Master of Arts
Studies of Global Media
Where in the world do you want to go? A career in global media can get you there!
About the Program
How do various forms of media connect the global community to the big challenges of the day, such as climate change, poverty, inequality, the pandemic, political discord and record numbers of refugees?
Graduate students in this program learn to critically evaluate relationships among media, the public, and policy makers during rapidly evolving events or issues to prepare them for work with domestic or global NGOs, think tanks, businesses and government agencies. Graduates from the Master of Arts in Studies of Global Media (GLO) will be able to research, analyze, verify and communicate information about critical and complicated global issues in an effective, ethical and culturally aware manner.
The program’s broad selection of courses focuses on practices, values and laws that influence political, cultural, social and economic institutions globally. Students build analytical skills coupled with conceptual knowledge of real-time and emerging issues, such as digital inequity, surveillance, censorship and disinformation. Our flexible curriculum examines the transformation of media systems in historical and contemporary contexts with classes such as Media and the Climate Change; Media Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Disinformation and Information Security; Media, War and Peace; Media and Human Rights; and Social Movement Media in a Global Context.
The program allows students to study many forms of media and their influence on societies around the world with faculty who have conducted research and training for news media and other organizations around the world.
Graduate students critically evaluate media content and media issues around the world and are offered opportunities to collaborate on projects in small groups or communities, and work with a professor on a capstone portfolio, project or research paper. Projects and research in the courses can be tailored to students’ interests to support their unique professional goals.
Career Opportunities
Students will graduate with deep professional knowledge of the diversity of influences on media in a global environment, which will prepare them to engage with and meet the grand challenges of the times in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Graduates will be able to step into jobs in nonprofit organizations, think tanks, government, politics, intergovernmental agencies and other international organizations that require sophisticated research and analytical skills. Virtually every job sector has individuals working in media in some form. Graduate students in the program also can strategically take courses that prepare them for a doctoral program.
Course Outline
Our 31-credit M.A. in Studies of Global Media (GLO) program is designed for students from any educational background. It is possible to complete the program in one year, although students generally take 18 months to two years.
The program has only two required courses and a one-credit capstone, thus offering students great flexibility to take electives in their areas of interest. Part-time students are welcome.
GLO classes are online and are offered through four campuses: Main Campus, Arizona Online, Global Direct and a partnership with the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas in Peru.
What Can We Offer You?
Flexible Program. New courses are offered every seven-and-a-half weeks, giving students six entry points a year to join the program in the fall, spring and summer semesters. None of our courses has a prerequisite. In addition, all classes are asynchronous so students in any global time zone can easily fit their studies around jobs, family needs or other schedules.
Welcoming School and Alum Culture. Our program affords frequent opportunities to engage with a broad network of faculty, students, staff and alums based in the U.S. and around the world.
Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Approach. Courses examine the transformation of media systems in historical and contemporary contexts. Students build analytical skills coupled with conceptual knowledge of real-time and emerging issues and ways to address some of the biggest issues of our time.
Globally Oriented Faculty. The school’s faculty all have backgrounds in global research, teaching and training in Asia, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Capstone. In their last semester, students work closely with a professor on a one-credit professional project, professional portfolio or academic paper related to their specific area of interest.
Application Deadlines
- For fall: Rolling deadline, preferably by Feb. 15, but applications will be accepted until April 1 from international students or July 1 from U.S. students
- For spring: Rolling deadline, preferably by Aug. 1, but applications will be accepted until Sept. 1 from international students or Nov. 1 from U.S. students