication, self-assessment, professional development and career-management strategies. You will also have the opportunity to participate in Global Professional Development Seminars presented by our Career Management Center – completing coursework in topics such as business presentations, public speaking, cross-cultural teambuilding and networking, business report writing and business etiquette in global settings.
Economics bootcampsDepending on your undergraduate background, you may be required to take an online economics bootcamp prior to beginning the program. Read more. |
English proficiencyDepending on your TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score (if applicable), you may be required to take “Business English Communications” course(s) prior to beginning the program. |
Sample course descriptions
Note: Not all courses shown here are taught at all times. This listing represents a sample of the courses available at Thunderbird, but is not meant to be all-inclusive. Please speak with an admissions representative to discuss the specific classes being offered in the next term.
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Course Number: IF-5913Credit Hours: 0.33
The learning program of this internship is largely supported by the sponsoring organization with some faculty involvement. Since academic credit is granted, it is required for the student to coordinate with the Faculty Advisor who facilitates the learning process throughout the internship. The student must discuss with the Faculty Advisor, regarding the academic paper (minimum 4-5 pages of a special internship topic) and the progress of the work during the internship (at least one session during the trimester).
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Course Number: IF-5901Credit Hours: 1.50
The 1.5 credit Internship is typically academic in focus. The 1.5 credit Internship requires the student to coordinate with the Faculty Advisor who facilitates the learning process throughout the Internship. The student must discuss the academic paper (minimum 7-10 pages) periodically with the Faculty Advisor (minimum of 2 sessions during the trimester), regarding the progress of the work.
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Course Number: IF-5902Credit Hours: 3.00
This Internship is structured as an independent study Internship and requires a close working relationship with the Faculty Advisor. The 3.0 credit Internship paper (minimum 15 ? 20 pages) includes a detailed assessment plan and conference with the Faculty Advisor (minimum 3 sessions per trimester). It should be organized as a field studies paper or a consulting paper.
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Course Number: GM-4100Credit Hours: 1.50
This course introduces accrual accounting concepts including revenue recognition, matching, and asset and liability valuation. Topics covered include the recognition and measurement of accounting events, the preparation and analysis of financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows), the use of international financial statements and as introduction to intercorporate investments.
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Course Number: GST-4000Credit Hours: 3.00
This course covers fundamentals of global affairs including (1) major theories of international relations; and (2) key concepts and issues such as the nation-state and national interest, diplomacy and the use of force, international law, international organizations such as the United Nations, and the role of ethics in international affairs. A core theme of the course are the roles of power and principles in international relations. The role of political economy is incorporated in the separate course in Political Economy.
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Course Number: GST-4004Credit Hours: 1.50
This is the second of two courses which cover major theories and concepts in international relations. This second course focuses on the roles of power and principles in international relations. The roles of nationalism, state power, and sovereignty are examined and assessed in comparison to the roles of nongovernmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations and principles of international justice.
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Course Number: GE-4100Credit Hours: 3.00
This course emphasizes the use of the target language in context, especially the lexicon of business. Readings from newspapers, journals, and books (although to a restricted degree in non-Latin alphabet languages) familiarize future international managers with issues in the areas of the world where the target language is spoken. Activities include small group discussions, oral and written projects, and grammar review.
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Course Number: GE-4026Credit Hours: 3.00
In Fundamentals II major emphasis continues to be on the development of speaking and listening proficiency, but increased attention is also given to reading and writing. Authentic materials in the target language reflect situations relevant to the international manager, except for non-Latin
based languages or Asian languages. -
Course Number: GE-4015Credit Hours: 3.00
This is an introductory course for beginning language learners. No prior knowledge is required. Students study language fundamentals such as pronunciations, vocabulary and grammar. The emphases are: a) establishing a solid foundation in pronunciations; b) building up vocabulary and sentence patterns in communicative contexts; c) introducing writing systems and preparing students to read characters. In addition, cultural and social information that go along with language use are also included in the teaching.
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Course Number: GE-4020Credit Hours: 3.00
This course is a continuation of Fundamentals I. It aims to help students further develop communicative skills in listening and speaking, with an additional emphasis on reading texts. The emphases of this course are: a) building up more vocabulary and grammatical structures for communications purposes, b) integrating the linguistic and cultural knowledge acquired in Fundamentals I with the new knowledge, c) introducing business content and terminology in instructions and activities.
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Course Number: GF-4726Credit Hours: 3.00
This Winterim will take participants to Hamburg, Berlin, Kassel, and Freiburg, where the program will explore high-tech in the green energy sector. Germany has been at the leading edge of the green energy movement for many decades and is often depicted as the ?Silicon-Valley? of the industry. Program content will focus on applied knowledge, such as the development and application of renewable energy technology, managing innovation, and dissemination. The course content and visits will have an integration of culture and global management issues in a highly participatory fashion.
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Course Number: GST-4003Credit Hours: 1.50
This is the first of two courses which cover major theories and concepts in international relations. This first course focuses on levels-of-analysis determinants of foreign policy. Individual/subnational, domestic state/society, and international systems/structural determinants of foreign policy are examined and applied.
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Course Number: GF-5302Credit Hours: 1.50
This course offers a strategic approach to competitive global supply chains and networks. It covers supply chain management and strategic sourcing/supply. Chains are analyzed using five sub-architectures: physical, financial, information, relational, and innovational for their fit with the firm competitive business models. Tools will be presented for successful diagnoses, implementation and management. Viewpoints are used to help the student identify the changes in markets and competition and what they mean for leading design and application of supply chain alternatives.
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Course Number: GST-4002Credit Hours: 1.50
This course covers research methodologies and analytical techniques used to analyze global issues. Tools used by international relations practitioners as well as researchers are emphasized. Topics include research design, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, policy analysis, and database resources.
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Course Number: GF-4512Credit Hours: 3.00
The effective management of channel relationships
is essential to the marketing manager's ability to create value for customers though the efficient delivery of goods
and services. This course provides the knowledge and skills required to manage channel relationships effectively. Specifically, the course facilitates an understanding of: (1)
alternative channel structures; (2) roles played by channel members in strategy and logistics; (3) effective methods for
negotiating with channel members, and (4)technologies that enable the channel system. -
Course Number: GF-4511Credit Hours: 3.00
The effective management of channel relationships
is essential to the marketing manager's ability to create value for customers though the efficient delivery of goods
and services. This course provides the knowledge and skills required to manage channel relationships effectively. Specifically, the course facilitates an understanding of: (1)
alternative channel structures; (2) roles played by channel members in strategy and logistics; (3) effective methods for
negotiating with channel members, and (4)technologies that enable the channel system. -
Course Number: GF-5671Credit Hours: 3.00
This seminar will provide participants a richer understanding and appreciation of the Jordanian business environment in the contexts of the Middle Eastern region and the role of developing nations in the international economy. It will also imbue seminar participants, who are future international business managers, with the consciousness of considering Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries for business and investment opportunities.
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Course Number: GF-5542Credit Hours: 3.00
This course focuses on the strategic and tactical development of business plans for marketers whose customers include other businesses, the government, and institutions, as opposed to consumers. The course places emphasis on (a) business market processes, strategies and their tactical execution, (b) management of B2B relationships and account management strategies, (c) leveraging of Web 2.0 tools in market strategies and tactics(d) all taking into consideration the implications and opportunities of globalization.
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Course Number: GF-5422Credit Hours: 3.00
The guiding framework for a global enterprise and an essential tool for the global entrepreneur is a well-developed, comprehensive business plan. The process of creating a business plan provides an in-depth view of the complex inter-dependency of the functional elements of a viable organization: marketing, finance, management & leadership and systems & operations.
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Course Number: GF-5701Credit Hours: 3.00
This course focuses on the economic growth and market opportunities in high-performance economies such as Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and other economies in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Sources of rapid growth are analyzed including market liberalization, investment incentives, export promotion, infrastructural investments, and technology development. Rose of business, government, and global markets are examined.
