The Global Master of Arts Program is a hybrid master’s program that combines the best of in-person residencies with the flexibility of online studies. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum provides the 360-degree perspective of international affairs that is essential to succeeding as a global leader. The first hybrid program of its kind, GMAP allows seasoned professionals to earn a Master of Arts in International Relations from anywhere in the world, while maintaining a full-time career.
The thoughtfully sequenced GMAP curriculum recognizes that the cultural, historical, and external forces that shape international affairs are deeply interconnected. Drawing from the broader Fletcher curriculum, GMAP’s coursework provides the skills and building blocks required by international affairs leaders in today’s complex and globally integrated world.
In 2020, as Protection Officer for UNHCR Syria, I was leading the humanitarian response to wildfires ravaging the area. This experience made me realize that my knowledge of the international human rights framework, refugee law and my managerial skills were not sufficient to effectively respond to the changing nature of humanitarian crises. Out of several international programmes aimed at working professionals, I chose GMAP due to its multidisciplinary focus and its impressive alumni network.
| SUMMER TERM |
| Initial Residency (3 credits) |
1.5 credits: Global Leadership (Professor Diane Ryan) + 1.5 credits: Negotiation Strategy and Skills (Professors Eileen Babbitt & Diana Chigas) |
5/19/25-5/25/25: online coursework 5/26/25-6/1/25: online coursework 6/2/25-6/5/25: online coursework 6/6/25-6/14/25: Fletcher Residency (8 night/ 9 day) 6/16/25-6/22/25: final assignments |
| 6/23/25-6/29/25: off week |
| Summer Module (3 credits) |
1.5 credits: Political Analysis: International Politics (Professor Jeff Taliaferro) + 1.5 credits: Global Economic Development (Professor Steven Block) |
6/30/25-8/10/25: 6 weeks online coursework 8/11/25-8/17/25: final assignments |
| Year-Long Course (1 credit) |
| Leadership and Negotiation Year-Long Lab (Professors Diane Ryan, Eileen Babbitt, Diana Chigas) |
| 6/30/25-8/17/25: online coursework |
| Summer Skill Summit (.5 credit) |
| .5 credit: Data Science and AI for Global Leaders (Professor Anna Haensch) |
8/18/25-8/21/25: online coursework 8/22/25-8/24/25: live skill summit |
| 8/25/24-8/31/25: off week |
| FALL TERM |
| Fall 1 Module (3 credits) |
1.5 credits: Cyber Policy Analysis & Risk Management (Professor Josephine Wolff) + 1.5 credits: International Legal System (Professor Chidi Odinkalu) |
| 9/1/25-10/12/25: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 10/13/25-10/19/25: final assignments |
| Year-Long Course (1 credit) |
| Leadership and Negotiation Year-Long Lab (Professors Diane Ryan, Eileen Babbitt, Diana Chigas) |
| 9/1/25-12/7/25: online coursework |
| Fall 2 Module (3 credits) |
1.5 credits: Global Security Governance: International Law and Institutions (Professor Ian Johnstone) + 1.5 credits: Addressing Global Environmental Challenges (Professors Kelly Sims Gallagher & Melissa McCracken) |
| 10/20/25-11/30/25: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 12/1/25-12/7/25: final assignments |
| Fall Skill Summit (.5 credit) |
| .5 credit: Arts of Communication (Professor Lawrence Quartana) |
| 12/8/25-12/11/25: online coursework |
| 12/12/25-12/14/25-: live skill summit |
| 12/15/25-1/4/26: 3-week winter break |
| SPRING TERM |
| Spring Module 1 (3 credits) |
1.0 credit: Policy Lab (Professors Kim Wilson and Melita Sawyer) + 1.5 credits: Public Policy Formulation and Practice (Professor Carlos Alvarado) + 1.5 credits: The Role of Force in the 21st Century International Security and Conflict Environment (Professors Richard Shultz & Michael Sullivan) |
| 1/5/26-2/15/26: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 2/16/26-2/22/26: final assignments |
| 2/23/26-3/1/26: off week |
| Year Long Course (1 credit) |
| Leadership and Negotiation Year-Long Lab (Professors Diane Ryan, Eileen Babbitt, Diana Chigas) |
| 2/1/26-5/7/26 |
| International Residency (2.5 credits) |
1.0 credits: International Security Simulation + .5 credits: Policy Lab (Professors Kim Wilson and Melita Sawyer) |
| 3/2/26 -3/11/26 online coursework |
| 3/13/26-3/22/26: International Residency (9 night/ 10 day) (Fletcher Spring Break) |
| Spring 2 Module (2.5 credits) |
1.5 credits: Global Economic Governance: Sustainable Trade and Investment (Professor Joel Trachtman) + 1 credit: Policy Memo Development (Professor Kim Wilson) |
| 3/23/26-5/3/26: 6 weeks online coursework |
| 5/4/26-5/7/26: final assignments |
| 5/17/26: Fletcher Commencement |
I feel that joining Fletcher has been one of the best decisions I’ve recently made. It is a vibrant, intelligent, and very warm circle of dedicated people who share similar interest in international relations,” she concludes. “The professors are the best of the best, but the things you learn from discussions with your classmates are really priceless
I honestly think I would not have the intellectual confidence to initiate the projects that I am now working on if I had not done Fletcher's GMAP. IT stretched my cognitive abilities but it also honed me - made me more incisive, enhancing and surpassing my previous capacities. It made me feel that if I could do this - I could do anything. Incredibly empowering
