The Global Affairs Major

The Global Affairs major is designed to give students the social science research tools to solve today’s most pressing global challenges. It is a truly interdisciplinary program with courses in nearly all departments at Yale. The major includes about eighty students per class selected by competitive admissions.

In the fall of their senior year, global affairs majors complete the Capstone Course, a unique public policy project on behalf of a real client, supervised by a faculty member. Students often travel to the client’s location.

Global Health Studies MAP

The Global Health Studies Multidisciplinary Academic Program (GHS MAP) offers students at Yale College the opportunity to engage critically and analytically in global health from multiple disciplinary approaches and perspectives. The GHS MAP supports students in developing and balancing an appreciation for biomedical and technical issues related to diseases and their treatment and prevention, with an understanding of the historical, social, economic, and political concerns that are implicated in how health is determined and experienced in the twenty-first century.

The program also exposes students to relevant research methodologies to develop their understanding of how knowledge in global health is constructed and how these approaches could inform their academic pursuits and future careers. For more information, visit https://jackson.yale.edu/academics/global-health-studies.

Undergraduate Summer Fellowships

Many Jackson undergraduates spend their summers abroad. The School provides fellowships for student projects including internships and independent research projects related to international affairs. For more information, visit https://jackson.yale.edu/academics/the-global-affairs-major/summer-experience.

Five-Year B.A.-B.S./M.P.P. Program

The B.A.-B.S./M.P.P. degree program in Global Affairs offers Yale College students interested in the field of global affairs the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree from Yale College and an M.P.P. degree from the Jackson School of Global Affairs in a five-year joint program.

Undergraduate Requirements In their four years of Yale College enrollment, students complete a standard Yale College major. So long as students are on track to complete their major and degree requirements, as stipulated by Yale College, students may count up to 4 Jackson School approved course credits toward their M.P.P. degree.

Master's Program Requirements Students accepted into the program must complete a total of 12 course credits, including Jackson's core courses. At least two of those core courses must be taken during the senior year at Yale College. It is also required that students demonstrate proficiency in a modern language (L4) and complete an approved summer internship or a project. Students must maintain a grade average of High Pass (HP) with at least two Honors (H) grades. All students must complete Jackson's non-credit leadership and ethics training workshop, which takes place in August the week prior to the beginning of their fifth year. During the fifth year, students are in full-time residence at the Jackson School of Global Affairs and must complete at least 8 course credits. All students must meet with the assistant dean for graduate education to map out their curriculum. See Master in Public Policy in Global Affairs section for additional details on degree requirements.