Global Technology and Development, MS
Community, Culture, Health, Innovation, Interdisciplinarity, International Development, Policy, Solutions, design, economic, government, history, human, social, sustainability
How do we bridge deep global inequalities? What is the role of technology in meeting societies' needs? What should be the future of technology innovation to ensure greater good? You can address these questions by exploring history, social science concepts, government policies and development projects from around the world.
The Master of Science program in global technology and development is a program in international development that examines social, economic and political development and is concerned with the global disparity in wealth and access to resources between and among countries around the world.
Global in scope, the program highlights the variables of technology and innovation in these development dynamics with explicit goals to seek equity and justice and ease human suffering. The program offers an interdisciplinary social science curriculum and trains students with diverse undergraduate degrees, backgrounds and experiences.
Students have the opportunity to pursue a customized program to address social, economic and political challenges anywhere in the world. Through a wide variety of theoretical, research, policy and special topics courses, students are prepared to finish the degree program with an applied project of their choosing that explores theoretical aspects of global development or applied solutions for impact.
Learning outcomes and skills include research, writing, analysis and the ability to understand the complexity of diverse cultural, social and political contexts. These in-demand skills and abilities transfer to a myriad of career pathways.
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (GTD 593)
Required Core (3 credit hours)
GTD 511 Development Policies and Practices (3)
Other Requirements (12 credit hours)
GTD 501 Global Technology and Development (3)
GTD 503 Technology and the International Political System (3)
GTD 505 Social Science Inquiry for Global Development (3)
GTD 506 Applied Project Methods in Global Development (3)
Restricted Electives (12 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
GTD 593 Applied Project (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
For the approved electives course list, students should contact the academic unit. Other requirement courses may be substituted with approval of the academic unit.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Global Futures.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university recognized by ASU in a related field such as political science, international relations, sociology, anthropology, economics, business, education, technology, engineering, life sciences, foreign languages or literature (i.e., topics related to global development, culture or socioeconomic institutions).
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- two letters of recommendation
- resume
- proof of English language proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. A TOEFL iBT® score (taken in a testing center) is required.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling | |
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling | |
| Session B | Online | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling | |
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling | |
| Session B | Online | Rolling |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | Rolling | |
| Session A/C | Online | Rolling |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Identify, articulate and critique main theories of global technology and development.
- Identify a current problem in global development, and create relevant and focused research questions, followed by a research design, and completed research or applied solution.
- Identify current priorities in global development, and critique how discourse, institutions and policies shape development outcomes.
Studying abroad is encouraged for graduate students. Nearly all of the College of Global Futures faculty-directed programs offer graduate credit. In addition, the Global Education Office offers more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent.
Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
Students can find programs specific to their interests on the College of Global Futures study abroad webpage, and additional opportunities and information on the ASU Global Education Office website. These sites also include additional information about applying for funding to support global travel.
Graduate students are also encouraged to apply for funding for international research, study and professional development through ASU's Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement.
Graduates of the global technology and development program pursue impactful and rewarding careers in international development, across all sectors and in all types of entities: government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions, private businesses and corporations.
From the School for the Future of Innovation in Society's 2022 alumni employment survey, 100% of master's degree program respondents are either employed or pursuing continuing education. Of those respondents employed, 67% have jobs directly related to their degree.
Career examples include:
- analyst (research, project, technical, data)
- consultant (fundraising, marketing, information technology)
- coordinator (environmental, health, safety, operations)
- educator (instructional design, teacher, instructor)
- manager (product, project, security, business, program, information technology)
- project lead (humanitarian missions, Information and Communications Technologies for Development projects, smart city initiatives)
- researcher (higher education, government, nonprofit)
School for the Future of Innovation in Society
|
ISTBX 366
sfisgrad@asu.edu
480-965-6584
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
