Through the University of Oklahoma's online Master's in Global Affairs, students build a strong understanding of the political, economic, and social dimensions of global turbulence and develop the skills and connections necessary to thrive in a global career.
GAMA students visiting a farm in Ireland as part of their study abroad experience, summer 2022.
The online Master of Arts in Global Affairs (GAMA) is a 33-credit-hour program designed to equip students, including professionals at various stages of their careers, with the ability to interpret and analyze global dynamics in an increasingly turbulent world. The objective of the program is to cultivate expertise in international security, economic development or Middle Eastern studies applicable to a wide range of international settings.
The program provides valuable and practical experience through a planned policy exercise and collective study abroad program exclusive to GAMA students.
By studying in the GAMA program, students increase their knowledge of global affairs, enhance their ability to operate in a dynamic global environment and expand their global connections, contributing to professional success.
General Requirements:
Specific Requirements:
with Professor John Emery
This course examines current events and the historical and economic aspects of American foreign policy. Gives students an understanding of the main theories, actors, and debates in the field.
with Professor Shad Satterthwaite
This course focuses on the key questions about civil-military relations: What is the proper relationship between the politician and the soldier? How does professionalism affect the military's political behavior? Should military organizational ethos reflect societal values? Why are some and not other societies prone to coups? How do new democracies exert control over militaries?
This course will provide a survey of the origins of US intelligence capabilities, including collection disciplines and analytic techniques the US Intelligence Community (IC) uses, examine how the US IC supports national security decision making, review the ethical and moral issues associated with intelligence operations, and study contemporary issues facing the US IC.
with Professor Robert Andrew
This course will provide an overview of United States (US)-Russia relations over the past 200+ years with an in-depth look at Cold War tensions and the contentious relationship since the "re-emergence" of Russia from the post-Soviet morass in the Putin era.
with Professor Joshua Landis
This course surveys how the modern states of the region were constructed by the European powers and local authorities following the destruction of the Ottoman and Persian empires in WWI. Concentrates on two regional conflicts, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Gulf conflict, and discusses how policy could have been improved and what the U.S. should be doing in the Middle East today.
with Professor Natalie Letsa
This course is designed to introduce students to the history, politics and social processes of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to learning about the histories and trajectories of individual countries, the course will also focus on sub-regional and cross-national similarities and differences, as well as contextualize African politics in a larger global history.
with Professor Robert Andrew
This course is designed to introduce students to the history, politics and social processes of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to learning about the histories and trajectories of individual countries, the course will also focus on sub-regional and cross-national similarities and differences, as well as contextualize African politics in a larger global history.
with Professors Samer Shehata or Rachel Schwartz (two sections)
This is one of three core courses in the GAMA program focused on aspects of global turbulence. The Global Political Turbulence course explores the sources, consequences and implications of turbulence in the international political system. It will examine political turbulence in a global context, as well as turbulent affairs in each region of the world. We will concentrate on the political turbulence that characterizes global affairs today and will highlight turbulent relations in each region of the world.
with Professor Firat Demir
This is one of three core courses in the GAMA program focused on aspects of global turbulence. This course explores sources of turbulence in the global economy and their consequences -- from the increasing global diffusion of economic power, to the volatility produced by free movement of large amounts of capital around the world. We will begin by examining shifts in the global distribution of economic power. We also will consider the 2008-9 global financial crisis, the aftermath of which continues to have dramatic consequences across governments and international organizations worldwide.
with Professor Rebecca Cruise
This is one of three core courses in the GAMA program focused on aspects of global turbulence. This course examines the layered causes and consequences of social turbulence around the world. It explores how peoples interact with each other and the world around them. Additionally, students will address how people react to societal and environmental changes. At the end of this course, students should have a firmer grasp on societal interaction and reaction along a number of important areas.
with Professor Carsten Schapkow
International studies topics course for spring 2024.
with Professor Amel Khalfaoui
International studies topics course for spring 2024 in the area of Middle East and North Africa studies.
Below is a sampling of courses that have been offered for GAMA in the past. Many of these (or similar courses) will be offered again on a rotating basis.
ConocoPhilips Associate Professor of Arabic Language, Literature and Culture, Department of International and Area Studies and Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
405-325-5958
mohd@ou.edu
Arabic language and contemporary Arab culture
Adjunct Professor, Department of International and Area Studies
405-476-3241
robert.b.andrew-1@ou.edu
International security and diplomacy
Adjunct Professor, Department of International and Area Studies
emmacolven@ou.edu
Geography and political ecology
Interim Associate Provost for Global Engagement, Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President
Associate Professor of Security Studies and Comparative Politics, Department of International and Area Studies
405-325-1095
rebeccajcruise@ou.edu
Security Studies and Comparative Politics
Professor, Department of International and Area Studies
405-325-5802
eheinze@ou.edu
International Law & Organization, International Human Rights, and International Relations Theory
Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Linguistics, Department of International and Area Studies and Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
405-325-2918
amel.khalfaoui@ou.edu
Linguistics and Arabic
ConocoPhillips Petroleum Associate Professor of Chinese and Asian Studies, Department of International and Area Studies
405-325-1346
bo.kong@ou.edu
Chinese and Asian Studies
Professor, Department of International and Area Studies
Sandra Mackey Chair in Middle East Studies
Director of the Center of Middle East Studies
Director of the Farzaneh Family Center for Iranian and Persian Gulf Studies
405-325-3330
landis@ou.edu
Middle Eastern History
Wick Cary Assistant Professor of Political Economy, Department of International and Area Studies
Political Behavior, African politics, authoritarianism
Adjunct Professor, Department of International and Area Studies
lewental@ou.edu
Middle East Studies
Associate Professor, US-Arab Cultural Politics, Department of International and Area Studies, Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Department of Film and Media Studies
405-325-3726
wfm@ou.edu
website
Cultural representation and identity politics in US, Arab, and Arab American contexts
Professor, Department of International and Area Studies, Farzaneh Family Chair of Iranian Studies
405-325-6671
amarashi@ou.edu
website
Iranian studies
Professor, Department of History, Temple University,
Director of the Center for the Study of Force and Diplomacy (CENFAD)
alan.mcpherson@temple.edu
U.S. Foreign Relations, U.S.-Latin American Relations; Global
Assistant Professor, Department of International and Area Studies
Phone: 405-325-9821
michelle.morais@ou.edu
International Studies
Associate Professor of African History, OU Honors College
405-325-7412
Boren Hall 151
aprichard@ou.edu
Chris Sartorious
Adjunct Professor, Department of International and Area Studies
cmsartorius@ou.edu
L.R. Brammer, Jr. Presidential Associate Professor in History, Department of History and Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies
Director, Center for the Study of Nationalism
Dale Hall Tower 316
cschapkow@ou.edu
German-Jewish history, modern Jewish historiography, and Sephardic history
Assistant Professor, Department of International & Area Studies
rachel.schwartz@ou.edu
Website
Statebuilding, corruption, and human rights in Central America
Colin Mackey and Patricia Molina de Mackey Associate Professor in Middle East Studies, Department of International and Area Studies
405-325-1341
shehata@ou.edu
Middle East Studies
Associate Professor and Gaylord Family Professor, Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
405-325-4184
3120B Gaylord Hall
tsetsura@ou.edu
For more information call (405) 322-5877 or please fill out the contact form on our admissions page.
