Master of Global Human Development

Who should apply?

Our Global Human Development program was built for people who believe in alleviating poverty, empowering vulnerable groups and promoting growth, development and sustainability in communities, businesses and organizations around the world. With the north star of the communities that students and alumni serve in mind, students engage in practical, hands-on curricular and co-curricular experiences that prepare you to make an impact across sectors and phases of development work. You’ll graduate with the competitive advantage of skills in quantitative analysis, project management, program design and evaluation, and whatever thematic, regional or skills-based topics you choose to focus on through your specializations and certificates. Your time here will include internships at leading development organizations, a transformative summer spent in a low- to middle-income country and a capstone project for an actual client, culminating in an impressive portfolio and valuable professional contacts.

There’s no better place to immerse yourself in development studies than in Washington, DC. A few miles from our campus, you’ll find Georgetown alumni making their mark at major institutions like the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the U.S. State Department and the Peace Corps, and dozens of the world’s foremost development organizations.

Curriculum 

The Global Human Development program’s core curriculum focuses on quantitative analysis, project management and program design and evaluation, and enables students and alumni to be successful in a variety of sectors and contexts.

With your electives and specialization courses, you can focus on the areas you’re most interested in like food, agriculture and rural livelihoods, environment and climate, quantitative analysis and evaluation. Through your capstone project, overseas summer internship, DC internship, ethics retreat, skills workshops and language proficiency, you’ll be uniquely prepared to succeed in your international development career.

Career paths

Career exploration and professional development are strategically integrated into our curriculum to prepare you for whatever is next. Through a solid grounding in development practice, you’re prepared for an impactful career. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers at multilateral organizations like the World Bank and UNICEF, the sustainability practice of global businesses like Coca Cola, financial institutions like FINCA and the national and local agencies of governments around the world.

“I was drawn to GHD because of the very strong practical and experiential components. The DC internship, capstone project and summer internship abroad supported students to ground their classroom learning experiences. And the fact that many GHD faculty are practitioners really spoke to me.”

Foluyinka Fakoya (GHD’19)

“My coursework and experiences at the Institute for the Study of Migration opened my eyes. Conducting interviews and being actively involved in migration studies confirmed my passion.”

Claudia Gonzalez (GHD’24)

“My experience in GHD has been the perfect blend of academic theory and practical skills that have prepared me to solve some of today’s most pressing issues in the field of international development.”

Kyle Clements (GHD’21)

1 of 3

in the world for international relations master’s programs

#1

2024 Foreign Policy Magazine

employed within six months of graduation

100%

Class of 2023